The Big 12 Conference just passed the halfway point of the season, and the league race is really taking shape. Three teams remain undefeated both in Big 12 play and overall and are in the Associated Press Top 10 this week. Two other teams absorbed their first Big 12 loss of the season but are still in the race. The rest are in full-on chase mode.

So, who’s stock went up and who’s stock went down? Let’s look at the big movers across the league.

Stock Up

BYU Cougars

The BYU Cougars beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at home on Saturday, 28-24. Yes, the ending was controversial (someone still looking for that extra second?). But, remember this — the Cougars went into that game without their best running back, LJ Martin, due to injury. It was BYU’s second game without him. The emergence of Preston Rex at running back in this game might have been the most important development. Less reliance on quarterback Bear Bachmeier in the run game is a good thing.

BYU showed its toughness and resilience in this game. It also gathered a great “chip” when it comes to proving their worthiness for the College Football Playoff, whether they win the league or not.

Houston Cougars

Hey, in case you’re wondering, Conner Weigman can throw the football, too. As much as head coach Willie Fritz wants to run the ball, he trusted his fifth-year quarterback to sling it against Oklahoma State, and he threw for 343 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-32 win.

The game was a coming out party of sorts for him. I don’t think anyone outside of the Big 12 knew he had that kind of arm. It will come in handy this week against Utah. College Gameday will be in town. Fritz gets a chance to show off his program and it’s a well-deserved one. They have momentum and a chance to shake up the Big 12 race.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

So … guess Texas Tech figured out the offense during the bye week. The Red Raiders went off for 53 points against Arizona State, scoring 43 of those points in the first half. Quarterback Will Hammond looked more comfortable. The offense looked more efficient. Tech did all of that without running back Cameron Dickey, who is out with a high ankle sprain.

The defense has been great all season. At times it’s been elite. If this is the Red Raiders’ offense moving forward, well good luck to the rest of y’all. It’s the sort of offensive explosion Tech has been waiting for against a power conference team.

Stock Down

Oklahoma State Cowboys

I’m not down on Oklahoma State as a whole. But the loss to Houston exposed some things, especially defensively. The secondary had its worst game of the season. Weigman torched them in part because of how porous that unit was. The defensive gave up more than 500 yards. Head coach Eric Morris will do some soul searching this week. The Houston game showed this defense has little margin for error.

That said, the offensive scored 32 points and scored points on four of their final five possessions of the game. Led quarterback Drew Mestemaker, that side of the ball is going to keep the Cowboys in every game they play the remainder of the season.

Baylor Bears

So … the Bears barely lose to Auburn to start the season, win four straight games, get a bye week and then get the Revivalry at home against TCU and … you do that? Six points? SIX POINTS? That’s six points more than I had and I didn’t even play. I felt like Baylor lost twice.

There was a clear path for the Bears to get to 6-0 before having to end the season with BYU, Texas Tech and Houston. Maybe Baylor still would have been 6-3 anyway. But head coach Dave Aranda could have had Baylor undefeated in league play in November and his team let it slip.

So are we back on hot seat watch or no?

Arizona State Sun Devils

That was a rough watch against Texas Tech. Arizona State made a move at quarterback, replacing Cutter Boley with Mikey Keene in the second half. That tells you everything about where the Sun Devils are at right now. The offense is sputtering. The defense is yielding points. They’ve beaten on power conference team — Kansas, which was in London.

I was wrong about this team. I thought Arizona State had a chance to contend in this league. That no longer looks to be the case.

Baylor and Kansas meet in Lawrence for a Week 8 Big 12 matchup between two teams badly in need of some momentum. The Bears are coming off a disappointing 17-6 loss to TCU, while the Jayhawks saw their losing streak to Kansas State reach 18 games with a 35-24 loss in Manhattan. With both teams trying to get their seasons moving in the right direction, which one breaks through on Saturday? Baylor and Kansas kick off at 1:00 p.m. CT on TNT/truTV. Here’s our prediction, pick and preview.

TCU vs. West Virginia Odds

• Spread: Baylor -2.5
• Over/Under: 51.5
• Moneyline: Baylor -144/Kansas +120

Odds as of Tuesday afternoon. Odds are subject to change.

The Biggest Question: Can Kansas Finally Get a Win?

The Jayhawks have yet to beat a Power 4 opponent this season. And dating back to 2025, KU has lost six Big 12 games in a row, and are 1-8 in their last nine conference games. Now, this team is not anywhere close to where it was in the bad old days pre-Lance Leipold, but at the same time, the resources and facilities have improved, and the 9-4 campaign of 2023 feels like 13 years ago at this point, not three. Kansas had a 17-7 lead after the first quarter at K-State last week, and then got their doors blown off, getting outscored 28-7 the rest of the way. They got ran on for 359 yards by the Wildcats. If there’s some good news, it’s that Baylor’s offense has been wildly inconsistent and that might put KU in a spot to win its first league game of the season. And boy, do they need one.

