The Big 12 Broadcast: Week 8

By Simon Carroll

The Big 12 has spent much of its recent existence trying to convince the rest of college football that it belongs at the top table. After a remarkable Week 7, the conference might finally have the results to back up the rhetoric. BYU took down Notre Dame, Texas Tech remains unbeaten, Utah is still perfect, and Houston is lurking just behind the leading pack. Suddenly, the Big 12’s playoff conversation is looking considerably more interesting than it did a fortnight ago.

But there is more to this conference than the teams at the top. West Virginia’s offense is putting up video-game numbers, the future of the Big 12 Championship Game is in doubt, and several coaches are discovering that patience is a finite resource. Then there’s a monster matchup in Salt Lake City that could reshape the conference race before October is out.

Let’s get into it.

BYU's Big Statement: The Cougars Are Playing for Keeps

There are good wins, there are statement wins, and then there is beating the No. 2 team in the country in front of a raucous home crowd, with the entire college football world watching. BYU’s 28-24 victory over Notre Dame was emphatically the latter, delivering one of the biggest results in program history and putting the rest of the country on notice. The Cougars didn’t just survive a heavyweight contest; they demonstrated the composure, resilience and defensive resolve required to compete with the nation’s elite. 

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier was central to the occasion, contributing through the air and on the ground as BYU produced a memorable performance on the biggest stage. Kalani Sitake’s team made mistakes, but it didn’t fold when the pressure mounted. The decisive defensive stop on Notre Dame’s final possession was the sort of moment that can define a season. More importantly, it offered further evidence that BYU’s progress under Sitake is not a temporary blip. The university agreed a new long-term contract with its head coach in December 2025, keeping a coach who understands the program’s identity and has delivered sustained success in Provo. That decision looks increasingly shrewd. 

The question now is just how far this team can go. BYU’s rise to No. 2 in the AP Poll gives the Cougars a legitimate seat at the College Football Playoff table, although the remaining Big 12 schedule means the hard work is far from over. The conference is hardly short of teams capable of derailing a perfect season, and BYU will have to navigate that internal competition without letting the Notre Dame victory become a distraction.

There is also a bigger question for the league: can the Big 12 genuinely claim to have three top-five-calibre teams? Texas Tech and Utah remain unbeaten alongside BYU, ranked No. 8 and No. 10 respectively in the Week 8 AP Poll. All three have the records to justify national attention, but the upcoming weeks will determine whether that reputation survives the grind of conference play. 

First up for BYU is a trip to UCF. The Knights will be desperate to disrupt the party, and an away game in Orlando is no automatic formality. The Cougars must avoid the emotional hangover that can follow a huge victory. Win this one, however, and BYU will have moved beyond the feel-good story stage. It will be a genuine contender, with Sitake’s long-term future secured and a national audience beginning to believe.

The Big 12 wanted a signature win. BYU delivered one. Now the conference needs its leading teams to turn individual statements into a collective argument for multiple playoff places.

West Virginia's Outrageous Offense: Who Needs Defense Anyway?

Rich Rodriguez has never been a coach particularly interested in making football complicated. Give him a quarterback who can run, a system that creates space and enough opportunities to attack, and he’ll happily turn Saturday afternoon into a track meet. West Virginia’s offense is embracing that philosophy with considerable enthusiasm. The Mountaineers are averaging almost 38 points and close to 500 yards per game, and last weekend’s 45-42 victory over Cincinnati was a spectacular illustration of both their potential and their complete disregard for anyone’s blood pressure. 

Michael Hawkins Jr. was sensational against the Bearcats, throwing for a career-high 464 yards and three touchdowns. That performance came on top of his extraordinary rushing production: he entered the week among the Big 12’s leading rushers, with 749 yards on the ground and 14 rushing touchdowns according to the latest game preview. He has also thrown for 1,519 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, with only one interception. Those are the numbers of a quarterback who is giving defensive coordinators nightmares, particularly when the threat of him taking off and running forces defenders to hesitate. 

The evolution under Rodriguez is striking. West Virginia’s identity is built around pace, aggression and putting the ball in the hands of playmakers, and Hawkins gives the offense a genuine dual-threat dimension. The Mountaineers can hurt opponents through the air, punish them on the ground and turn a seemingly ordinary play into a huge gain if the defense loses discipline. Their victory over Cincinnati showed that even when opponents score freely, West Virginia has the firepower to keep answering.

Of course, there is a rather large catch. The Mountaineers are 4-3, have a 1-3 conference record and have conceded 180 points in Big 12 play. The defense has too often turned games into shootouts, leaving the offense with little margin for error. You can score 45 points and still find yourself sweating over the final possession. It is thrilling, but it is hardly a sustainable weekly plan if West Virginia wants to climb the conference standings. 

The next test could scarcely be more fascinating. TCU has allowed just 12.2 points per game, leading the Big 12 in scoring defense, and limited Baylor to two field goals in a 17-6 victory last weekend. The Horned Frogs have surrendered only eight touchdowns all season, and their defensive front is capable of making life miserable for an offense that falls behind the chains. 

