With one month left in the regular season, things are heating up in the Big 12, with one team standing above the rest and a massive matchup coming up in Week 10.
Let’s take a look at some overreactions from last week before looking ahead to what’s coming this weekend.
Big 12 Week 9 Overreactions
Utah Is the Best Team in the Big 12
It may have taken us a while to get here, but Utah is undoubtedly the best team in the Big 12… for now.
The Utes once again showed why they’re the top team in the conference with a huge 49-25 win over Cincinnati. The Bearcats were coming off a huge home win over Texas Tech, but they couldn’t hold it together against another one of the Big 12’s heavyweights.
The Utes dominated from the start and led 42-6 at halftime before taking their foot off the gas a bit in the second half.
There’s no doubt that Utah is the best team in the conference right now, but things won’t get any easier down the stretch, with two ranked opponents on the horizon.
For now, the No. 3-ranked team in the nation also sits alone atop the Big 12 standings, and the Utes will need to keep that momentum going if they want to represent the conference in the College Football Playoff.
More: BYU vs. Utah Prediction & Pick
Arizona Is Eliminated From Big 12 Title Contention
No. 13 Texas Tech defeated No. 22 Arizona 34-26, essentially knocking Arizona out of Big 12 title contention.
The Wildcats now have losses to BYU and Texas Tech, both of which are ranked higher in the Big 12 standings. It would take a major meltdown from both the Red Raiders and Cougars for Arizona to even sniff a chance at making the Big 12 Championship Game because of tiebreaker scenarios.
The Wildcats are a very good team, but those losses to ranked teams ahead of them could keep Arizona out of the Big 12 Championship Game.
Iowa State Football Is Better Than Iowa State Basketball
Here’s the hottest take of the day, and an overreaction that crosses into both the Big 12 football and basketball worlds as the two seasons begin to overlap.
Iowa State’s football team hit a game-winning, walk-off field goal to beat No. 24 Oklahoma State 51-49 in Ames on Saturday.
The Cyclones are now 4-4 on the season, a much better showing than many expected from a roster that was almost completely overhauled after losing former head coach Matt Campbell to Penn State.
A .500 record eight games into the season is impressive, considering many picked the Cyclones to finish in last place in the Big 12 standings.
Meanwhile, the Cyclones men’s basketball team started the season 0-1 on Monday night after losing 80-76 to Memphis.
The Cyclones, who were ranked No. 18 heading into the season, were one of the few Top 25 teams to lose to an unranked opponent on opening night of the college basketball season.
Memphis, a team that finished 13-19 last season and was without its top player for the game, pulled off the shocker in a neutral-site game in South Dakota.
Yes, it’s early, and it’s just one game, but that was a terrible look for Iowa State’s basketball program.
Give me Iowa State football stock over Iowa State basketball stock at this point!
Looking Ahead to Big 12 Week 10
Game of the Week: The Holy War
No. 7 BYU will make the short trip north to Salt Lake City to take on No. 3 Utah.
This could be the first of two matchups between these teams, as both could end up in the Big 12 Championship Game in early December.
However, if BYU loses, the Cougars would need some help, including another Texas Tech loss, to improve their chances of staying ahead of the Red Raiders in the conference title race.
If Utah wins, the Utes will once again establish themselves as the top team in the Big 12 and the conference’s biggest national championship contender.
Bowl Eligibility on the Line
Baylor, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati and West Virginia can all clinch bowl eligibility with a win this weekend.
Two of them should clinch, while the other two may have to wait another week.
Baylor is a 10-point favorite over Iowa State, with the Cyclones heading to Waco this weekend.
Oklahoma State hits the road to take on Kansas State in Manhattan. The Wildcats have been struggling with no real answer at quarterback since Avery Johnson went out with an injury. The Cowboys are 4.5-point road favorites early in the week.
Cincinnati will have a tough battle on the road at No. 17 Houston. The Cougars are 11.5-point favorites, so the Bearcats would need to pull off an impressive upset to reach bowl eligibility in Week 10.
West Virginia also has an uphill battle to reach bowl eligibility this weekend. The Mountaineers are on the road at No. 13 Texas Tech and are 17-point underdogs.
If West Virginia wins, that would be one of the biggest upsets in conference play this season.
One Last Ride for Kansas
The Kansas Jayhawks are favored by three points against UCF, and this could be the last time they’re favored this season.
It may very well be the last time the Jayhawks have a realistic chance to pick up a win this season, too.
This could also signal the beginning of the end of the Lance Leipold era at Kansas.
It seems like the Jayhawks have some talent on the roster, but questionable in-game coaching decisions and late-half meltdowns have been staples of KU football over the past several seasons.
We’ll see if they can get a win on Saturday in a home matchup against a team they’re favored to beat.
With less than a month to go, the surprises are getting fewer and fewer.
The Holy War should be a fantastic game, not only in the Big 12, but nationally as well. It deserves to be considered one of the best matchups in college football this weekend, especially in a week loaded with intriguing games across the country.
