What a week it was in the Big 12. From BYU handling business under the Friday night lights against Iowa State to Arizona State closing out the weekend with a win over Hawaii, there was no shortage of storylines. Let’s dive into a few overreactions from Week 6 before looking ahead to the biggest games and storylines of Week 7.
Big 12 Has a Handful of Heisman Underdogs
Big 12 quarterback play has been outstanding so far this season. Despite that, none of the conference’s top signal-callers currently crack the top five in the Heisman Trophy odds.
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who continued his impressive season in a 42-28 win over UCF, currently owns the seventh-best odds to win the award.
Utah’s Devon Dampier, BYU’s Bear Bachmeier, Houston’s Conner Weigman, and Arizona’s Noah Fifita all sit between 15th and 20th in the betting odds. Kansas State’s Avery Johnson is around 30th, while West Virginia dual-threat quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. doesn’t even appear on many Heisman boards despite putting together several strong offensive performances as the Mountaineers’ defense continues to struggle.
The disrespect is real, but anyone watching the league knows the Big 12 features some of the best quarterback play in the country.
Arizona Is Officially a Big 12 Contender
Arizona improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play after a convincing 52-31 victory over West Virginia.
The Wildcats’ lone loss came on the road against BYU, currently the highest-ranked team in the conference. Outside of that defeat, Arizona has scored at least 34 points in every game and looked as sharp offensively as it has all season this past weekend.
A pair of major tests loom over the next month, including a road trip to Texas Tech and a home game against Utah. Those matchups will likely determine whether Arizona is merely a contender or a legitimate favorite to reach the Big 12 Championship Game.
The Worst Team in the Big 12 Resides in Kansas
There are only two candidates to choose from: Kansas or Kansas State.
While Kansas is probably the favorite for that distinction over the course of the season, Kansas State currently holds the title based on recent play.
The Wildcats looked strong during non-conference action but have completely unraveled since conference play began. Getting blown out at home, even by a Top 25 Houston squad, did little to ease concerns in Manhattan.
Fortunately for K-State, an opportunity for redemption awaits this weekend against its in-state rival. The Wildcats have beaten Kansas in 17 consecutive seasons, and a victory would help stabilize a season that is suddenly trending in the wrong direction.
If Kansas State loses this game, however, the train may officially be off the tracks.
Looking Ahead to Week 7
Week 7 is loaded with intriguing matchups that could have a major impact on the conference race.
Sunflower Showdown: Kansas at Kansas State
The Sunflower Showdown kicks off at 11 a.m. CT on FS1 in Manhattan.
Neither team has earned a conference victory yet, but Kansas showed signs of life in last week’s road matchup against a Top 15 Utah team. The Jayhawks traded punches with the Utes for three quarters and trailed just 27-24 entering the fourth before Utah finally pulled away.
It has been 18 years since Kansas last defeated Kansas State on the football field. Could this finally be the year the streak ends?
The Wildcats have looked vulnerable in recent weeks, and if the Kansas offense can get rolling early, the Jayhawks have a legitimate chance to pull off the upset. This figures to be a tightly contested game, and the loser may very well finish near the bottom of the Big 12 standings.
No. 18 Oklahoma State at No. 20 Houston
Oklahoma State is looking to improve to 2-0 against ranked opponents this season, while Houston is seeking its first victory over a Top 25 team.
For the Cougars, this feels like an elimination game. Houston already owns a conference loss to Texas Tech and can ill afford another setback. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, has a more forgiving road ahead, with only one remaining ranked opponent after this matchup.
A loss would hurt the Cowboys, but it likely wouldn’t knock them out of the Big 12 title race.
Expect plenty of points and plenty of fireworks. At this stage, it’s impossible to call this game underrated. Both teams are ranked, and FOX has elevated it to its primetime game of the week.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on FOX.
No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 8 BYU
While Oklahoma State-Houston may be the biggest game inside the Big 12, Notre Dame at BYU is arguably the biggest game in the country this weekend.
Notre Dame enters at 6-0, while BYU sits at 5-0. Both teams are ranked inside the top 10 and remain firmly in the College Football Playoff race.
The opening line favored the Fighting Irish by 11.5 points, and it has already moved to 10. Expect movement to continue right up until kickoff.
Unfortunately for BYU, star running back LJ Martin is expected to miss the game due to injury. That puts even more pressure on quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who may need the best performance of his career to lead the Cougars to a victory.
Both teams boast strong defenses and elite quarterback play. Games like this are often decided by turnovers, special teams, and a handful of critical moments.
Regardless of the outcome, both programs remain firmly in the CFP conversation. However, the winner will put itself in a commanding position heading into the second half of the season.
This showdown will serve as ABC’s Game of the Week, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
Final Thoughts
The Big 12 will be front and center this weekend, with multiple marquee matchups drawing national attention. Whether you’re locked into Oklahoma State-Houston or flipping over to Notre Dame-BYU, conference fans should be in for an outstanding night of football.
For a league that continues to battle for respect nationally, Week 7 presents another opportunity for the Big 12 to prove it belongs in the spotlight.