This is the irresistible force versus the immovable object, with a distinctly Big 12 twist: one side wants a shootout, while the other wants to make every possession feel like hard labour. If Hawkins can find room against TCU, Rodriguez’s offense will have passed its most compelling examination yet. If the Horned Frogs shut it down, the Mountaineers may discover that even 500 yards per game cannot compensate for defensive frailty.

Either way, this one should tell us a great deal about how dangerous West Virginia can become. And if the Mountaineers could occasionally stop the opposition, they might even be a problem for the teams at the top of the conference in weeks to come.

No Title Game? Yormark's Big 12 Faces a Postseason Dilemma

For all the excitement surrounding the Big 12’s on-field fortunes, one of the most significant conversations in college football is happening away from the gridiron. The proposed expansion of the College Football Playoff to 24 teams could have major consequences for conference championship games, and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has made it clear that his league will not simply accept losing one of its biggest annual events without a fight.

Speaking at Big 12 basketball media days this week, Yormark acknowledged that the playoff discussions remain speculative, but stressed the value of the conference’s existing tentpole events. “Our championship game has been very valuable,” he said, adding that if a change were made, the conference would look to replace the event with something different. His message was straightforward: the Big 12 is in the business of creating major sporting occasions, and it intends to keep doing so. 

The potential problem is the calendar. Under the proposed 24-team format, the first round of the playoff would take place in the second week of December, with the first week of the month becoming a rest period before the postseason begins. That would remove the traditional window for conference championship games. If the proposal is adopted in a form that makes those games impractical, the Big 12 could be forced to reconsider an event that has become central to its identity and finances. 

And this is no minor inconvenience. Last year’s Big 12 Championship Game between BYU and Texas Tech attracted more than 85,000 fans, while television ratings increased by 39% year-on-year. It is a showcase for the league, a major revenue opportunity and a chance to put its best teams in front of a national audience. Yormark has previously acknowledged the economic implications of any change, and his latest comments suggest the conference is already thinking about what might fill the void. 

But what would a Big 12 without a championship game actually look like? In one sense, the answer is simple: the regular-season standings would determine the conference champion, with tiebreakers settling any deadlocks. In another, it would represent a fundamental change in the sport’s culture. A title game gives a conference a defining moment, a winner-takes-all occasion and a trophy presentation that can become the centrepiece of the season. Without it, the league would need to find a different way to crown its champion and maintain that sense of occasion.

There is a sporting argument for removing the game, too. Why should a team that has dominated the regular season risk a playoff place through one additional contest? A larger playoff field could offer more access to Big 12 teams, which is precisely why Yormark has been supportive of expansion. He has previously argued that a 24-team bracket would have given five Big 12 schools a shot at the national title last season. 

The challenge is balancing access with identity. The Big 12 could gain more playoff opportunities while losing a lucrative championship event. Yormark’s promise to replace it with something else is therefore more than a soundbite. The conference needs to establish whether that replacement could generate comparable interest, revenue and prestige.

Nothing is final yet, but the discussion is a reminder that college football’s next evolution will be about far more than the playoff bracket. The Big 12 has spent years adapting to change. Its next task may be finding a way to remain distinctive when even its championship game is no longer guaranteed.

Hotseat Watch: One Win Buys You Time, Not Immortality

The coaching carousel never really stops in college football, but Week 7 provided a useful reminder that fortunes can change remarkably quickly. One coach gets a desperately needed win and feels the temperature drop. Another suffers a damaging defeat and finds the spotlight turning in his direction. And somewhere in Lawrence, Kansas, Lance Leipold is left wondering what exactly he has to do to win a Sunflower Showdown.

Let’s start in Fort Worth, where Sonny Dykes will have welcomed TCU’s 17-6 victory over Baylor. The Horned Frogs’ defense was excellent, limiting the Bears to two field goals, recording four sacks and intercepting a pass. For a team that entered the week 3-3, it was an important result, and one that should ease at least some of the pressure on Dykes. The Frogs have had to work through offensive inconsistency this season, but a defensive performance of that quality offers something to build on. 

The downside, naturally, is that somebody has to take the heat on the other side of that result. Dave Aranda’s Baylor team managed just six points, and its struggles against TCU will do little to quiet the questions surrounding his future. Aranda entered 2026 under considerable scrutiny, and while one poor offensive performance should not determine a coach’s fate, Baylor needs to show more consistency if he is to convince supporters that the program is heading in the right direction. TCU’s victory may have cooled Dykes’ seat, but it has done Aranda no favours.

Then there is Kansas, where the Sunflower Showdown has become an annual exercise in frustration. The Jayhawks led Kansas State 17-7 in the first quarter and still found a way to lose 35-24. The Wildcats have now won 18 consecutive meetings in the rivalry, leaving Leipold winless against K-State during his tenure in Lawrence. Kansas also sits at 2-4 overall and 0-3 in Big 12 play. 

