Welcome to Tuesday Takes, where I share three observations from around the Big 12. It was another eventful week across the conference, but these are the three storylines that have my attention heading into Week 4.
Houston Is the Real Deal
If there was still any doubt about Houston’s legitimacy this season, Friday night’s performance in Lubbock should have erased it.
Just days before facing Texas Tech, the Cougars were double-digit underdogs, a line that never made much sense given the way they had been playing. Houston proved why against the Red Raiders.
The Cougars jumped out to a 10-0 lead and looked more than comfortable on the road against one of the conference favorites. While they ultimately came up short, they went toe-to-toe with Texas Tech for four quarters and were one play away from forcing overtime.
Quarterback Connor Weigman was arguably the best offensive player on the field, and as long as he’s under center, Houston is going to be a problem for the rest of the Big 12. The Cougars have shown they’re capable of competing with anyone in this league. It’s time to stop overlooking them.
West Virginia Has the Big 12’s Best Ground Game
Through three games, no team has been more dangerous on the ground than West Virginia.
The Mountaineers have piled up 844 rushing yards, averaging 281.3 yards per game. Leading the charge are quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and running back Cam Cook, who have emerged as one of the conference’s most dynamic backfield combinations.
Hawkins ranks among the Big 12’s leading rushers, while Cook has already amassed 317 yards on the season. Together, they’ve accounted for nine rushing touchdowns and have consistently put opposing defenses in impossible situations.
West Virginia’s identity is clear: run the football and dare opponents to stop it. So far, nobody has had much success doing that. As long as the Mountaineers continue winning at the line of scrimmage, they’ll remain one of the toughest outs in the conference.
The Big 12 Runs Through Utah
A year ago, the road to the Big 12 title ran through Texas, largely because of Texas Tech’s dominance. The Red Raiders separated themselves from the pack and looked like the conference’s clear standard.
This season feels different.
Texas Tech remains a contender, and Houston has emerged as a legitimate threat. But the strongest state in the conference may no longer be Texas.
Right now, that honor belongs to Utah.
BYU has a strong argument as the best team in the Big 12 through the first three weeks, and just down the road, Utah looks every bit as capable of competing for a conference championship. Both teams have impressed early and appear built to contend deep into the season.
If you’re putting together the Big 12’s top tier today, it’s difficult to leave either program off the list. That’s why I believe the path to a conference title now runs through the Beehive State.
