Houston and Cincinnati headline this weekend in Big 12 football. Both have a chance to make a statement and show they belong in the contender conversation.

Here are the five most intriguing storylines:

Week Six Primer

I’ll be previewing every week of the Big 12 season by giving you the top five things to watch for. Here’s what you need to know about week six.

All times listed are Central Time (CST)

No More Flying Under the Radar for Houston

#11 Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0) at Houston (4-0, 1-0) – 6:00 ESPN
Line: TTU -10.5

Houston has already matched its best win total in a Big 12 season by starting 4-0, but the Cougars have largely flown under the radar. 

Few people put Houston in the same tier with Texas Tech, Iowa State, Arizona State, TCU, and Utah; now is the Cougars’ chance to change that.

They get the best team in the Big 12, and an old Southwest Conference rival coming into their place for a game under the lights on ESPN. 

The spot could be favorable for Houston. Tech had last week off after demolishing Utah, and the praise has been nonstop. This will test whether the Red Raiders can keep their edge.

The problem for Houston is that Texas Tech’s offensive and defensive lines will be on the field. They mauled Utah, which even Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham admitted was a stunning development.

Can Houston’s offensive line hold up against the transfer all-star lineup that Tech has on its defensive line? Utah’s o-line couldn’t, even with two future first-round NFL draft picks. 

The Cougars have to get pressure on Red Raiders’ QB Behren Morton, who has thrived from a clean pocket this year. Houston has an outstanding group of defensive backs, but Morton is good enough to pick them apart if he has time. 

Houston also plays a lot of zone coverage, and Morton is the best quarterback in the country against zone, per Pro Football Focus.

The atmosphere will be electric, whether or not Red Raider fans infiltrate the stadium. This one is a must-watch.

Cincinnati Licking Its Chops Against Banged-Up ISU

#14 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0) at Cincinnati (3-1, 1-0) – 11:00 ESPN2
Line: Cincy -1.5

This week started with another tough blow for Iowa State’s secondary. 

Starting cornerback Jontez Williams is now out for the year, along with fellow starting CB Jeremiah Cooper. It’s never a great time to have a depleted secondary, but the timing is especially bad with Cincinnati next on the schedule. 

Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby has been on fire since a season-opening loss to Nebraska. He’s averaging 348 yards and three touchdowns per game, and Cincinnati is the number two scoring offense in the league. 

Tre Bell and Quentin Taylor Jr. step into huge roles for the Cyclones. Defensive coordinator Jon Heacock is one of the best at scheming around personnel losses, but he has his work cut out for him.

If ISU QB Rocco Becht has to carry the Cyclones, he usually delivers. He’s won nine of his last ten on the road and has a knack for clutch plays. WR Chase Sowell may also be emerging as another key weapon.

Cincy was close to upsetting Nebraska in Week 1. This could be the breakthrough moment that turns heads nationally.

Can K-State Stay Consistent?

K-State (2-3, 1-1) at Baylor (3-2, 1-1) – 11:00 ESPN+
Line: Baylor -6.5

For K-State, consistency doesn’t just mean stacking wins; it means showing consistent effort.

Last week against UCF, the Wildcats finally brought energy and intensity, something missing since their Week 0 loss to Iowa State. Can they do it again on the road?

The good news for K-State is that its offense should finally be at full strength. Running back Dylan Edwards returned with a bang last week, racking up 166 yards against UCF. Star receiver Jayce Brown missed most of that game with a lower-body injury, and No. 2 wideout JB Bradley didn’t play at all, but this week, Bradley is a full go and Brown is listed as probable.

Baylor’s defense has struggled mightily all season and just gave up 232 yards passing to Oklahoma State quarterback Zane Flores, easily his best performance of the season. The Bears have allowed more points than any non-OSU defense in the league. 

The problem for K-State lies on the other side of the ball. A spotty K-State secondary and pass rush is tasked with slowing down NCAA passing leader Sawyer Robertson and the Baylor offense. That’s a recipe for disaster. 

Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman talked this week about the importance of long drives and ball control for his offense to keep Baylor’s offense off the field. 

