The college football season entered the final month of the regular season and Week 10 was a busy one with major implications in the Big 12. The Big 12 had seven games on the schedule on Saturday, including an appearance from College GameDay in Salt Lake City ahead of Utah vs. Cincinnati. The day started in Waco and Houston and ended in Salt Lake City. So with that, let’s take a look at the top five takeaways from Week 10 in the Big 12 Conference.
Dave Aranda’s Quiets the Critics…. for Now
Is Dave Aranda going to go from hot seat to safe for a second-straight season? It’s possible. Baylor looked like the team we thought they were going to be this season on Saturday in a dominant 30-3 win over UCF. The offense was electric, led by quarterback Sawyer Robertson and tight end Michael Trigg. Freshman running back Caden Knighten had a career-best 104 rushing yard as well. And the defense even decided to show up, which was not on my bingo card. They held UCF to under 100 rushing yards, which for a run defense that entered the game as one of the worst statistically in the Big 12, this was a big step in the right direction. It was the first time since Nov. 26, 2015 that UCF did not score a touchdown, snapping a 121-game streak. So now, Baylor is one win away form bowl eligibility, and if they close strong, Aranda may live to see 2026.
Houston, We Have a Problem
The Houston Cougars were apparently feeling themselves a bit too much coming off a huge win at Arizona State. Houston returned home with a 4-1 Big 12 record, 7-1 overall, and on paper, the easiest final four games in the Big 12 out of any contender looking to win the league. Houston had a final month of the season against West Virginia, UCF, TCU and Baylor. The four teams entered Week 10 with a 6-13 record in conference play. And then on Saturday, the Cougars played a sloppy, underwhelming game, losing to West Virginia 45-35. For a Houston team that cracked the Top 25 this week for the first time in three seasons, while also having an enormous opportunity ahead of them to make the Big 12 Championship Game, this was a huge letdown. And now, they’ll probably need to win out, and get some help, to play in Arlington for a Big 12 Championship.
Iowa State Has One Too
Iowa State has now lost four games in a row after falling to Arizona State 24-19, which is their longest losing streak since 2022. The Cyclones were just sloppy on Saturday in front of their home crowd. Special Teams was far from special, with missed field goals and extra points. Rocco Becht continues to be off at quarterback, which has been a frustrating trend in recent weeks for this offense. They had some good things going for them in this game, but when you give up 290 rushing yards, it’s likely going to be a long afternoon, which it was for Iowa State. Now, they’re 2-4 in Big 12 play and essentially out of the Big 12 Championship race.
Texas Tech Dominates
The Red Raiders went to Manhattan and a rolled to a 43-20 win over Kansas State on Saturday. I said in my preview that whoever won the turnover battle would win the game, and it was Texas Tech dominating the turnover battle 5-2, and turning some of those turnovers into key points that helped lit the Red Raiders to a decisive win on the road. Behren Morton returned at quarterback for Texas Tech and finished 21/32 for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He threw an interception on his first drive, but there were no issues after that. The win moves Texas Tech to 8-1, their best start since the 2008 season under Mike Leach. And it’s earned the team a trip from College GameDay next week before their game against BYU.
Utah Pushes Around Cincinnati
After Cincinnati rushed for 119 rushing yards in the opening quarter at Utah, the Bearcats could only muster 82 rushing yards the rest of the game. Utah wore down Cincinnati along the line of scrimmage, and it allowed the Utes to run away with a 45-14 win. The Utes piled up 267 rushing yards on the game, for 5.0 yards per carry. This is the Utah team many of us expected, and the one I predicted to play for a Big 12 Championship. They still have a chance, especially after a good win, along with Houston losing to West Virginia on Saturday. But they will need to win out and get some help along the way to end up in Arlington.
