The Big 12 continues to be one of the most exciting conferences in all of football, and that’s in large part due to how open the conference is. The Colorado Buffaloes have two of the most talented players in America, but that’s not enough to win every week.
The Kansas Jayhawks entered the season as a darkhorse favorite to win the league behind the play of quarterback Jalon Daniels, but they sit at 1-5 presently. The Texas Tech Red Raiders snuck past the Abilene Christian Wildcats, but sit at 3-0 in conference play thus far.
With a league full of more parity than any other power conference in the NCAA, there are inevitably going to be upsets every week. This Saturday all sixteen Big 12 teams are in action, creating eight conference games and eight opportunities for upsets.
From the Oklahoma State Cowboys heading to a Provo snowstorm to play the BYU Cougars on Friday, until the final whistle in a TCU Horned Frogs and Utah Utes game that kicks off at 10:30 ET on Saturday, the Big 12 will entertain.
But which fan bases are in for the rude awakening that comes with an upset?
ARIZONA WILDCATS
Arizona hosts Colorado this weekend. While they’re a small favorite, it doesn’t feel like the Wildcats have any answer for quarterback Shedeur Sanders or wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.
Sometimes it may feel more complicated than that, but Arizona is allowing over 350 yards of offense per game. When looking at mutual opponents, the Kansas State Wildcats handed Arizona their worst loss of the year and Colorado was nearly able to take them out just last weekend. Unless Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita finds a way to go blow for blow with Sanders, the Buffaloes will be heading back home victorious.
KANSAS JAYHAWKS
At some point, Lance Leipold’s team will get an FBS win… but it just doesn’t feel like this weekend. Kansas has been favored all week, but that’s in large part because this is technically a home game between two struggling programs.
Kansas, located in Lawrence, has had to play their home games elsewhere this year. Saturday the Jayhawks host the Houston Cougars at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City less than 18 hours following Late Night at the Phog, the annual extravaganza surrounding the start of the KU basketball season.
Further, in all five Kansas losses this year they have struggled with running quarterbacks… like the starter Houston just found in their victory over the TCU Horned Frogs. Unless Jalon Daniels can be the quarterback he was a year ago, prior to several injuries, Houston looks like they’re heading to Willie Fritz’s first Cougar win streak.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Yes, Kansas State does very well in our Big 12 Power Rankings. But weird things happen in Morgantown. Further, West Virginia’s defense has done a good job of slowing teams down on the ground this year.
Kansas State is looking to steam roll and bulldoze teams on their way to a rematch with the BYU Cougars in Arlington, but West Virginia has only had that happen to them twice this year and, while they couldn’t do anything with the Penn State Nittany Lions, West Virginia was able to comeback and beat Kansas despite the rush yards.