The Big 12 Conference had a great time in Week 7. Many of their ranked teams won, three teams moved into the AP Top 10, with BYU moving up to No. 2. But things can change quickly in the Big 12 Conference and everyone in this league can attest to that. As the league rolls into Week 8 of the season, here are the three teams playing this weekend that have the most to prove, including Utah, TCU and BYU.
Utah
I’m not going to sit here and say that Utah has played some cupcakes. They’ve played four power conference opponents, including three Big 12 teams. The Utes have played well against each one of them, although Colorado certainly gave them some issues last week in Boulder.
But Saturday will be their first game this season against a ranked team when they host No. 14 Houston. It will be an ESPN College Gameday game. It will also be the first of three ranked opponents the Utes will play in their next four games.
So what does Utah need to prove? That they can handle the other Big 12 contenders. All three upcoming ranked teams (BYU and Arizona) all have designs on getting to Arlington. Utah can’t get there without beating them.
If I’m Utah, I don’t care about style points. Houston certainly doesn’t. Just win — any way you can.
TCU
The Horned Frogs are coming off a 17-6 win over Baylor. The good news is TCU won a Big 12 game. The bad news is they scored 17 points on Baylor. The Horned Frogs had lost two straight games before that showdown with Baylor, and it was their first win over a power conference team.
So, what does TCU have to prove? That they can string two wins together against power conference opponents. This was a team that a lot of folks pegged as a sleeper pick in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs look like they’ve slept through the first half of this season.
Sonny Dykes isn’t exactly on solid footing, but I wouldn’t say his seat is hot. But if he follows up a Revivalry win with a road loss to Kansas, which hasn’t won a league game yet, well where does that leave him?
BYU
What does BYU need to prove after that massive win over Notre Dame? Well, the Cougars need to prove they can avoid the trap.
This is about as perfect a trap game scenario as one could come up with. A conference contender wins a massive game at home and then goes on the road to face a .500 team coming off bye week. It’s the classic letdown game scenario for BYU.
I’m here to tell you — the Bounce House is not an easy place to play. Orlando is not an easy place to play. Ask Oklahoma State back 2023, which reached the Big 12 championship game but was shoulder rolled by UCF in Orlando that year.
I’ve seen UCF a couple of times this season. The Knights are undermanned, but head coach Scott Frost and his staff have figured out ways to move the football with quarterback Alonza Barnett III.
BYU must prove it can avoid the trap. Because if the Cougars can’t avoid the trap, they may not win the conference.