Kansas vs. Baylor Prediction and Pick

Prediction: Kansas 27, Baylor 23

The Kansas Jayhawks will get their first win of the year. They’re desperate. They’re home. They’re an underdog. They need it. And the match up I like the most is DJ Lagway vs. the Kansas passing defense, that has been underrated so far this season. KU is third in the Big 12 in passing yards allowed per game and goes up against a Baylor offense that wants to pass the ball, ranking third in the league in passing yards per game. Also, Kansas’ Isaiah Marshall will be able to negate Baylor’s pass rush, which ranks first in the Big 12 with 22 sacks in six games. But KU has only been sacked six times in six games, and that’s going up against very solid defensive fronts, like Missouri and Utah.

While Kansas has attracted an overwhelming share of both tickets and money, the betting line has moved in Baylor’s favor, growing from roughly Baylor -1.5 to Baylor -3. That’s often considered one of the strongest indicators of respected action, as oddsmakers have made bettors lay a bigger number with the Bears despite the apparent support for Kansas. I’m with them on this game on Saturday.

Kansas covers. Kansas wins.

What a weekend it was for the Big 12. Five of the nation’s top 10 teams lost in Week 7, but the Big 12’s top contenders all survived and, in some cases, thrived. The result? Three Big 12 teams now sit inside the top 10 heading into Week 8, giving the conference plenty of momentum as the second half of the season begins.

Let’s dive into some Week 7 overreactions and look ahead to what’s next in the Big 12.

The Big 12 Is the Best Conference in College Football Right Now

The results are in, and the Big 12 has a legitimate argument as the nation’s top conference.

BYU’s win over Notre Dame vaulted the Cougars to No. 2 in the rankings. Texas Tech dominated Arizona State and climbed to No. 8. Utah survived a late-night battle with Colorado and landed at No. 10. Meanwhile, Houston jumped to No. 14 after knocking off a top-20 Oklahoma State team.

The ACC has only one team in the top 10 and top 15 with Miami sitting at No. 1. The SEC has just two top-10 teams. The Big Ten and Big 12 each have three teams in the top 10, but with BYU checking in at No. 2, the Big 12 gets the nod.

Will that still be true next week? Maybe not. But after seven weeks, no conference can match the combination of depth and top-end rankings the Big 12 currently possesses.

Kansas Might Be the Worst Team in the Big 12

Kansas entered the Sunflower Showdown desperately needing a breakthrough.

Instead, the Jayhawks suffered another frustrating collapse.

Kansas State erased a halftime deficit by scoring the final 17 points of the game to secure a 35-24 victory, extending its winning streak in the rivalry to 18 straight games. Once again, Kansas struggled to finish, something that has become an unfortunate trend.

There are still opportunities ahead for Lance Leipold’s team, but right now it’s fair to wonder whether Kansas has fallen to the bottom of the conference standings.

West Virginia Is the Most Entertaining Team in the Big 12

No team in the conference is more fun to watch than West Virginia.

The Mountaineers don’t play much defense, but they make up for it with explosive offense and high-scoring games. Every West Virginia game has gone over the posted total this season, and each contest has featured at least 55 combined points.

Even more impressively, the Mountaineers’ last three games have all produced more than 80 total points.

West Virginia may not win the conference, but if you’re looking for drama and fireworks, they’re must-watch television every Saturday.

With the overreactions out of the way, let’s look ahead to Week 8.

BYU Is on Letdown Alert

BYU just secured one of the biggest wins in program history by knocking off Notre Dame.

Now comes the difficult part.

The Cougars travel to Orlando to face UCF, a team coming off a bye week and eager to play spoiler. BYU is a touchdown favorite and the more talented team, but emotional victories often lead to dangerous situations the following week.

Adding to the challenge is the fact that the Holy War against Utah is looming in the coming weeks, a game that could have major Big 12 Championship implications.

BYU cannot afford to overlook the Knights, even if UCF doesn’t have Alonza Barnett at quarterback. If the Cougars want to remain in the College Football Playoff conversation, this is a game they simply have to handle.

Arizona Has a Chance to Stay in the Race

The schedule gets much tougher for Arizona down the stretch.

The Wildcats still have road games against Texas Tech and a home showdown with Utah remaining. Before that, though, they host Iowa State in a crucial conference matchup.

Both teams are coming off a bye week, meaning preparation shouldn’t be an issue. Arizona enters as a double-digit favorite and has an opportunity to remind everyone that it remains a legitimate player in the Big 12 race.

Take care of business at home, and the Wildcats will keep themselves firmly in the conversation.

Game of the Week: No. 14 Houston at No. 10 Utah

This one has all the ingredients of a Big 12 classic.

