Week 11 of the 2025 Big 12 football season is wrapped up with five games on the schedule this week. The first game was on Friday night in Orlando between UCF and Houston, with the weekend wrapping early with a pair of 2:30 CT games on Saturday (Iowa State-TCU & Arizona-Kansas). The weekend featured a second-straight week of College GameDay in the Big 12, with the ESPN pre-game show hosting in Lubbock ahead of the highly-anticipated Texas Tech vs. BYU game. And with five games in the books, here are the top five takeaways from Week 11.
That Texas Tech Defense
Where do you want to start? BYU entered the game averaging 216 rushing yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry. On Saturday, Texas Tech held BYU to 67 rushing yards in 27 carries, good for only 2.5 yards per carry. Meantime, against the pass, Bear Bachmeier could not get it going there for BYU, as the true freshman finally looked like a true freshman against this elite Texas Tech defense. He went 23/38 for 188 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
This unit has been the strength of this team all season. For college football fans flipping on Texas Tech football, it’s probably a shocker to look at this team as a defense-first team, but that’s exactly what it is. This is not your older brother’s Texas Tech football, where Patrick Mahomes, and every other Texas Tech quarterback in recent history, would throw for 500 yards while they lose a game 52-49. Those days are over, for now, in Lubbock. And that defense was on display.
Jacob Rodriguez continues his incredible run at linebacker, leading the team in tackles, while also having an interception on the biggest stage of the season for the Red Raiders.
Houston Stays in the Hunt
The Cougars found themselves in the ropes multiple times against UCF in the Space Game on Friday night, but they were able to rally and pull off a 30-27 win over the Knights. Conner Weigman really struggled in the game, with three interceptions, including a pick six that nearly broke UH in this game late in the first half. But the response of a field goal before halftime, that brought it back to a one-score game (24-17) was a big deal in that spot on the road. Then, Houston’s defense really locked down in the second half, not allowing a UCF drive of longer than 28 yards. The Cougars are 5-2 in Big 12 play, a half-game behind BYU and Cincinnati, and a full game back of Texas Tech.
While the tiebreakers don’t cut in their favor due to an easier Strength of Schedule, the reality is if Houston can win out vs. TCU and Baylor, they might very well be in the mix for a trip to Arlington for the Big 12 Championship Game.
TCU Does It Again, But it Cost Them This Time
TCU had been playing with fire in recent weeks. They beat both Baylor and West Virginia, but allowed both teams back into the game late with a carelessness that was eventually going to come back to bite them. That’s exactly what happened on Saturday against an Iowa State team that was desperate to snap its four game losing streak.
Despite being banged up, Iowa State played the cleaner game and closed strong. Iowa State was down 10-6 entering the four quarter, and after a TCU touchdown to go up 17-6, ISU scored 14-unanswered points to win the game 20-17. Iowa State responded to the TCU score with an 11-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown. And then, Aiden Flora’s 79-yard punt return with just over six minutes left put the Cyclones back on top by what would be the final score 20-17. Special teams mistakes. Losing the turnover battle. TCU outgained Iowa State 432 to 272. And they lost the game. At home. That’s rough.
Kansas’ Missed Opportunity
The Jayhawks seemed on the verge of a very solid Big 12 road win at Arizona. But, then the game unraveled. Leading 20-17 in the final minutes, KU lined up for a 30-yard field goal and missed. That led to Arizona’s eight-play, 80-yard drive resulting in the game-winning touchdown by Quincy Craig with 39 seconds remaining.
For Arizona, the program is bowl eligible in Year 2 under Brent Brennan, a huge step forward after last season’s 3-9 disaster after taking over for Jedd Fisch. Meantime, for the Jayhawks, it’s another missed opportunity. KU played some of its best defense of the season on Saturday, sacking Noah Fifita five times and nearly picking off three passes. The Jayhawks controlled Arizona’s offense for most of the game, holding the Wildcats to 323 total yards, nearly 100 yards below their season average. KU closes vs Iowa State and Utah, needing to win one of these two to get bowl eligible. It won’t be easy for the Jayhawks.
West Virginia vs. Colorado Bowl Hopes
The West Virginia Mountaineers and Colorado Buffaloes met, with the winner still holding out hope of making a bowl game, and the loser would hit the seven-loss mark and be out of bowl contention. And it was West Virginia holding on for the 29-22 win over the Buffaloes at home. Despite losing the turnover battle, West Virginia was able to control the trenches, with 167 rushing yards to only 51 for Colorado, The Mountaineers also had seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss.
So now, WVU is 4-6, and win out vs. Arizona State and Texas Tech, and they’re going to a bowl. Yes, much easier said than done. But for a young team in Year 1 under RichRod, these season keeps getting more.
