The cream is rising to the top in the Big 12, and three of the top four teams are former AAC schools or independents.  College Gameday is heading to a Big 12 game this week that features two teams each added within the last four years. 

Texas Tech is the only team near the top that comes from the core group of eight teams that survived the Texas and Oklahoma departure. 

The Red Raiders are also one of many teams dealing with quarterback injuries over halfway through the season. 

Here are my top takeaways from week nine of Big 12 football.

Don’t Let BYU Hang Around

Iowa State learned a valuable lesson at home Saturday: you’d better put BYU away when you have the chance.

The Cyclones looked like the better team in the first half, building leads of 10 and 14 points. BYU was without starting running back LJ Martin, who left early and didn’t return. But the Cougars are no strangers to adversity or early deficits. They’ve now come from behind in four of five Big 12 wins this year.

ISU quarterback Rocco Becht threw a brutal interception that swung momentum back to BYU with the Cyclones leading 17–7. The Cougars then scored 20 of the next 27 points to take the lead.

That’s when Iowa State learned lesson number two: don’t give BYU free possessions.

After tying the game late in the third quarter, ISU was set to get the ball back with momentum after a BYU punt until a BYU gunner blocked a Cyclone right into the ball. The Cougars recovered.

BYU turned the miscue into points, as Bear Bachmeier hit Parker Kingston for a spectacular touchdown, then Becht sealed it with a pick-six.

For as well as Iowa State played for large stretches of the game, the Cyclones’ moments of self-sabotage outweighed it all. 

BYU makes you pay for that, especially now that Bachmeier is playing at an all–Big 12 level. The league let a blue-chip true freshman develop for two months without handing him a loss, and now he’s capable of throwing for 300+ yards on the road without his star running back.

He’s the first quarterback to pass for over 300 yards against Iowa State’s defense in nearly two full seasons.

Injuries, though, are starting to mount for BYU. Martin got just five carries before going down with what appeared to be a serious injury. Linebacker Siale Esera also left the game with an injury, and fellow LB Jack Kelly’s arm was in a sling on the way out of Jack Trice Stadium.

If Martin misses time, even more will fall on Bachmeier’s shoulders, and he himself looked a bit banged up late in Ames.

The Cougars need their upcoming bye week badly before heading to Lubbock for what could be the Big 12 Game of the Year against Texas Tech.

Houston Can Make the Big 12 Title Game

No matter what the critics say, Houston just keeps winning. The Cougars beat Arizona State 24–16 on the road a week after the Sun Devils upset then–No. 7 Texas Tech.

Yes, ASU was without future NFL first-rounder Jordyn Tyson at receiver and eventually lost QB Sam Leavitt to injury, but that doesn’t change the bottom line: Houston is a legitimate threat to make the Big 12 title game. 

Houston has already faced Texas Tech and doesn’t play BYU or Cincinnati.

Regardless of who suited up, Saturday’s win in Tempe was one of the biggest for the program in years. It snapped ASU’s 10-game home winning streak and vaulted Houston into the Top 25 for the first time since 2022. The Cougars hadn’t beaten a ranked team on the road since 2017.

QB Conner Weigman continues to shine with his legs, rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He’s topped 83 rushing yards in three of five Big 12 games, scoring six times on the ground. Not bad for a guy once labeled a pure pocket passer.

With RB Dean Connors limited to 48 yards on 20 carries, Weigman carried the offense, accounting for 312 of Houston’s 384 total yards.

The Cougars’ defense pitched a shutout through the first three quarters before a furious ASU rally gave them a chance in the fourth quarter. It was actually Sun Devils’ backup quarterback Jeff Sims who led a late touchdown drive to draw ASU to within 24-16 after trailing 24-0 after three. 

Houston isn’t the flashiest team in the league, but that’s never been head coach Willie Fritz’s M.O. He’s all about winning. So you'd better get used to the Cougars being in the thick of the Big 12 title race in November. They’ll be heavily favored the next two weeks against West Virginia and UCF. 

On a somber note, Houston’s coaches and players played with heavy hearts on Saturday. Strength coach Kurt Hester passed away after a battle with stage IV melanoma, and the team learned about it during the pregame meal. 

Thoughts and prayers go out to the Houston football family. 

Cincinnati Isn’t Going Anywhere

There was a moment Saturday when Cincinnati had a 24-0 lead over Baylor, and BYU was trailing Iowa State in Ames. I tweeted exactly went through my head at that moment. 

I realize that Texas Tech has more depth of talent and BYU has a better overall record, but the Bearcats at least belong in the discussion. 

As much as I love BYU QB Bear Bachmeier and have come around on Texas Tech QB Behren Morton, Cincy has the best QB of the bunch. 

Look at the numbers: 230 passing yards per game, a 20-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, plus 6.2 yards per carry and seven rushing touchdowns. If the season ended today, Brendan Sorsby would be the league’s offensive MVP.