Houston enters fresh off a three-point victory over Oklahoma State, while Utah is trying to build on a narrow 27-24 win over Colorado.

The stakes are enormous.

A Houston loss would leave the Cougars with defeats against both Texas Tech and Utah, making the path to Arlington significantly more difficult due to tiebreaker implications. A win, however, would place Houston directly in the thick of the conference title race with a favorable remaining schedule.

Utah faces similar pressure. Defend home field, and the Utes strengthen their position near the top of the standings. Lose, and suddenly the margin for error disappears.

This game could go a long way toward shaping the Big 12 Championship picture.

Final Thoughts

Week 8 offers another loaded slate of Big 12 action.

From Texas Tech’s road trip to Cincinnati in the early window to Houston and Utah battling under the lights in Salt Lake City, there will be no shortage of intrigue across the conference.

If Week 7 taught us anything, it’s that the Big 12 race is far from settled. And that’s exactly what makes it so much fun.

Week 7 of the 2026 Big 12 football season was a historic week for the Big 12. BYU shocked Notre Dame, Houston and Oklahoma State played down to the wire, there was a walk-off win for West Virginia vs. Cincinnati, and the Big 12 now has three teams ranked inside the Top 10 of the AP Poll.

As we move deeper into October, the gap between the top and bottom of the Big 12 is becoming clearer. But figuring out the order near the top? That’s getting more difficult by the week.

So, after another wild Saturday across the conference, here’s where all 16 teams stand in our Big 12 Football Power Rankings after Week 7.

1. BYU Cougars (Last Week: No. 1)

BYU, you have the best win in college football after beating Notre Dame on Saturday night. And as a result, you remain No. 1 in our Power Rankings, and it’s not all that close. Bear Bachmeier should be a household name for college football fans, BYU deserves to be the favorite to win the Big 12, and the Big 12 should be a serious contender for two teams to make the College Football Playoff this year.

2. Houston Cougars (Last Week: No. 5)

This will be controversial, but I am giving Houston the nod over Texas Tech for No. 2 this week. The quality of win vs. Oklahoma State last week, compared to Tech boat racing a really bad Arizona State team is why I am giving the edge to UH. Houston’s Strength of Schedule is No. 44, while Texas Tech is No. 82. The two teams have played head-to-head, with Texas Tech winning by two, but at this point, that game was a month ago, and since then, Houston has been more consistent and beaten much better competition.

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Last Week: 4)

Texas Tech finally looked like the team we thought they could be this season with a dominant victory over Arizona State. But, was this game more about a get-right game for Tech or is Arizona State just that bad. They’ve lost their two Big 12 games by a total score of 108-44. For now, I’m putting Tech in the No. 3 slot.

4. Utah Utes (Last Week: No. 2)

The Utes continue to play with fire. Yes, they’re 6-0, but the resume is underwhelming, and Saturday night vs. Colorado did not help the cause. They dominated the first half, Colorado has more penalty yards than total yards, but somehow the Buffaloes led the game in the third quarter. Utah won, but something just feels a bit off the last couple of weeks.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Week: No. 3)

The Oklahoma State Cowboys went to Houston and could not get the stops when they needed them, and also found themselves digging another first-half hole, and had to make a second-half comeback, which has become a too-frequent issue for the Pokes. They can’t keep needing second-half comebacks, especially as the competition improves. It bit them on Saturday.

No. 6: Arizona Wildcats (Last Week: No. 6)

Arizona continues to be the team that is quietly not getting enough attention. But they are ranked in the Top 25 this week following their bye week. Now, it’s home to Iowa State before a huge road game at Texas Tech next week.

No. 7: Iowa State Cyclones (Last Week: No. 9)

We now get into the messy part of the Power Rankings. Iowa State was off, but I’m moving them up. They have 3 losses, but they’re to BYU, Utah and Iowa. They also have a win over West Virginia, who just beat Cincinnati. So off the bye week, I’m sliding the Cyclones up to No. 7. But I admit, it’s a mess starting here.

No. 8: West Virginia Mountaineers (Last Week: No. 11)

West Virginia slides up three spots after beating Cincinnati on a walk-off field goal on Saturday. WVU is 1-3 in the league, but they have three losses to teams all ranked ahead of them in the Power Rankings. If only this team could find a semblance of a defense…

No. 9: Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: No. 8)

Cincinnati led for most of the game in Morgantown, except for when it mattered most. They put together a really good game, outgaining WVU, but they also couldn’t slow down Michael Hawkins Jr. to save their life. Now, they’re home to take on Texas Tech, which sets up all kinds of storylines ahead of Week 8.

No. 10: UCF Knights (Last Week: No. 10)

UCF was on a bye this week, but remains in the No. 10 slot in the Power Rankings. The Knights will get a crack at BYU this weekend, which … could be a letdown game for the Cougars?

