The Big 12 Conference is preparing for its biggest game of the season to this point as BYU heads to Lubbock to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The Cougars are undefeated and lead the Big 12. They are also one of four undefeated teams left in FBS. The Red Raiders have just one loss, but it’s a significant one in conference play to Arizona State, meaning Tech really can’t afford another one.
High stakes, indeed.
Here are five notes going into Week 11, and what they mean.
Note 1: The College Football Playoff
The Big 12 has three programs ranked in the top 13 of the initial College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday with No. 7 BYU, No. 8 Texas Tech and No. 13 Utah.
What it Means: It’s a nice place to start, but it certainly doesn’t mean that it’s where the three teams will end up when selection Sunday rolls around. With BYU and Texas Tech playing this weekend, the rankings will change next week. The real question is how much the winner will move up and how far the loser will drop next Tuesday? One could argue that the committee may have set up the loser to drop out of the Top 12 next week.
Note 2: To the Top (10)
Saturday’s showdown between No. 8 BYU and No. 9 Texas Tech on ABC marks the Big 12’s first Conference game between two top-10 teams since 2021.
What it Means: The nation will be watching — probably. Mostly. Will the YouTube-Disney thing be settled by then? Who knows? Get to a sports bar if it’s not. This should be must-see TV from a Big 12 perspective.
So, that last Top 10 matchup? Let’s look it up. It was Bedlam. No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 7 Oklahoma State, with the Cowboys winning, 37-33, to secure their spot in the Big 12 Championship Game against Baylor. That also happened to be a Top 10 matchup as Baylor was No. 9.
The combined difference in those two games was nine points. Both were settled by less than a touchdown. Let’s have some fun on Saturday.
Note 3: BYU Undefeated
BYU is one of four remaining undefeated teams in FBS entering Week 11, starting 8-0 in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.
What it Means: Kalani Sitake has done something his mentor, LaVell Edwards, never did at BYU. Edwards was a legend who won 257 games in Provo from 1972-2000. The Cougars were the dominant force in the Western Athletic Conference for years and won a national championship in 1984. None of those teams did what Sitake’s last two teams have done.
Now, it doesn’t mean much with four games left. BYU won nine games to start last season and then lost back-to-back games to Kansas and Arizona State, which ended their hopes of going to the Big 12 Championship Game. The Cougars have the same dreams this season — and the same roadblocks.
Note 4: Big Improvements
Arizona, Cincinnati, Houston and Utah give the Conference four programs that have already exceeded their win totals from last season.
What it Means: These teams have figured out how to turn things around. Arizona won four games last season and is one win away from being bowl eligible. Utah won five games last season and has already won seven games as they vie for a CFP berth.
Cincinnati and Houston are the big turnarounds. Neither was considered a league contender, and both were among the league leaders going into November. The Bearcats won five games a year ago and are sitting on seven wins. Houston won four games last year and has already improved by three wins to seven.
Between NIL, the transfer portal and revenue sharing the ability to turn things around fast has never been more accessible.
Note 5: Utah’s Dominance
Utah has beaten two AP Top-25 opponents by 30 or more points in the same season for the first time in program history.
What it Means: Not much if it doesn’t lead to a Big 12 title game appearance or CFP berth, neither of which is under the Utes’ control right now.
