With November officially here, the margin for error across the Big 12 is getting smaller by the week. Utah continues to separate itself from the rest of the conference, coaching situations are becoming hotter topics around the league, and several teams are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. As the stretch run begins, here are my biggest Tuesday Takes heading into one of the most important weekends of the 2026 Big 12 football season.
Utah Will Win the Holy War and Finish the Regular Season Undefeated
I’ve been high on Utah for several weeks now, repeatedly calling the Utes the most complete team in the Big 12. It’s finally time to go a step further.
Not only do I think Utah will beat BYU in the Holy War on Saturday, but I also believe the Utes will finish the regular season undefeated.
BYU has shown some cracks over the last two weeks and doesn’t appear to be playing its best football. I haven’t felt that way about Utah all season. The Utes have been consistent from Week 1 through Week 9.
Devon Dampier has been steady at quarterback, while Wayshawn Parker has emerged as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the conference. Add in a defense that ranks among the Big 12’s best, and it’s hard to find many weaknesses on this roster.
More importantly, while every other contender has experienced significant ups and downs this season, Utah has remained remarkably steady.
The Utes haven’t beaten BYU in seven years, but I believe that changes this weekend. Their three-game losing streak to the Cougars ends Saturday, and Utah takes another major step toward a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth.
It’s Time to Have a Conversation About Lance Leipold
This may sound harsh, but it’s time to have an honest discussion about Lance Leipold‘s future at Kansas.
There’s no denying what Leipold accomplished when he took over the program. He helped rebuild one of college football’s toughest jobs and delivered a memorable nine-win season that included a bowl victory.
The problem is that season came three years ago.
Since then, Kansas has posted back-to-back 5-7 campaigns and now sits at 3-5 this season with games remaining against UCF, West Virginia, BYU, and Oklahoma State.
At this point, the Jayhawks would be fortunate to finish 5-7. A 3-9 or 4-8 season appears far more realistic.
Leipold’s overall record at Kansas is 30-40, including a 17-33 mark in Big 12 play. He has just one winning conference record in five seasons, and that statistic isn’t likely to improve this year.
Leipold deserves credit for elevating the program from where it was when he arrived. But eventually, programs have to evaluate where they’re headed, not where they’ve been.
Right now, Kansas looks like a program that has plateaued, and perhaps even regressed.
Cincinnati’s November Blues Will Continue
Halloween may be over, but something still should scare Cincinnati fans: the month of November.
Ever since Scott Satterfield arrived in 2023, the Bearcats have struggled when the calendar turns to the season’s most important month.
In fact, Cincinnati is just 1-11 in November under Satterfield. That’s a startling statistic for a program that expects to compete near the top of the Big 12 standings.
Last season was the perfect example. The Bearcats entered November at 7-1 and undefeated in conference play. Many viewed them as legitimate Big 12 title contenders.
They proceeded to lose their final four regular-season games.
Now Cincinnati enters another difficult November following a lopsided loss to Utah.
The schedule offers some opportunity. Games against Iowa State and Colorado are certainly winnable. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, road trips to Houston and BYU are also on the slate.
I do think Cincinnati finds a victory or two before the season ends. However, until the Bearcats prove otherwise, it’s hard to trust them during November.
The trend has persisted for too long, and I’m not convinced this year will be any different.