No. 11: Kansas State Wildcats (Last Week: No. 12)

Death, taxes and a K-State win in the Sunflower Showdown. Kansas State moves up to No. 11 after beating Kansas on Saturday for the 18th-straight time. What else can you say? This series has been dominated one way for nearly two decades. There are soon-to-be KSU players who haven’t been alive for a KU win over K-State in football. Just wild.

No. 12: TCU Horned Frogs (Last Week: No. 16)

TCU’s defense remains one of the more underrated defenses in college football this season, and that was on display in a 17-6 win over Baylor on Saturday. The Horned Frogs get out of the basement thanks to a road win over their biggest rival. Well deserved.

No. 13: Baylor Bears (Last Week: No. 7)

Baylor plummets this week after being a sizable favorite against the Horned Frogs and losing this game at home in a poor showing for Dave Aranda’s squad. This is the kind of loss that gets Dave Aranda back on the hot seat, unless the Bears turn things around quickly this weekend at Kansas.

No. 14: Colorado Buffaloes (Last Week: No. 13)

Colorado falls one spot here. They played a very solid second half against Utah, but it doesn’t change the fact that this team still has a ton of issues, like penalties, that have just been problematic ever since Deion Sanders got the job. At some point, that’s just a problem that has to fall on the head coach, and not the players.

No. 15: Kansas Jayhawks (Last Week: No. 15)

Kansas went to Manhattan and blew a 17-7 lead to fall to Kansas State for an 18th-straight time. Kansas’ schedule only has one ranked team left on it (No. 2 BYU) and if they can’t get some wins here, it’s just a bad look for Lance Leipold in trying to convince the fan base he can get this program back to where it was just a few short years ago.

No. 16: Arizona State Sun Devils (Last Week: No. 14)

Arizona State, welcome to the basement. And it’s well deserved after losing their last two Big 12 games 108-44. The team is a mess on defense. They now have a quarterback controversy. And nothing seems to be working. 2024 feels like a long time ago.

What a Saturday for the Big 12. Week 7 delivered just about everything you could ask for: a massive upset in Provo, a statement performance from one of the conference favorites, a ranked thriller in Houston, rivalry drama and a walk-off field goal in Morgantown.

But let’s start with BYU. The Cougars entered Saturday night as double-digit underdogs against No. 2 Notre Dame, with the entire country watching and College GameDay in Provo. And when it mattered most, BYU delivered. Bear Bachmeier led the Cougars on a late touchdown drive to take the lead, and the BYU defense held off Notre Dame inside the 10-yard line in the final seconds to preserve a 28-24 win.

The contenders are starting to separate themselves. And after what we saw Saturday, the Big 12’s College Football Playoff ceiling might be getting higher, too.

Here are the five biggest Big 12 football takeaways from Week 7.

BYU Lands the Biggest Win in the 16-Team History of the League

The BYU Cougars upsetting Notre Dame, which we predicted in our BYU vs. Notre Dame prediction, is the biggest win in the history of the 16-team version of the conference. And it’s not close. This win means so much to this conference from a credibility perspective, and from a College Football Playoff perspective. The league needed this to try and knock Notre Dame out of the CFP picture, but more importantly give BYU, and indirectly, the league, a great non-conference win to build resumes for not just the Cougars, but the rest of the league.

Bear Bachmeier was elite on Saturday and carried this entire offense. He finished 23/36 for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while rushing 13 times for 45 yards and two scores. Bachmeier was a household name in the Big 12, but now should be one across the country.

Texas Tech Finally Looked Like… Texas Tech

I said in the Big 12 preview show last week on YouTube that I just needed to see Texas Tech look like the team many of us thought they would be this season before I just declared this game a route. Well, that’s exactly what they did, and it started with Ben Roberts’ pick six in the first quarter to put the Red Raiders ahead in a game they would never look back in as they dominated Arizona State 53-25. J’Koby Williams ran for a career high 165 yards and two scores in the win, while Will Hammond went 18/26 for 232 yards and one passing touchdown, along with one rushing touchdown, as the quarterback looked as comfortable as he had all season. Tech needed this in the worst way, and this team may really start to take off in the second half of the season.

The Sunflower Showdown Streak Continues

Make it 18 in a row for Kansas State over Kansas following a 35-24 win for the Wildcats in Manhattan. Now K-State did have to rally from a 17-7 first half deficit to come back and win the game, but once the Cats got rolling, it was all over. The Wildcats piled up 357 rushing yards and 568 total yards, averaging 7.6 yards per play. Joe Jackson led the way with 159 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, while quarterback Avery Johnson added 132 rushing yards on just 12 attempts. Johnson also finished with 209 passing yards and a touchdown.