The problem with that is the K-State offense has been feast or famine this year. There haven’t been many long, sustained drives—the Wildcats are 104th in the country in offensive success rate.

It’s must-win territory for Baylor if it wants to stay in the Big 12 title race.

Will TCU Bounce Back Mentally?

Colorado (2-3, 0-2) at TCU (3-1, 0-1) – 6:30 Fox
Line: TCU -13.5

It is true that TCU was out-gained 498 to 269 last Friday by Arizona State, but it still felt like the Horned Frogs snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after blowing 17-0 and 24-17 leads. 

Now, they need to bounce back at home against a struggling Colorado team looking for answers. 

Last time they saw Coach Prime, the Buffs dropped 45 points and 565 yards on the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth to start the 2023 season. 

That game gave us one of the greatest videos in internet history (NSFW language warning). 

From a football standpoint, TCU needs to start developing a legitimate ground game. They ran the ball fewer than ten times after building a 17-point lead last week. That’s not the way to salt a game away when you’re in front. 

Colorado has the 15th-best rush defense in the Big 12, so that should provide plenty of opportunity. Plus, the Frogs may get RB Kevorian Barnes back this week. 

The big question is all mental: will TCU be locked in to fix mistakes and stay in the Big 12 title hunt, or will they sleepwalk against a team they should handle?

What Kind of Fight Does West Virginia Have Left?

West Virginia (2-3, 0-2) at #23 BYU (4-0, 1-0) – 9:30 Friday ESPN
Line: BYU -18.5

It’s been a rough week of injuries and transfers across the league, and of course, West Virginia wasn’t immune. 

There’s not a team in the Big 12 that has been hit harder by injuries than the Mountaineers, making it seemingly impossible for head coach Rich Rodriguez to gain any traction in year one back in Morgantown. 

QB Nicco Marchiol is taking a medical redshirt and transferring. Jaylen Henderson, who’s played the most under center outside of Marchiol, is also out. That’s on top of losing RB Jaheim White and WR Jayden Bray.

RB Tye Edwards, who broke out against Pitt, is probable after missing last week. WVU desperately needs him.

With so many key players gone, does Rich Rodriguez’s team still have fight left, or will the season slip away?

BYU isn’t flashy, but they’re physical. If you don’t show up ready, they’ll push you around. Let’s see if WVU answers the bell.

Week Six Power Rankings

1. Texas Tech (LW: 1)
2. Iowa State (LW: 2)
3. Arizona State (LW: 4)
4. TCU (LW: 3)
5. BYU (LW: 6)
6. Cincinnati (LW: 9)
7. Utah (LW: 7)
8. Houston (LW: 8)
9. Baylor (LW: 12)
10. Kansas (LW: 5)
11. Colorado (LW: 13)
12. Arizona (LW: 11)
13. K-State (LW: 15)
14. UCF (LW: 10)
15. Oklahoma State (LW: 16)
16. West Virginia (LW: 14)

• Arizona State lays claim to the top contender spot outside of unbeaten Texas Tech and Iowa State. For now, I’m keeping TCU ahead of BYU because of its win over SMU. I think that’s a stronger data point than anything on the Cougars’ resume to this point.

• Cincinnati shoots up into the second tier after the upset win at Kansas. Speaking of the Jayhawks, they took the biggest tumble after letting a home win they really needed slip away. 

• I feel bad moving the Mountaineers to the bottom spot because of the injury issues that have piled up, but I had to do it. Oklahoma State showed more life this week in its loss to Baylor.

What You Need to Know

• How much did Texas Tech spend on its football roster this year? On3’s Pete Nakos has the answer, along with how far behind Oklahoma State is in NIL spend. 

• ESPN reports that the Big Ten is pursuing a private capital deal worth $2 billion. The news has been met with tons of pushback from Congress and Texas Tech megabooster Cody Campbell. 

• The Big 12 is sending two teams to play in London next football season. It will be the first college football matchup in the city. 

• Colorado head coach Deion Sanders apologized to BYU fans after CU students directed vulgar chants toward Cougars fans in Boulder last Saturday. The Big 12 fined Colorado $50,000.

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