Texas Tech just announced to the world that they’re built to win playoff games. But they weren’t the only Big 12 team making a statement on Saturday.

Here are my five biggest takeaways.

Texas Tech Can Win Playoff Games

Before Saturday’s emphatic 34-10 win in Salt Lake City, Texas Tech was merely the concept of a playoff contender (shout out to Nathan Giese of the Lubbock Avalanche Journal). The idea of using oil money to buy a championship roster sounded great in theory, but we hadn’t seen it in practice against anybody with a pulse. 

Now we have proof of concept. 

Tech beat a top-20 team on the road by 24 despite two turnovers, 14 penalties, and an injured starting quarterback. Utah prides itself on toughness, yet it was the Utes who stunningly got worn down.

My main doubts about the Red Raiders’ ceiling have been about QB1 Behren Morton, and those were confirmed by his performance. He threw two bad interceptions and got hurt…again. 

I don’t think he has the arm talent to make tight-window throws against playoff-caliber defenses, and at this point, durability issues are part of his profile. 

Good news, though, Tech fans. You have a better QB on the roster. 

Redshirt freshman Will Hammond was spectacular in relief of Morton. He completed throw after throw into tight windows against a great defense and averaged 7.6 yards per carry on the ground. 

Tech has known Hammond is a talent. What they now also know is that he has the poise to match it. 

Utah cut the lead to 13-10 with 10 minutes left. The stadium was shaking, the pressure was mounting, and the weight of all that hype fell on a freshman. Hammond’s response? Three straight touchdown drives.

This kid looks ready. And with Morton reportedly ready to go next week at Houston after the bye, head coach Joey McGuire has a situation on his hands. 

There’s enough talent and depth on this roster to win playoff games, but the Red Raiders need the upside of Hammond’s game to make a serious run. Morton brings a steady floor and a bevy of leadership, but I don’t think he has what it takes to beat playoff-caliber defenses. 

McGuire has a decision coming, even if he doesn’t make it right away.

The Big 12 Owns the ACC

After TCU held off SMU and UCF crushed North Carolina, the Big 12 is now 6-1 against the ACC this season.

Yes, the same ACC Rhett Lashlee swore was one of the three best leagues in the country. Maybe he should worry about three losses to Big 12 teams in the last two years instead.

TCU’s 35-24 win could have been bigger. Officials robbed Frogs WR Eric McAlister of a touchdown, plus a fluky interception and a missed field goal kept points off the board. The Frogs still outgained SMU by nearly 150 yards.

North Carolina has now lost to two Big 12 opponents by a combined score of 82-23. West Virginia, trending for a finish near the bottom of the Big 12, beat Pitt. Stanford got blasted at BYU. 

The only win the ACC has over the Big 12 is a last minute victory for #16 Georgia Tech at Colorado, another team that appears to be heading for a bottom half of the league finish. 

Even the numbers say it: the Big 12 grades closer to the Big Ten than the ACC.

Yes, the ACC has Miami and Florida State at the top, but I’d suggest that Texas Tech and Florida State cancel each other out. Miami looks like a national championship contender, which will matter more to most, but the Big 12 has far more depth. 

There is certainly a healthy debate this year about which league is better. And the ACC has Lashlee himself to thank for that after his Mustangs lost to both Baylor and SMU this month. 

Even the most fervent ACC defenders are conceding defeat. 

Arizona State Can Still Win the League

The Sun Devils aren’t polished, but winning in Waco while still searching for an identity is a big deal.

ASU beat Baylor on a game-winning field goal, helped by three Bears turnovers. 

QB Sam Leavitt still looks like he’s pressing without last year’s star running back, Cam Skattebo, and outside of Jordan Tyson, the skill talent has been inconsistent.

Tyson is a star, but no other receiver on the roster has more than four catches, and tight end Chamon Metayer is averaging less than 45 yards per game. 

But Leavitt’s fight is undeniable. He led three straight fourth-quarter scoring drives at Baylor to seal the win.

Meanwhile, the defense hasn’t given up more than 24 points in any game. That’s been enough to buy time while the offense figures it out.

However, the search for identity needs to end soon, with TCU, Utah, Texas Tech, Houston, and Iowa State coming up on the Sun Devils’ schedule. 

I still think ASU can play for a Big 12 title again this year, but they’re going to have to earn it. 

Don’t Sleep on BYU…

A 34-13 win at East Carolina doesn’t jump off the page, but it’s worth more than you think.

The Pirates nearly took NC State to overtime and wrecked Coastal Carolina. Their home crowd was primed to rattle BYU freshman QB Bear Bachmeier.

Instead, he passed the test. Bachmeier went 18/25 for 246 yards, two total touchdowns, and no turnovers. He still hasn’t given the ball away all season.

As expected, the defense carried the load early. Jay Hill’s unit has allowed one touchdown in 12 quarters.

Cornerback Evan Johnson made two game-changing plays in less than four minutes of game time. First, he picked off ECU QB Katin Houser in the end zone as the Pirates were driving to take the lead before halftime. 

Minutes later, with ECU backed up, he turned in one of the shortest pick-sixes you’ll ever see. 

BYU isn’t flashy. But with that defense and a steady QB, the Cougars are absolutely in play for Arlington.

…Or Kansas

Kansas quietly looks dangerous.

The Jayhawks hammered WVU 41-10 to move to 3-1. 

All three phases were rolling for KU. Jalon Daniels threw for three touchdowns, Leshon Williams rushed for 129 yards, the defense didn’t allow a TD until the fourth quarter, and WR Emmanuel Henderson returned a kickoff for a score. 

KU’s three wins have come by an average of 32 points per game, and its victory over Fresno State in week one looks better by the day with the Bulldogs now 4-1. 

And the most impressive data point we have on the Jayhawks is their performance at Missouri. The Tigers look like a legitimate top 20 team, and KU led in Columbia midway through the fourth quarter. Kansas was one fourth down stop away from a win. 

Daniels is back to his old self, the offense is humming, and the defense is making strides. The schedule is manageable outside of trips to Ames and Lubbock.

Kansas has a real path to Arlington, too.

What You Need to Know

• ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that Oklahoma State is looking at a change in leadership in the athletic department and football staff within the next few weeks. That’s bad news for head coach Mike Gundy after a brutal 19-12 loss to Tulsa. 

• Check out the rant that SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee directed at TCU after the Horned Frogs beat the Mustangs 35-24 on Saturday. Lashlee was clearly feeling salty after taking the loss. 

• UCF head coach Scott Frost had some pointed comments about the disrespect he felt toward his football team this year. 

• Colorado head coach Deion Sanders fired shots at critics of his offense after the Buffaloes’ 37-20 win over Wyoming. 

• Four Big 12 teams are perfect against the spread so far this season.

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