The Cats needed to get their first win of the conference schedule to improve to 1-2, which they did. And while this season still appears to be one of transition in Year 1 under Collin Klein, it sure feels good to beat your rival and land this win to keep the streak going, which Klein was a part of as a player, and now continues as a head coach.

Houston Cougars Show Grit vs. Oklahoma State

The Cougars held off a second-half rally from the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who have been a second-half team all season, to hang on for a gutsy 35-32 win. Houston quarterback Conner Weigman dominated with five touchdown passes to outduel Drew Mestemaker who continues to fly up NFL Draft boards. And while Mestemaker was elite, Weigman was grittier and made the bigger plays when it mattered most. Up 35-32 late, Weigman did not let Mestemaker get another shot to try and tie or win the game, rushing on a 2nd and 6 with under two minutes left to seal the win for the Cougars at home in a Top 20 match up that saw the fan base show up and show out with a sell-out crowd. It’s everything that Houston football has been building towards for a decade plus, and the Cougars handsomely rewarded the fan base.

Baylor Throws Up a Stinker vs. TCU

Baylor came into the Revivalry having won four in a row and playing some of the best football in the Big 12. Then, Saturday happened. DJ Lagway was inconsistent, the running game never got going and Dave Aranda was suddenly, seemingly, back on the hot seat. After the loss, Aranda said, “We have to win. I understand when there’s not success, but I believe in this team. I believe in the guys in the locker room. They care about winning. They care about Baylor. IT means a lot to them.”

The question is, how many more opportunities will he get to try and win? The Bears are still 2-1 in the Big 12 and take on Kansas, UCF and Iowa State in their next three games. But after that, it’s BYU, Texas Tech and Houston. What will it take for Aranda to get a shot at 2027? That’s TBD, but Saturday was a bad look all around given the recent wins, rivalry match up, and dud of a performance this team put up.

Week 7 of the 2026 Big 12 football season is here, and Saturday brings one of the conference’s best slates of the season. The biggest game comes in Provo, where No. 8 BYU hosts No. 2 Notre Dame with College GameDay in town and the Cougars looking for a massive win for both their College Football Playoff hopes and the Big 12. But that’s hardly the only game with major implications.

No. 18 Oklahoma State travels to No. 20 Houston for a ranked conference showdown, No. 10 Texas Tech puts its undefeated record on the line against Arizona State, and the Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State features two teams desperate for their first Big 12 victory.

There are seven games involving Big 12 teams on Saturday, so let’s get to our Week 7 predictions and picks.

Cincinnati at West Virginia

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET | TNT/truTV

Cincinnati heads to Morgantown looking to get back on track in Big 12 play, while West Virginia desperately needs a conference win after an 0-3 start. The Mountaineers have been able to score points, but their defense has become one of the biggest concerns in the Big 12.

Cincinnati vs. West Virginia Prediction, Pick and Preview

Kansas at Kansas State

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET | FS1

The Sunflower Showdown arrives with both programs in desperate need of a win. Kansas State has dominated this rivalry for nearly two decades, but the Wildcats have struggled defensively this season, giving Kansas an opportunity to finally end its long losing streak against K-State.

Kansas vs. Kansas State Prediction, Pick and Preview

Arizona State at No. 10 Texas Tech

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET | FOX

Texas Tech returns from its bye week undefeated and firmly in the Big 12 Championship race. Arizona State got back in the win column against Hawaii, but a trip to Lubbock represents a major step up in competition for the Sun Devils.

Arizona State vs. Texas Tech Prediction, Pick and Preview

TCU at Baylor

Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET | FS1

It’s time for the Revivalry in Waco. Baylor enters the weekend undefeated in Big 12 play, while TCU is trying to turn its season around after dropping its first two conference games. Rivalry games can get weird, but the Horned Frogs badly need this one to keep their season from slipping away.

TCU vs. Baylor Prediction, Pick and Preview

No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 8 BYU

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC

This is the headliner.

College GameDay is in Provo as undefeated BYU gets a massive opportunity against No. 2 Notre Dame. The Cougars are double-digit underdogs despite having one of the best defenses in the country, and I believe this matchup is much closer than the point spread suggests.

In fact, I’m calling for the upset.

Notre Dame vs. BYU Prediction, Pick and Preview

No. 18 Oklahoma State at No. 20 Houston

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET | FOX

One of the biggest games in the Big 12 Championship race takes place in Houston. Oklahoma State remains undefeated in conference play behind one of the Big 12’s best passing attacks, while Houston has emerged as one of the surprise contenders in the league.

Something has to give Saturday night.

Oklahoma State vs. Houston Prediction, Pick and Preview

No. 11 Utah at Colorado

Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET | ESPN

Week 7 wraps up in Boulder, where undefeated Utah is a heavy favorite against Colorado. The Utes have been one of the most complete teams in the Big 12, but the Buffaloes are coming off a bye, playing at home and getting more than two touchdowns.

