The Big 12 football season has reached the point where, as early as this weekend, at least one team could punch its ticket to the conference championship game, the first Saturday in December.
Given how close the standings remain, it isn’t a given that any team will clinch this weekend. While Texas Tech is off and has just one conference loss, BYU travels to Cincinnati in a battle that could determine which has the inside track to a title game berth.
Utah, Houston, and Arizona State are all lurking with two losses, waiting to see if one or both of the one-loss teams stumble their way.
Here are five things to watch in the 13th week of Big 12 football action.
Most Important Game
No. 12 BYU at No. 25 Cincinnati, 7 p.m. CT Saturday, Fox
This could have been a battle of one-loss teams, with the winner getting a clear advantage when it comes to reaching the Big 12 title game. But Cincinnati lost for the second straight weekend, meaning the Bearcats must win this game to have any chance of reaching Arlington.
BYU has two games remaining. If the Cougars win both games, they’re heading to Arlington for the Big 12 championship game for the first time in program history. It’s a road game, it’s at night, and it’s going to have a lot of hype. BYU can either virtually assure itself of a title game berth with a win or throw the entire race into flux with a loss.
Under-The-Radar Game
Baylor at Arizona, 12:00 p.m. CT Saturday, TNT
If Baylor fans get their way, this will be the next-to-last game of the Dave Aranda era. The Bears need to win one of their final two games to reach a bowl game. Arizona has already punched its ticket to a bowl game, and coach Brent Brennan has done a solid job of flipping the script in his second season in Tucson.
If Baylor can’t win this game, the Bears will get Houston in the final weekend of the season. There’s a real chance Baylor could finish 5-7 and Aranda could find himself unemployed the day after the regular season ends, assuming Baylor can figure out who’s allowed to fire him.
As for Brennan, he’s virtually assured himself of a longer stay in Tucson. He may not be worth extending yet, but he’s earned the right to have a little more rope going into 2026.
Upset to Watch
TCU at Houston, 3 p.m. CT Saturday, Fox
Admit it. At the start of this season, everyone thought Houston would be the one doing the upsetting in this game. Now, it’s mid-November, and a TCU win over Houston would be the upset. That’s how good Houston’s season has been — and how mediocre TCU’s season has become. TCU’s Sonny Dykes isn’t exactly safe right now, either. The natives are restless.
TCU is plenty capable of putting points on the board. I saw that myself against Colorado earlier this season. One shouldn’t discount that the Horned Frogs can turn this game into a shootout. Houston’s preference would be to grind things out on the ground and allow quarterback Conner Weigman to air things out when needed. That’s the formula that has made Houston so hard to beat in Willie Fritz’s second season. I don’t have a coach of the year vote, but Fritz would get mine.
Player to Watch
Utah QB Devon Dampier
Kansas State at No. 13 Utah, 3 p.m. CT Saturday, ESPN2
When Dampier followed his offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, to Utah via the transfer portal, the hope was that he would be able to produce similar numbers to what he produced at New Mexico last season. Mission accomplished.
Dampier has thrown for 1,668 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He’s also completed 65.3% of his passes and has only been sacked eight times. Dampier has rushed as many times as Wayshawn Parker (102), and is the team’s second leading rusher with 543 yards and five touchdowns.
Utah is on the outside looking in when it comes to the Big 12 title game and the College Football Playoff. It can’t afford to stumble against Kansas State, a team that always seems to be difficult for contending teams to put away.
Big 12 After Dark
Arizona State at Colorado, 7 p.m. CT, ESPN
It’s not the traditional Big 12 After Dark, but by the time kickoff rolls around in Boulder, the sun should be below the Rockies. So, we’ll take it. It’s the only other night game on the schedule, and it’s an important one for Arizona State.
Like Utah, the Sun Devils have two conference losses. They don’t control their own destiny, but as long as they keep winning, if they can get some help from either Texas Tech or BYU, Arizona State still has a chance to get to the Big 12 championship game for the second straight year.
