The Big 12 Broadcast: Week 7

By Simon Carroll

The Big 12 enters Week 7 with plenty to prove, and perhaps more reason for optimism than at any point this season. Five teams are ranked in the latest AP Top 25, BYU faces its biggest test yet against Notre Dame, and a pair of historic rivalries could have significant consequences for the programs involved. Add a ranked showdown between Houston and Oklahoma State, and this is a weekend with the potential to change the complexion of the conference race.

Here are five storylines to watch as the Big 12 heads into another pivotal Saturday.

Five in the Top 25, with Baylor and Arizona knocking on the door

The Big 12 is beginning to make some noise nationally, and its latest representation in the AP Top 25 provides plenty of evidence that this conference deserves to be taken seriously. BYU sits at No. 8, Texas Tech is No. 10, Utah occupies No. 11, Oklahoma State has climbed to No. 18, and Houston rounds out the group at No. 20. Five ranked teams is an impressive return, but the more interesting question is whether the conference can add to that number as the season progresses.

Baylor and Arizona are two programs worth watching. The Bears are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, having scored 174 points while conceding just 71. Their plus-103 points differential is a strong indication of the quality they have shown through five games – they’re about 18 inches from being undefeated after failing to convert a walk-off two-point conversion against Auburn – and another victory would strengthen their case for national recognition. Arizona, meanwhile, is also 5-1, with a 2-1 conference record and four consecutive wins. The Wildcats have scored 214 points, averaging 35.7 per game, and quarterback Noah Fifita has thrown for 1,756 yards and 16 touchdowns. Their 52-31 win at West Virginia last weekend demonstrated just how dangerous they can be offensively.

The comparison with the other Power Four conferences is worth watching, too. The SEC and Big Ten continue to attract the bulk of the national attention, but the Big 12 has an opportunity to challenge the assumption that it lacks the depth to compete. Five ranked teams, several unbeaten programs and teams such as the Bears and the Wildcats waiting in the wings make for a compelling argument. The conference’s challenge is to turn that depth into meaningful victories against quality opposition, particularly as the race for the College Football Playoff places intensifies.

Arizona’s recent form is especially encouraging. After losing to unbeaten BYU in September, Brent Brennan’s team has responded with four straight victories, including convincing wins over Cincinnati and West Virginia. With Iowa State next on the schedule before a challenging run of games against Texas Tech, TCU and Utah, the Wildcats have an opportunity to establish themselves as more than just an outside contender. Baylor faces a similarly important stretch, with the Bluebonnet Battle against TCU offering a chance to reinforce its credentials.

For the Big 12, the ideal scenario is clear: keep the five ranked teams winning, get Baylor into the conversation and see Arizona turn its promising start into a sustained challenge. The conference does not necessarily need to match the SEC or Big Ten in the number of household names it produces, but it does need to demonstrate that its best teams can compete with the nation’s elite. With seven programs already showing signs of genuine potential, the Big 12 has plenty of reasons to believe it can make that case.

A pivotal Provo matchup for BYU against Notre Dame

There are big games, and then there are games that can redefine a season. BYU’s meeting with Notre Dame falls firmly into the latter category. The Cougars enter the weekend unbeaten at 5-0 and ranked No. 8 nationally, but welcoming the Fighting Irish to LaVell Edwards Stadium represents a substantial step up in opposition and an opportunity to establish themselves as genuine College Football Playoff contenders.

BYU has built its perfect start on a balanced team effort. The Cougars have scored 173 points while allowing only 67, giving them a points differential of plus-106 through five games. Their most recent outing, a 24-10 win over Iowa State, was another important conference result. The victory was particularly impressive given that BYU outgained the Cyclones by a substantial margin, recording an 8.3-to-3.6 advantage in yards per play. That sort of efficiency on both sides of the ball offers plenty of encouragement ahead of a much sterner examination.

Notre Dame arrives at 6-0 and ranked No. 2 in the AP poll, making this a genuine top-10 showdown. The Irish have the talent and experience to expose any weaknesses in the BYU defense, while their own defensive performance will be crucial in containing a Cougars offense that has been productive throughout the opening five weeks. BYU will need to sustain drives, avoid costly turnovers and make the most of the home-field advantage that has helped make Provo such a difficult place to visit.

The implications extend well beyond Saturday night. A win would give BYU a signature non-conference victory and strengthen its position in the national playoff conversation, while also providing a considerable boost to the Big 12’s overall standing. Even in defeat, a competitive performance would offer useful evidence of the Cougars’ quality, but an unbeaten record is a valuable asset that they will not want to surrender. With College GameDay in town and a national audience watching, this is the sort of occasion that BYU has spent years working towards.

The Sunflower Showdown: Pressure mounting on both sides

The Sunflower Showdown is always one of the most fiercely contested fixtures on the Big 12 calendar, but this year’s meeting between Kansas and Kansas State carries an added sense of urgency. Both programs enter the game with more questions than answers, and the result could have a significant bearing on how the remainder of their seasons unfold.

Kansas is 2-3 and winless in conference play, while Kansas State sits at 3-2 but has also failed to secure a Big 12 victory. Both teams are coming off defeats to ranked opposition, leaving them in need of a response at precisely the point in the season when the conference standings begin to take shape. Neither program can afford to allow a difficult start to become a prolonged slump.

For Lance Leipold, the pressure is not simply about the current record. Since arriving in Lawrence in 2021, he has helped raise expectations around Kansas football, and the Jayhawks have enjoyed some notable successes under his leadership. However, Kansas State has continued to dominate this rivalry, winning 17 consecutive meetings dating back to 2009. Leipold has acknowledged the significance of the fixture and the need for Kansas to start holding up its end of the rivalry.