Could this one be closer than expected?

Utah vs. Colorado Prediction, Pick and Preview

Week 7 should tell us plenty about where the Big 12 race is headed. BYU has an opportunity to make a national statement, Oklahoma State and Houston meet in a game with major conference championship implications, while Texas Tech and Utah look to remain unbeaten.

By Saturday night, we should have an even clearer picture of the Big 12 contenders — and pretenders.

After a wild Week 6 in the Big 12, Week 7 brings another loaded slate for the Big 12, featuring several critical conference matchups and one massive non-conference showdown. From Notre Dame heading to Provo to Houston hosting Oklahoma State, we’re about to learn a lot more about several teams across the league. Some programs are looking to establish themselves as legitimate Big 12 contenders, while others are already fighting to avoid falling behind in the conference race.

Can BYU Hang with Notre Dame?

Of all the games in college football this weekend, none is bigger than this one. Two national brands are squaring off in a top-10 matchup, with College GameDay making the trip to Provo. Does it get much bigger than that for a regular-season game? I don’t think so.

Despite being at home, BYU enters as a double-digit underdog.

Many view Notre Dame as a legitimate national championship contender, but the Irish haven’t faced a test quite like this. At the same time, not everyone is sold on BYU, with some believing the talent gap could ultimately be too much for the Cougars to overcome. Can BYU hang with Notre Dame? That’s the million-dollar question heading into the weekend.

Will Kansas End the Streak?

Even though both teams already have a couple of losses, that doesn’t diminish the significance of the Sunflower Showdown. These programs simply do not like each other.

Unfortunately for Kansas, the rivalry has been one-sided for quite some time. Kansas State has won 17 straight meetings, and the Jayhawks haven’t beaten the Wildcats since 2008.

While Kansas has had its share of issues this season, Kansas State hasn’t exactly looked unbeatable, either. Rivalry games often produce surprises, which raises an interesting question: Can Kansas finally pull off the upset and end its lengthy losing streak against its in-state rival?

It would also mark Lance Leipold’s first victory over Kansas State after entering the matchup 0-7 against the Wildcats and Missouri since taking over in 2021.

Whose Defense Will Show Up?

While BYU and Notre Dame will dominate the headlines, don’t overlook another ranked matchup involving a Big 12 team this weekend as Oklahoma State travels to Houston.

If you’re looking for an elite quarterback battle, you’ve found it. Drew Mestemaker and Conner Weigman are among the best quarterbacks in college football.

Both Oklahoma State and Houston boast explosive offenses, but neither defense has consistently played at an elite level. Houston’s unit has been better statistically, but it also hasn’t faced an offense as potent as Oklahoma State’s.

I expect plenty of points in this one, but the game may ultimately come down to which defense can find a way to make a few key stops.

Can DJ Lagway Keep Rolling?

Even with only three starts under his belt, Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway has been impressive.

The former five-star recruit arrived in Waco with enormous expectations. While things didn’t work out at Florida, he has looked the part at Baylor. Through three starts, Lagway has thrown for 860 yards, eight touchdowns, and just two interceptions.

His completion percentage still leaves room for improvement, but he turned in a career-best performance against Arizona State in his last outing. Can he build on that momentum against TCU?

If he does, Baylor could quickly become a much more serious threat in the Big 12 race.

Will West Virginia’s Defense Finally Show Signs of Life?

It’s no secret that West Virginia owns one of the worst defenses in the Big 12, and arguably one of the worst in all of college football.

Defensive coordinator Zac Alley said the coaching staff simplified things before the Arizona game. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, the results didn’t follow, as they surrendered more than 50 points in the loss.

Now comes another difficult test.

Cincinnati enters the weekend with one of the top three rushing offenses in the conference, an area where West Virginia has struggled all season. The Mountaineers are allowing more than 163 rushing yards per game and have had difficulty consistently stopping physical ground attacks.

With JC French not posing a major threat through the air, expect West Virginia to load the box and focus heavily on slowing Cincinnati’s rushing attack. The question is simple: Can the Mountaineers finally find a way to stop the run?

The Big 12 Conference has some of the biggest games in the country this weekend, starting with a Top 25 matchup between two teams with Big 12 title aspirations. BYU hosts Notre Dame, while Oklahoma State travels to Houston. We also have two of the best rivalry games in the conference, with one taking place in Kansas and another in Texas.

As we enter Week 7, here are four teams that to me have the most to prove going into the weekend.

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State has been one of the surprises of the season. With Drew Mestemaker at quarterback, the Cowboys have played their way into potential Big 12 contention. This week, Oklahoma State gets to prove that it belongs in that conversation.