Tell me this isn’t the best cut you’ve seen a player make all season.

He’s even getting some Heisman love right now. 

After finishing off Baylor 41-20 with a flourish, the secret is out. College Gameday is heading to Salt Lake City to watch the Bearcats play Utah. 

Utah will be the best defense Cincy has seen since its season-opening loss to Nebraska. The Utes are one spot below the Huskers in total defense nationally. 

But Sorsby and this Bearcats offense look like a totally different unit than the one that was largely stymied at Arrowhead.  

I can’t wait to see that game, and I can’t wait for Sorsby, the Bearcats, and the Big 12 to be on the national stage Saturday. 

K-State Can Play Spoiler 

It’s time to stop talking about what K-State was and start talking about what it is.

The Wildcats looked like one of the country’s worst Power Four teams in September, struggling with North Dakota, Army, and Arizona. But the last month? Completely different story.

They crushed UCF, led Baylor by 14 in the fourth quarter, beat TCU by two scores, and just pummeled Kansas 42–17 in Lawrence.

Saturday’s win tied Chris Klieman’s largest margin of victory over Lance Leipold. For all the talk about KU closing the gap, the Jayhawks just lost by the same margin they did in Leipold’s first year in 2021.

QB Avery Johnson played his best game yet, averaging over 13 yards per attempt, torching KU with deep shots, and scoring four total touchdowns.

Since late September, Johnson ranks among the top 10 quarterbacks nationally per PFF.

That’s in stark contrast to the performance of KU sixth-year senior Jalon Daniels, who was completely flustered by K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman. Daniels averaged just 3.6 yards per attempt and turned it over twice. His only touchdown, frankly, wouldn’t have counted (and would have been a turnover) if TNT had the necessary goal line replay angle.  

K-State is technically still alive in the Big 12 championship race at 3-2, but in all likelihood, blowing the 14-point fourth-quarter lead in Waco will keep them out of Arlington.  

Still, the Wildcats can absolutely play spoiler. They’re 6.5-point home underdogs this week against Texas Tech and visit Utah on November 22.

Saturday’s crowd in Manhattan is going to be juiced. A dominating win over Kansas is a great way to get fan excitement back, and the Wildcats’ fan base is craving a big game after what happened in September. 

If Texas Tech continues to struggle with quarterback health, this could be a tricky spot for the Red Raiders. Remember, they’ve lost eight straight and 12 of the last 13 to K-State. 

Contenders, beware. This is the wrong time of year to be playing the Wildcats. 

Quarterback Injuries Are Everywhere

Unfortunately, late October means we’re in peak injury season. Everyone’s banged up, and quarterback health is shaping much of the Big 12 race.

It’s no secret that Texas Tech always seems to be dealing with a QB injury. The latest instance is backup quarterback Will Hammond’s torn ACL. 

It’s a major blow. Hammond flashed real talent, and starter Behren Morton has already missed parts of three games. Morton is expected back this week at K-State after missing two straight.

I love the reckless abandon that Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt plays with. Unfortunately, that style has consequences. Leavitt got banged up against Baylor over a month ago and missed the Utah game because of the lingering effects. 

Saturday, he was pulled out of a 24-16 home loss to Houston. ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham says Leavitt is now dealing with multiple injuries. 

For a team that leans so heavily on Leavitt and WR Jordyn Tyson, that’s a massive issue.

Utah also started a backup QB on Saturday, but freshman Byrd Ficklin made it look easy, rushing for 151 yards and three total touchdowns as the Utes ran for 422 yards and over eight yards per carry against Colorado.

It wasn’t pretty for the Buffs. 

TCU’s Josh Hoover did just enough to help the Horned Frogs hang on at West Virginia, but even he dealt with the lingering effects of an early hit. 

BYU QB Bear Bachmeier had to shoulder almost the entire offensive load for the Cougars in their win in Ames. He’s sturdy and has proven to be very durable as a true freshman, but even he was gimpy at a couple of points in the game. 

Here’s hoping for a healthy stretch run across the league. Nobody wants the Big 12 title decided simply by which team’s quarterback stays upright the longest. 

What You Need to Know

• Deion Sanders had some choice words for his team after an embarrassing 53-7 loss at Utah. 

• The Big 12 could have multiple teams in the College Football Playoff, according to the latest Playoff Bracketology from On3’s Andy Staples. Three teams are in the picture.

• BYU QB Bear Bachmeier picked up a national honor this week after his performance in Ames. 

• The Big 12 is going through an identity crisis. Three of the top four teams in the standings were added in 2021 after Texas and Oklahoma announced their departure. What does it mean for the league? Check out my latest YouTube live stream. 

• You can also find my show (Open For Business) on all podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify. Please rate and review the show! It helps more people find it.

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