The Big 12 Conference has 16 games of non-conference action on tap for this Saturday, including a name-brand showdown between Oklahoma State and Oregon.
Every week, the Big 12 sends out notes to the media. This week and every week after, I’ll dig through the notes and tell you what they really mean.
Here are five notes for the second week of Big 12 football action.
Note 1: FCS Games
The Big 12 is a combined 63-0 against FCS programs since the start of 2019. It is the only FBS conference to be undefeated against FCS schools during that time.
What it Means: The Big 12 is really good at picking these games, I guess? I mean, we rub it in the SEC’s face about these “happy meal” games, but it’s more about the timing than playing them because just about every power conference team plays one. The power conference team gets what should be an easy home game. The FCS team gets a fat paycheck to fund their athletic department. It’s a mutually symbiotic relationship.
The Big 12 has four this week — Delaware at Colorado, Cal Poly at Utah, North Carolina A&T at UCF, and Weber State at Arizona. No one wants to be the team that breaks that streak, right? It would get Kansas off the hook. The Jayhawks were the last Big 12 team to lose to an FCS opponent, falling to Nicholls State, 26-23 in overtime on Sept. 1, 2018. Now that’s a note.
Note 2: Big 12 Passing Game
Big 12 QB Club: The Big 12 continues to lead all FBS conferences in passing yards (4,255), passing touchdowns (42), and touchdown-to-interception ratio (14.0).
What it Means: Is the Big 12 returning to its passing roots? For the past few seasons, running backs have been in vogue. But the graduations of backs like Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II and Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks could be paving the way for an excellent group of passers to take the reins, at least this season.
Remember back at Big 12 Media Days when the league touted that it had the most returning quarterbacks with at least 2,800 yards passing last season? This could just be a matter of the Big 12, perhaps, having the best quarterbacking in the nation and flexing its muscles early.
Note 3: Scrimmage Yards
Big 12 players have combined to average 7.8 scrimmage yards per touch this season, the best mark of any conference (excludes Independents).
What it Means: With a range of opponents from FCS to power conferences, it may not mean that much. But it’s the side note that sheds more light:
Six Big 12 teams ranked in the top 12 nationally in running plays of 10 or more yards, led by national leader BYU with 17. Kansas, West Virginia, K-State, Texas Tech, and Iowa State rounded out the Conference members in the top 12.
Big 12 offenses were efficient and able to break off chunk plays on the ground last week. That isn’t likely to last once these teams get into Big 12 play. But it’s a nice confidence builder going into Week 2.
Note 4: Rocco and Sawyer
Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson led all FBS quarterbacks with 419 passing yards in Week One, while ISU’s Rocco Becht leads the FBS this season with a 261.26 passer rating.
What it Means: Robertson just reinforced how well-regarded he should be among Big 12 quarterbacks, and his production — albeit in a loss to Auburn — should get him more attention nationally. That Bears defense needs work. Meanwhile, Becht is off to a terrific start from an efficiency standpoint. The Cyclones got him a lot of new toys in the offseason after two of his best receivers went to the NFL, and they have meshed together quickly. That’s good news for ISU’s hopes of returning to Arlington.
Note 5: Big Points
BYU (69) and Texas Tech (67) had two of the nation’s three highest point totals last week.
What it Means: Absolutely nothing. Both played FCS teams and rolled as they should. BYU should get a tougher test against Stanford. Texas Tech? Well, it plays Kent State, which beat Merrimack by three points. The Red Raiders may need another week before they face a quality opponent.