The Cowboys are heading to Houston to take on the Cougars, another team with Big 12 title aspirations. But they’re where they were expected to be. The Cowboys were not.

The job is simple this week — the Cowboys must prove they belong in the conversation. If OSU wins, their next three games are favorable enough to allow the Cowboys to be 6-0 going into their Nov. 14 showdown with Texas Tech.

If they lose, well, the Cowboys are just part of the group that will have no margin for error the rest of the season.

Kansas State

The Kansas State Wildcats face the Kansas Jayhawks in the Sunflower Showdown this weekend. What does Kansas State need to prove? That the Wildcats aren’t going to take a nosedive.

Kansas State has lost its first two Big 12 games to Cincinnati and to Houston. While losing to your rival is never good, losing to Kansas this year would be especially bad. The Jayhawks have a losing record, head coach Lance Leipold might be on the hot seat, and the Wildcats haven’t lost this game in 16 years.

Nothing says bottoming out quite like losing to your rival for the first time in 16 years. Kansas State needs to prove that they’ve already hit rock bottom and are ready to bounce back up.

Baylor and TCU

We will pair Baylor and TCU this week since they’re playing one another. First, hats off to both schools for using “Revivalry” in their social accounts. We’re never going to call it the “Bluebonnet Battle.” That’s just ridiculous.

For Baylor, the prove it is simple. The Bears are undefeated in Big 12 play, they’re coming off a bye week and there’s an opportunity for to get through the first third of Big 12 play undefeated. The Bears want to prove they are a legitimate contender to get to the Big 12 Championship game. Baylor can’t afford to get tripped up in a rivalry game this weekend if that’s the goal.

For TCU, they must prove that their season isn’t about to fall off a cliff. The Horned Frogs are coming off a bye week and in case you need to be reminded they have yet to win a Big 12 game. They’ve lost to UCF and BYU. Maybe playing a team with a non-ubiquitous acronym will help?

If the Horned Frogs lose this game their Big 12 title hopes are done. And I’m not sure I would give them a puncher’s chance against West Virginia next weekend. You could even say the Horned Frogs’ bowl game hopes are on the line. Sonny Dykes job? We’ll see. Let’s play the game first.

The Revivalry takes center stage Saturday night as TCU travels to Waco to face Baylor in a Big 12 rivalry matchup on FS1. Both programs have had their share of ups and downs this season, but bragging rights and positioning in the conference race give this one plenty of importance. Can Baylor take care of business at home, or will TCU leave Waco with a rivalry win? Here’s our TCU vs. Baylor prediction, pick and preview for Week 7.

Baylor vs. TCU Odds

• Spread: Baylor -5.5
• Over/Under: 48.5
• Moneyline: Baylor -215/TCU +176

Odds as of Tuesday afternoon. Odds are subject to change.

The Biggest Question: Can TCU’s Offense Do Anything?

TCU’s offense has been abysmal. New offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis has wanted to establish more of a running attack, but the Horned Frogs are dead last in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game. And now, they’re taking on a Baylor team that is tied for first in the Big 12 in yards allowed per carry (2.9). TCU’s defense has actually been underrated so far this season (more below), but this offense can’t get out of its own way. The unit ranks 123rd in the country in yards gained per play, while the defense is in the Top 25 in the country in yards allowed per play. Is this the week that Jaden Craig, Jeremy Payne, Jordan Dwyer and the rest of the offense really gets humming? That would be a great way to try and get this season back on track, and get Sonny Dykes OFF the hot seat.

Baylor vs. TCU Prediction and Pick

Prediction: Baylor 24, TCU 16

Baylor may be a bit overinflated coming off of a 55-19 win at Arizona State, followed by a bye week where they get to hear how great they are at 4-1. But, it’s fair to say we need to see more. DJ Lagway was electric in Tempe with four touchdowns to no interceptions, but he needs to keep that consistency going, and TCU will be the best defense he’s faced so far this season. And the running game for the Bears is underrated with Caden Knighten and Ryelan Morris as a solid 1-2 punch. Also, while I don’t like to overvalue “vibes”, Baylor just feels right right now. Joe Klanderman, who may be one of the more underrated defensive minds in college football dating back to his time at North Dakota State, has his defense on point, with a Top 4 scoring, rushing and passing defense in the Big 12.

For TCU, you can look at this team and say, well, they haven’t been blown out yet, with one score losses to UNC, UCF and BYU. That’s true, but has a team ever felt so far away from competing in three games that it lost by one score? I can’t think of an example that comes to mind. The box score and final score often tell a completely different story than what you see when you actually watch TCU play.

On the betting front, TCU has become one of the most popular plays on the board, attracting roughly 90% of both tickets and money. Normally, that type of support would push a spread through the key number of seven, but sportsbooks have largely held this game at TCU -6.5. That could suggest resistance from oddsmakers or respected buyback on Baylor at the current number. Either way, the market has shown little interest in making bettors lay a full touchdown with the Horned Frogs.

