Week 10 gave us everything we’ve come to expect from Big 12 football: late-night chaos, shootouts, blown leads, statement wins, and plenty of drama in the conference title race. Utah further separated itself from the pack, Big 12 After Dark delivered two instant classics, and both Kansas and Kansas State suffered disasters of their own. With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, here’s a look at the biggest overreactions coming out of another wild weekend in the Big 12.
Big 12 After Dark Exceeds Expectations
Two of the best games of the weekend came courtesy of Big 12 After Dark.
Late Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday morning, Arizona completed a dramatic comeback to defeat TCU 29-28. The Wildcats needed a late touchdown, a successful pooch onside kick, and a game-winning field goal to pull off the victory. Noah Fifita once again shined, throwing for 313 yards and two touchdowns while adding 38 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
Saturday night’s game was even crazier.
Texas Tech outlasted West Virginia 53-48 in one of the wildest shootouts the conference has seen this season. Both quarterbacks delivered spectacular performances. West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr. threw for 303 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 88 yards and three more scores. Texas Tech quarterback Thomas Castellanos somehow topped that effort, passing for 362 yards and five touchdowns while adding 102 rushing yards.
We may not see another game like that the rest of the season.
The Sunflower State Stinkers
Kansas State and Kansas both suffered embarrassing losses over the weekend.
The Wildcats were blown out by Oklahoma State, falling behind 28-7 after the first quarter and trailing 49-14 at halftime. Things didn’t get much better as the Cowboys rolled to a 66-28 victory.
Kansas’ loss may have been even more painful.
The Jayhawks trailed 26-7 early in the second half before storming back with 25 consecutive points to take a late lead. The problem? They left too much time on the clock.
UCF marched down the field and scored with one second remaining to escape with a 33-32 victory. It was yet another late-game collapse for Kansas, a troubling trend that has followed the program for several seasons.
That may have been the Jayhawks’ last realistic chance to earn another victory this season, and the pressure surrounding Lance Leipold is only going to increase.
Thanks to conference tiebreakers, Kansas now sits at the bottom of the Big 12 standings despite sharing a 1-5 conference record with Kansas State and Colorado.
Utah Remains the Undisputed Best Team in the Big 12
No. 3 Utah once again showed why it sits atop the conference hierarchy.
The Utes jumped out to an early 14-3 lead against No. 7 BYU before the Cougars rallied for a 20-14 halftime advantage. In the second half, Utah’s defense completely took over, pitching a shutout and allowing the offense to grind out a 28-20 victory.
The result left Utah as the lone unbeaten team in the Big 12 and elevated the Utes to No. 2 nationally behind Georgia.
The road ahead won’t be easy. Utah still must travel to Arizona and TCU before hosting West Virginia in the regular-season finale.
However, if the Utes finish 12-0, they will have more than earned their place in the College Football Playoff before even stepping onto the field for the Big 12 Championship Game.
Looking Ahead to Week 11
Friday Night Big 12 After Dark Trap Game
No. 17 Houston heads to Boulder to face Colorado in a game that has all the makings of a trap.
The Cougars are one of the conference’s top teams, while Colorado has struggled throughout the season. Still, road trips can be dangerous, especially against a team playing with desperation and a coach who may be fighting for his future.
Houston should win, but overlooking the Buffaloes would be a mistake.
If the Cougars finish the regular season strong, their résumé could put them on the edge of the College Football Playoff conversation. Houston’s two conference losses have come by a combined 10 points, making the margin remarkably thin.
Bowl Eligibility on the Line
We’re officially on bowl watch.
Arizona State and UCF, both sitting at 5-4, meet in Orlando with bowl eligibility hanging in the balance. The winner secures a postseason berth, while the loser will have to wait at least another week.
Looking ahead, this feels like Arizona State’s best chance to earn that crucial sixth win. UCF’s path appears slightly easier, with Iowa State and Colorado remaining on the schedule.
Cincinnati can also become bowl eligible with a road victory over Iowa State, though that won’t be easy. The Cyclones are tough at home and enter the week as slight favorites.
West Virginia rounds out the list of teams chasing bowl eligibility. The Mountaineers host a struggling Kansas squad and should have a strong opportunity to secure their sixth victory. Given the offensive talent on both rosters, expect points to be scored in bunches.
More Prime-Time Big 12 After Dark Madness
No. 2 Utah travels to No. 22 Arizona in what could be one of the conference’s most entertaining games of the season.
The Utes will be favored, but Arizona has proven all year that it can compete with anyone, especially at home. This feels like a game that could come down to the final possession.
Then there’s Texas Tech against Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
The Red Raiders and Cowboys both have explosive offenses, and after what we witnessed from Texas Tech and West Virginia last weekend, another shootout feels entirely possible.
Don’t be surprised if these two teams combine for 100 points.
If last weekend taught us anything, it’s this: don’t turn off Big 12 After Dark early. The conference continues to produce some of the most entertaining football in America.
