Week 9 has arrived in the Big 12, and after a chaotic weekend that saw two of the league’s top teams suffer their first losses, the conference championship race suddenly looks much different.
No. 6 Utah is the Big 12’s last remaining undefeated team and faces a difficult road test at Cincinnati, which is fresh off a dominant win over Texas Tech. No. 8 BYU will try to bounce back at home against Arizona State, while No. 13 Texas Tech gets No. 22 Arizona in a matchup between two teams sitting at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play.
The weekend gets started Friday night when Baylor travels to UCF for its first game since firing head coach Dave Aranda.
Here are our predictions and picks for every Big 12 football game in Week 9.
Baylor at UCF
Kickoff: Friday, 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
What a difference one weekend can make.
UCF enters Week 9 riding high after stunning No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime for its biggest win since joining the Big 12. Baylor, meanwhile, is beginning a new era after firing Dave Aranda following a 25-24 loss to Kansas.
Now the Knights have to avoid an emotional letdown, while interim head coach Joe Klanderman gets his first opportunity to see how the Bears respond following a major coaching change.
Full Preview and Prediction: Baylor vs. UCF
No. 22 Arizona at No. 13 Texas Tech
Kickoff: Saturday, 11:00 a.m.CT
TV: ESPN
This might be the game of the week in the Big 12.
Arizona has become one of the hottest teams in the conference and enters Week 9 after crushing Iowa State 39-3. The Wildcats are now 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play, with their only loss coming against BYU.
Texas Tech is also 6-1 and 3-1 after suffering its first loss of the season in a 37-24 defeat at Cincinnati. Now the Red Raiders return to Lubbock, where they have won 12 straight games, with little margin for error remaining in the Big 12 race.
Full Preview and Prediction: Arizona vs. Texas Tech
Kansas State at Colorado
Kickoff: Saturday, 1:00 p.m. CT
TV: TNT
Kansas State and Colorado enter Week 9 desperately needing something positive.
The Wildcats fell to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play after losing 28-17 at Arizona State, and quarterback Avery Johnson is considered unlikely to play for the second consecutive week.
Colorado’s situation is even worse. The Buffaloes have lost five straight games and remain winless in Big 12 play after getting blown out 57-24 at Oklahoma State.
Something has to give in Boulder.
Full Preview and Prediction: Kansas State vs. Colorado
Arizona State at No. 8 BYU
Kickoff: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: FOX
How does BYU respond?
The Cougars suffered their first loss of the season in a 39-31 double-overtime stunner at UCF, ending their undefeated run and significantly shrinking their margin for error in the Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff races.
Arizona State comes to Provo with some momentum after beating Kansas State 28-17 last weekend.
BYU should have the advantage at home, but after what happened in Orlando, the Cougars can’t afford to overlook anybody.
Full Preview and Prediction: Arizona State vs. BYU
TCU vs. Kansas
Kickoff: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: FOX Sports 1
Both TCU and Kansas enter Week 9 at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play, making this a huge game for two teams trying to keep their seasons from slipping away.
Kansas finally broke through in conference play last weekend with a 25-24 win over Baylor, while TCU suffered a disappointing 24-20 home loss to West Virginia.
With both teams sitting below .500 as November approaches, this feels like a game neither side can afford to lose if it wants to make a serious push toward bowl eligibility.
Full Preview and Prediction: TCU vs. Kansas
No. 6 Utah at Cincinnati
Kickoff: Saturday, 2:45 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Don’t sleep on this one.
Utah is now the last undefeated team in the Big 12 after beating Houston 21-13 last weekend, putting the Utes in control of the conference championship race.
But Cincinnati just proved how dangerous it can be at Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats dominated then-No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24 and now get another opportunity to knock off one of the best teams in the country at home.
Can Cincinnati take down a highly ranked Big 12 contender for the second consecutive week, or will Utah keep its perfect season rolling?
Full Preview and Prediction: Utah vs. Cincinnati
Oklahoma State at Iowa State
Kickoff: Saturday, 6:00 p.m.
TV: FOX
These two teams couldn’t be entering Week 9 feeling much differently.
Oklahoma State is coming off a 57-24 blowout win over Colorado in which Drew Mestemaker threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns as the Cowboys piled up 598 yards of offense.
Iowa State, meanwhile, was on the wrong end of one of the biggest blowouts of Week 8, losing 39-3 at Arizona.
The Cowboys have emerged as one of the biggest surprises in the Big 12, but a road trip to Ames has ruined plenty of promising seasons before.
Full Preview and Prediction: Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State
Week 8 completely reshaped the Big 12 race, with BYU and Texas Tech suffering their first losses while Utah emerged as the league’s final undefeated team.
Now Week 9 gives BYU and Texas Tech an opportunity to respond, while Utah faces one of its toughest remaining road tests and Arizona gets another chance to prove it belongs among the Big 12’s top contenders.
And if Week 8 taught us anything, it’s that assuming we know what’s coming next in this conference is probably a bad idea.