That is an uncomfortable position for a coach who helped restore credibility to a program that had spent years in the wilderness. Leipold deserves credit for the progress Kansas made earlier in his tenure, but past achievements only buy so much goodwill. The Jayhawks have invested heavily in their football infrastructure, and expectations have risen accordingly. Losing to K-State is one thing; repeatedly losing to K-State while struggling to establish momentum in conference play is quite another. The question is whether this is a temporary setback or a more serious regression.

And what of Deion Sanders? Colorado’s latest defeat was another frustrating result for a team that showed encouraging signs but could not turn a competitive performance into a victory. There is a difference between playing better and actually winning, and Sanders needs the latter if he is to quiet the growing scrutiny around his program. Moral victories are a dangerous currency in college football, especially when the losses continue to accumulate.

The temperature check? Dykes has earned some breathing room, Aranda needs answers, Leipold is approaching a defining stretch, and Sanders cannot afford to let improved performances become an excuse for the same old results. The Big 12 is unforgiving, and the next few weeks could determine which of these coaches enters November with genuine confidence — and which one starts hearing the questions get louder.

Game of the Week: Houston at Utah - The Big 12's Heavyweight Collision

There are big games, and then there are games that could fundamentally change the shape of a conference race. Houston’s trip to Utah falls firmly into the second category. The Cougars arrive at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play, having won four consecutive games, while the unbeaten Utes sit at 6-0 and 3-0 in the conference. Both are ranked inside the AP Top 15, and the stakes are obvious: Houston needs a statement road win to keep pace with the teams at the top, while Utah has an opportunity to strengthen its position as a genuine contender. 

For Houston, the challenge is twofold. First, it must prove that its recent run of form can translate into success against one of the conference’s elite teams. Second, it must avoid falling too far behind in a race where BYU, Texas Tech and Utah have all started conference play unbeaten. A defeat would leave the Cougars at 3-2 in league action, still with time to recover but increasingly reliant on other results going their way. It would not automatically end their playoff ambitions, but it would make the route considerably more difficult.

Willie Fritz’s team has plenty of reasons to believe it can compete. Houston is averaging around 220 rushing yards per game, ranks among the nation’s strongest run defenses, and has three receivers with at least five touchdown catches through the first seven games. Tight end Patrick Overmyer has been particularly productive, while the Cougars’ secondary has also made its presence felt with timely interceptions and pass breakups. This is not a team relying on one player or one phase of the game to win. 

The quarterback matchup is especially compelling. Utah’s Devon Dampier brings a dangerous dual-threat dimension to the Utes’ offense, combining mobility with the ability to make plays downfield. Houston’s Conner Weigman has his own case to make, leading an offense that has found ways to score against a variety of opponents. Both quarterbacks will be asked to make smart decisions under pressure, and the player who can protect the ball while delivering in the biggest moments could prove decisive.

Utah, meanwhile, has the advantage of playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the atmosphere can make life difficult for visiting teams. The Utes have built their reputation on physical football, and their unbeaten record gives them the confidence to dictate the terms of the contest. But Houston’s ability to run the ball and defend against the run makes this an intriguing tactical battle. If the Cougars can establish themselves on the ground, they can keep Dampier and the Utah offense watching from the sideline. If Utah controls the trenches, Houston may be forced into the sort of passing game that the home defense will relish.

There is also the question of what outcome would best serve the Big 12. A Utah victory would strengthen one of the league’s three unbeaten conference contenders, but a Houston win would add another serious team to the title race. From the perspective of the conference’s playoff ambitions, depth matters: the more teams capable of finishing with strong records, the stronger the argument for multiple Big 12 representatives.

Personally, I want Houston to win. Not because Utah is undeserving, but because the most compelling version of this conference is one in which the championship race remains wide open into November. A Houston victory would create precisely that scenario, while a Utah win would reinforce the idea that the top of the league is beginning to separate itself from the pack.

Either way, this is the sort of game the Big 12 needs. Two ranked teams, contrasting strengths, a pair of quarterbacks with the ability to take over, and a result that could have consequences well beyond Saturday night. If BYU’s victory over Notre Dame was the statement win of Week 7, Houston–Utah has the potential to be the defining game of Week 8.

Big 12: Week 8 Schedule (Times BST)

Saturday:

5pm: #8 Texas Tech (6-0) @ Cincinnati (4-2)

5pm: West Virginia (4-3) @ TCU (3-3)

6pm: Baylor (4-2) @ Kansas (2-4)

8:30pm: #2 BYU (6-0) @ UCF (3-3)

8:45pm: Kansas State (4-2) @ Arizona State (3-3)

12am: Colorado (2-4) @ Oklahoma State (4-2)

12:30am: Iowa State (3-3) @ #25 Arizona (5-1)

2:15am: #14 Houston (6-1) @ #10 Utah (6-0)

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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