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 5.
Utah Is a Big 12 Title Contender
While the Utes dominated their non-conference schedule, many still wondered just how good they were because of the level of competition they faced. After beating Iowa State by double digits in Ames, it’s safe to say they answered that question and then some.
Defensively, Utah is as good as anybody in the conference. The Utes are big, strong, and, most importantly, physical at the line of scrimmage. Devon Dampier has been an excellent game manager and can make plays with both his arm and his legs. Add star running back Wayshawn Parker to the equation, and this offense becomes even more dangerous.
Although the game got closer in the fourth quarter, Utah dominated the first half and built a commanding 24-3 lead. When Iowa State fought its way back into the game, Utah consistently responded and prevented the Cyclones from gaining any real momentum. Between their elite defense and explosive offensive playmakers, I’m here to tell you that Utah is the real deal.
Oklahoma State Is Back
I’m not going to lie, watching Oklahoma State’s offense on Saturday night in Morgantown brought back some memories. It felt like the days of Mason Rudolph throwing deep balls to James Washington.
When you put up more than 40 points and 600 total yards of offense, it’s easy to understand the nostalgia. Drew Mestemaker was outstanding, throwing for 389 yards and four touchdowns while frequently connecting with Wyatt Young.
What’s even crazier is that the Cowboys didn’t do it solely through the air. The running game was just as effective, piling up 220 rushing yards. Caleb Hawkins led the way with 180 yards on the ground and was a major reason why the offense looked so balanced.
This is the kind of production many expected from Oklahoma State entering the season. If the Cowboys can keep performing at this level, good luck to anyone trying to slow them down. It certainly feels like Oklahoma State football is back.
Don’t Sleep on Cincinnati
As someone who picked Cincinnati to finish last in the Big 12 this season, I’ll be the first to admit I was wrong about the Bearcats. Even after their 3-0 start, I still had my doubts, but after watching them take down Kansas State, I’m more sold on Cincinnati than ever.
What impressed me most was the physicality of the offense. Cincinnati’s offensive line consistently won at the point of attack, helping the Bearcats rush for a staggering 271 yards.
It’s not often you see a team like Kansas State get pushed around and completely manhandled in the trenches. Along with West Virginia, Cincinnati appears to have one of the best rushing attacks in the Big 12.
The defense still needs some fine-tuning, but if the Bearcats can continue running the ball like this, they’ll be able to control the tempo and dictate games. At some point, quarterback JC French will likely need to throw more than 13 passes, but if he can continue managing the game effectively, Cincinnati could surprise a lot of people and win a few games that most fans aren’t expecting.
