The Big 12 Conference is nearing the halfway point of the 2026 college football season. Some teams are already out of the Big 12 title game race.
Others? Well, they’re in it but the games — and the pressure — is going to start getting bigger. This weekend features a Top 25 showdown between Houston and Oklahoma State, with the Cougars entering the game with a Big 12 loss to Texas Tech and in need of the victory. The Cowboys are trying to stay undefeated in Big 12 play. Plus, there’s the Top 10 match up between BYU and Notre Dame.
So, who’s stock went up and who’s stock went down? Let’s look at the big movers across the league.
Stock Up
Arizona
I felt this was a big game for Arizona because it was a noon kick in Morgantown — 9 a.m. in Tucson — and the Wildcats were without three wide receivers.
So what happened? Arizona scored 51 points, quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns while wide receiver Isaiah Mizell made up for the missing receivers with six catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Yes, the defense allowed 31 points. But the Mountaineers’ issue is not scoring points. It’s stopping them.
The Wildcats have now played six games. They’ve lost one — to BYU. Right now, they’re in the thick of it. They’re in contention to get to the Big 12 Championship game. As long as Fifita continues to play at a high level, Arizona will have a shot. It won’t be easy. But it will have a shot.
Oklahoma State
The Cowboys are buzzy right now but they’re also the team that can shake up this Big 12 race. Quarterback Drew Mestmaker threw for more than 300 yards against UCF and the defense worked through some tackling issues to hold the Knights to seven second-half points, along with a defensive touchdown. The offense overwhelms opponents. The defense closes the door with big plays in big moments.
The game with Houston, their first against a ranked team as a ranked team, is the pivot point of the season. if Oklahoma State wins, I could see them staying undefeated in Big 12 play going into their matchup with Texas Tech on Nov. 14. If they lose, then the Cowboys are still in the race, but it gets much tougher. Either way, their stock is up.
Utah
Entering last weekend Utah was dominant in every game it played. But Saturday against Kansas the Utes got their first taste of a challenge. Utah was only up 21-17 at the break. I watched that game on replay and Kansas played them hard. They threw some different things at Utah and the Utes struggled to adjust. But they made some big adjustments in the second half and the Utes pulled away.
The Utes should be lean into running back Wayshawn Parker as much as possible. This is the dynamic back in the Big 12 that few are talking about. He dumped 171 yards and two scores on Kansas and it’s the second time in three Big 12 games where his running helped close the door on an upset-minded opponent (Iowa State).
I had my doubts about Utah coming into the season mainly because of the coaching change. But the Utes are in great shape.
Stock Down
UCF
UCF has now lost 12 straight road games since the Knights beat TCU in their Big 12 debut in September of 2023. That’s head coach Scott Frost’s streak to break now, but he and his Knights are struggling. They’ve been in each road game and haven’t been able to close the deal.
UCF was missing 10 players against Oklahoma State, including quarterback Alonza Barnett III and wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. That makes the Knights’ offense extremely limited and until those players return a stout defensive line can only do so much. Even with the injuries, the Knights need to find ways to win those games, or they’ll fall short of a bowl game again.
Kansas State
I guess I’m just so used to Kansas State being good that I’m having difficulty with the concept that they’re, well, not.
Houston came to town and after a close first quarter the Cougars pretty much handled their business. The Cougars are a great team and that showdown with Oklahoma State on Saturday is going to be electric. Kansas State’s biggest problem right now is defense. They lost so much in the portal and while head coach Collin Klein did what he could to replace it, there just isn’t enough talent there right now.
That makes it that much harder for quarterback Avery Johnson and the offense to keep the Wildcats in ball games. Kansas State plays Kansas this weekend and puts its 17-year Sunflower Showdown on the line. And it’s ON THE LINE.
BYU
Strange to say that BYU stock is down when they’re undefeated and I get that. But the injury to running back LJ Martin is critical. I thought quarterback Bear Bachmeier had a great game, and he certainly put that team on its back. He threw for 329 yards and rushed for another 109 yards and I can’t imagine he can keep that up the rest of the season.
BYU used six other players rushing the football, but Preston Rex had 21 years to lead the non-Bear rushers. So that’s the worry — can the Cougars find a complement to Bachmeier in the run game? BYU needs to find it this week with No. 2 Notre Dame coming to town.