Baylor wins, Baylor covers.

The Big 12 is five weeks into the season and we have five undefeated teams in league action with BYU, Utah, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Baylor on the list. Will this be the pool of teams that reaches the Big 12 Championship game? We also have five teams without a win, including three that have already lost two games. Those teams may already be out of luck when it comes to the title game. Those six teams in between? Time to start making your case. So who’s stock went up and who’s stock went down? Let’s look at the big movers across the league.

Stock Up

Baylor Bears Keep Impressing

Ok, beating Colorado? Fine. I could see that. But going to Arizona State and laying that whooping on the Sun Devils? That was a 55-19 beat-down on the road. The Bears defense looks like something completely different under coordinator Joe Klanderman. Quarterback DJ Lagway is healthy now and he threw four touchdown passes on Saturday. Head coach Dave Aranda looks legitimately excited — and not even in that Dave Aranda way we’re used to.

If “this” is Baylor the rest of the season, well we have a new contender. Guess what? Their next four games are gettable, too.

Houston Cougars Moving Up

The Cougars looked listless for a half. Even their head coach, Willie Fritz, admitted that after the game. But they turned it on in the second half against UCF. That interception was a massive help in the third quarter. Conner Weigman continues to impress me. Re’Shaun Sanford II and Makhi Hughes are a two-headed monster in the backfield.

The Cougars already have a loss so they really can’t afford another in Big 12 action if they want to control their own destiny. Beating UCF at home was a necessary litmus test. Oh, by the way Houston fans — you’re getting a night game against Oklahoma State in two Saturdays. Maybe show up this time? That’s a damn good team on the field.

Iowa State’s… (Offense)

So, the Cyclones can score points? Cool. Did you know running back Aiden Flora did something that no Big 12 player had done since Vince Young? And Flora isn’t even a quarterback. He accounted for five touchdowns, and Iowa State needed all the trickeration it could muster because, well, the defense had problems with WVU’s offense. There’s no way around the issue that unit has after two weeks.

But if Iowa State can score points like that the rest of the season, that helps the defense and will make things difficult on their opponents, some of which carry title aspiration. I know the Cyclones do, too. But it’s going to be tough with a conference loss already in the bag. Knowing you can score the points helps.

Stock Down

Colorado Buffaloes Keep Sliding

So, somehow it got worse. After falling to Baylor the Buffaloes scored just seven points against Texas Tech. Quarterback Isaac Wilson threw three interceptions. His backup, Joseph Williams, threw one. Apparently Julian Lews, the former five-star recruit, isn’t the backup anymore. Or is he? Head coach Deion Sanders didn’t seem to want to answer any of that.

“No, no. I would love JuJu to come in here and he tell you what happened. Don’t ‘you benched JuJu from first string to third string.’ No, that’s not how it went down,” Sanders said. “It didn’t happen like that.”

So, how did it happen? Sanders had nothing to say about it.

I know Sanders doesn’t care what any of us in the media think and that’s perfectly fine. But he should care what his new athletic director, Fernando Lovo thinks. Something tells me Lovo doesn’t think too much of this.

Texas Tech is Undefeated, But…

This is such a weird team. The defense is salty. The unit has forced 10 turnovers in five games and picked off four passes against Colorado. The Red Raiders are No. 26 in the country in points allowed per game (16.20). They’re still getting pressure on the quarterback — perhaps not as much as a year ago — but the rush is influencing opponents consistently.

The offense is, well, meh right now. It’s getting the job done. Quarterback Will Hammond hasn’t found that gear yet. The run game is in solid shape, but everyone is holding their breath on Cameron Dickey’s injury. At least it’s reportedly a high ankle sprain. But that means he’s going to be out for a few weeks. It’s a hard injury to play on.

Tech is winning ugly and a win is a win. But the thing about winning ugly is eventually you run out of margin for error. The Red Raiders need to get synched up. Arizona State comes to Lubbock on Saturday. The Sun Devils are gonna be ticked after losing to Baylor. Oh, anyone remember who beat Texas Tech last year? Anyone? McFly?

West Virginia Can’t Get Out of Its Own Way

For the second straight week? Yes, for the second straight week. That’s what happens when the defense gives up MORE points (45) to a supposedly less talented offense (Iowa State) than it gave up to a supposedly more talented offense (Oklahoma State) in back-to-back weeks (allowed 42 points to OSU). Yeah, sorry, lots of parentheticals.

The Mountaineers aren’t winning a Big 12 title this year. What’s worse is that the coaching staff remade the defense through the portal and it’s not working. The secondary is banged up. Time for the unit to focus on one defensive front for a while. Whichever one works best.