With just three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Big 12 championship race is beginning to come into focus. Utah continues to separate itself from the rest of the conference, several programs are facing major questions about their future, and a handful of teams are looking to play spoiler down the stretch. Here are my latest Tuesday Takes as the Big 12 enters the most important stretch of the 2026 season.
Utah Will Win the Big 12
After Utah took down its in-state rival BYU last weekend, I started asking myself a simple question: Is there anyone left in the Big 12 who can beat the Utes?
After looking at the remaining schedule, my answer is no.
Arizona will provide a tough test this weekend, but Utah is no stranger to playing quality opponents. More importantly, the Utes have been the most complete and consistent team in the conference all season long.
Week after week, they have handled business. Unlike many of the other contenders, Utah has avoided prolonged stretches of poor play and has consistently found ways to win.
Their defense has continued to improve as the season has progressed, while the offense remains one of the most difficult units in the conference to defend. Between Devon Dampier, Wayshawn Parker, and a deep group of playmakers, Utah has answers all over the field.
Last week, I predicted the Utes would finish the regular season undefeated. This week, I’m taking it a step further. Utah will win the Big 12 Championship and earn a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
Colorado Needs to Move On From Deion Sanders
As exciting as the Deion Sanders experiment was when it began, it feels like the program is heading toward a point where both sides may be better off moving on.
Since taking over in 2023, Sanders has posted a 19-26 overall record and a 10-21 mark in conference play. Even more concerning, seven of those conference wins came during the 2024 season when Colorado had Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter leading the way.
Outside of that season, the results have been difficult to defend.
The Buffaloes now sit at 3-6 and still have Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF remaining on the schedule. Realistically, they may be fortunate to win one of those games and finish 4-8.
Beyond the losses, the constant drama surrounding the program has become exhausting. Whether it’s coaching turnover, player dismissals, or off-field distractions, there always seems to be another storyline emerging from Boulder.
The biggest obstacle, of course, is Sanders’ contract. Colorado recently committed significant money to him, making a buyout extremely expensive.
That said, with Florida State’s job now open, Colorado may quietly be hoping Sanders is interested in making a move. Otherwise, the university may eventually have to decide whether the long-term cost of keeping him outweighs the short-term financial hit of moving on.
Baylor Will Pull Off Another Upset
This may not sound like a bold prediction, but it looks much bolder when you examine Baylor’s remaining schedule.
The Bears still have BYU, Texas Tech, and Houston left to play, and those three teams are widely considered among the conference’s top contenders.
Despite that challenge, I think Baylor finds a way to win at least one of those games.
Since moving on from Dave Aranda, the Bears have looked like a completely different team. They have outscored opponents 83-40 over the last two weeks, including a dominant win over UCF in Orlando and a double-digit victory against Iowa State.
Quarterback DJ Lagway has been excellent, the offense is playing with confidence, and the defense has improved in key moments.
Am I ready to call Baylor a top-five team in the Big 12? No.
But it’s impossible to ignore how much better the Bears have looked under interim head coach Joe Klanderman. Momentum matters in November, and Baylor appears to have found some at exactly the right time.
That is why I believe the Bears will spoil someone’s season before this year is over.