Across the state line, Collin Klein faces his own challenge. The Wildcats have enjoyed the psychological advantage of that remarkable winning streak, but previous results will count for little if they cannot turn their season around. Klein has been keen to emphasise that history does not decide Saturday’s game, and his team will need to demonstrate that mindset on the field. With both programs searching for their first conference win, the stakes are about much more than bragging rights.

For the winning coach, this could be the catalyst needed to build momentum through the second half of the season. For the loser, the questions will only become louder. Rivalry games rarely need extra motivation, but this year’s Sunflower Showdown has plenty of it on both sidelines.

The Bluebonnet Battle: Can Baylor finally make a statement?

The Bluebonnet Battle between Baylor and TCU is one of the oldest rivalries in college football, and the latest meeting arrives with both programs having plenty to prove. Baylor has won just twice in the past 11 meetings, a run of results that has allowed the Horned Frogs to establish a firm grip on the rivalry. For the Bears, Saturday offers an opportunity to change that narrative and make a statement about their own ambitions in the Big 12.

Baylor’s early-season numbers suggest that this is a team capable of competing. At 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, the Bears have been quietly dominant on both sides of the ball. Their defensive record, in particular, gives them a platform to challenge opponents, while their offense has shown it can put points on the board. The challenge now is translating that production into a rivalry victory against a TCU team that has repeatedly found ways to beat them.

TCU arrives looking to get its season back on track after a difficult opening stretch. The Horned Frogs have a 2-3 record and are yet to win a conference game, making this a crucial opportunity to revive their campaign. Their recent history against Baylor provides confidence, but it cannot disguise the need for improvement if they are to make a serious push in the conference standings.

For Baylor, the significance of a win would extend beyond ending the recent run of defeats. Beating TCU would strengthen the Bears’ position in the Big 12 race, provide another boost to their ranking prospects and demonstrate that their early-season form is sustainable against a traditional rival. With the Bears already 2-0 in conference play, a victory could help establish them as a serious contender rather than simply a team enjoying a promising start.

The question is whether Baylor can finally take advantage of its opportunity. The Bears have the form and the statistical profile to make this a competitive contest, but they must turn that promise into a result. Ending the TCU hoodoo would be a significant achievement in its own right and a real boon for Dave Aranda and his long term job security in Waco; doing so while strengthening their conference title credentials would make it even more valuable.

Quarterback duel: Weigman vs. Mestemaker in a ranked showdown

Houston and Oklahoma State meet in one of the weekend’s most intriguing Big 12 fixtures, with both programs entering at 5-1 overall and carrying genuine aspirations of reaching the College Football Playoff conversation. The Cougars are ranked No. 20, while the Cowboys sit at No. 18, setting up a contest that could have significant repercussions for the conference race.

The quarterback matchup between Houston’s Conner Weigman and Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker provides an obvious focal point. Weigman has helped Houston establish itself as a competitive force under Willie Fritz, while Mestemaker has been central to Oklahoma State’s impressive turnaround in Eric Morris’s first season. The Cowboys have already matched their combined win total from the previous two campaigns, a remarkable achievement that has transformed the mood around the program.

For Houston, the opportunity is to demonstrate that its 5-1 record and national ranking are built on foundations strong enough to withstand a high-quality opponent. The Cougars have scored 240 points and conceded 115, suggesting an offense capable of generating production while also leaving room for improvement defensively. Against an Oklahoma State team that has scored 191 points through five games, Houston will need to be efficient, disciplined and effective at limiting explosive plays.

Oklahoma State’s resurgence is one of the more compelling stories in the conference. Morris has brought fresh energy to Stillwater, and the Cowboys have responded by winning games and climbing into the rankings. Mestemaker’s development will be important if they are to maintain that momentum, particularly against a Houston defense that will be eager to disrupt the passing game and force the visitors into difficult situations.

The outcome could have a major bearing on the Big 12 title race. Both teams have already demonstrated that they can compete, but a win here would provide another valuable conference result and strengthen their respective playoff arguments. With the two programs sitting close together in the rankings, there is also an opportunity to make a statement to the selection committee. The quarterback battle may dominate the headlines, but whichever team controls the line of scrimmage, protects the football and wins the key third-down situations will give itself the best chance of emerging with a victory.

For the Big 12, this is exactly the sort of matchup the conference needs: two ranked teams, two programs moving in the right direction and a result that could reshape the standings. Houston and Oklahoma State have both earned their place in the national conversation. Now they have the chance to prove they belong there.

Big 12: Week 7 Schedule (Times BST)

Saturday:

5pm: Cincinnati (4-1) @ West Virginia (3-3)

5pm: Kansas (2-3) @ Kansas State (3-2)

8:30pm: Arizona State (3-2) @ #10 Texas Tech (5-0)

12am: TCU (2-3) @ Baylor (4-1)

12:30am: #18 Oklahoma State (4-1) @ #20 Houston (5-1)

12:30am: #2 Notre Dame (6-0) @ #8 BYU (5-0)

3:15am: #11 Utah (5-0) @ Colorado (2-3)

Bye Week:

Arizona (5-1), Iowa State (3-3), UCF (3-3)

Mock Draft

SIMON CARROLL

Lead Writer, Head of Content

PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST, COVERS THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS FOR SB NATION and is a college football writer for dazn.

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