Following Week 10 of the college football season, the focus narrowed a bit on which Big 12 teams could remain in contention for a spot in next month’s league championship game.
Utah pounded Cincinnati to improve its chances, Texas Tech won on the road at Kansas State, and defending Big 12 champion Arizona State stayed alive by earning a hard-fought victory at Iowa State.
Couple that with Houston losing at West Virginia, and the Big 12 chase received a bit of clarity last week.
What’s on tap in Week 11? There’s a big clash in Lubbock and a couple other games that will impact the top of the Big 12 standings.
No. 7 BYU at No. 8 Texas Tech
Saturday, 10 a.m. MST (ABC)
This isn’t just the matchup of the week in the Big 12, it’s arguably the game of the year in the league — at least from a regular-season standpoint.
This could very well be Round 1 of two games between the schools, as BYU (8-0, 5-0) and Texas Tech (8-1, 5-1) are currently both in line to make the Big 12 championship game.
The Red Raiders are double-digit favorites against an undefeated BYU team that is being knocked for its inability to blow out opponents and needing to rally several times this year.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, is prone to winning big when it adds another W to the win column. That included last week, when the Red Raiders went on the road and beat Kansas State 43-20 as they forced five turnovers.
BYU is coming in off a much-needed bye week, allowing the Cougars an opportunity to reset and get healed up. Running back LJ Martin, who left BYU’s win at Iowa State two weeks ago with an injury, is off the Big 12 availability report as of Thursday night and is expected to play.
That’s a big development for the Cougars and their quarterback, freshman Bear Bachmeier, as BYU faces a destructive Texas Tech defensive line that creates havoc for opposing offenses.
ESPN’s Football Power Index currently gives Texas Tech 47.8% odds to win the Big 12, with BYU the next league team behind them, at 34.1%.
The winner of Saturday’s matchup is one step closer to clinching its spot in the Big 12 championship game next month in Texas.
The loser will still be in good shape in the conference race, but will need to avoid upsets down the stretch.
Iowa State at TCU
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MST (Fox)
Following a bye week, TCU (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) is back in action with another opportunity to improve its chances of staying in the Big 12 race.
The Horned Frogs are one of four conference teams with two losses in league play, and while they would need help to get to Arlington, TCU has a schedule where if it wins out, the Horned Frogs have a chance.
Following this weekend’s game, TCU will play at BYU, at Houston and home against Cincinnati to finish the year. Those three teams have a combined three Big 12 losses between them. If TCU goes 4-0 in November, it’s giving itself a shot to make the Big 12 championship game.
The Horned Frogs still need to beat Iowa State (5-4, 2-4) before any of that happens, though.
The Cyclones have lost four straight after starting the year with such promise — at one point, they were a top-15-ranked team and a frontrunner for the league crown.
Can a banged-up Iowa State squad snap its losing streak and hand TCU a damaging loss?
This is almost a Big 12 race elimination game if the Horned Frogs lose, but a chance to keep hope alive if they win.
Houston at UCF
Friday, 6 p.m. MST (FS1)
The Cougars (7-2, 4-2) were in good shape in the Big 12 race last week, before an inexplicable loss to West Virginia.
Houston still could earn a spot in the Big 12 championship game, but the Cougars will need some help — and they can’t afford any more slip-ups.
That begins this week with a Friday night tilt against another team near the bottom of the league standings, UCF (4-4, 1-4).
Houston’s normally stout defense gave up 45 points to West Virginia, and the Cougars lost the turnover battle 4-0.
UCF, though, is coming off a 30-3 loss against Baylor and is struggling in Big 12 play for a third-straight season.
The Cougars need to avoid another stumble if they want to keep their hopes for a Big 12 title game appearance alive. Houston ends the year with a home game against TCU, then on the road at Baylor.
Big 12 standings
As of Thursday, Nov. 6
| Team | Overall record | Big 12 record |
|---|---|---|
| BYU | 8-0 | 5-0 |
| Texas Tech | 8-1 | 5-1 |
| Cincinnati | 7-2 | 5-1 |
| Utah | 7-2 | 4-2 |
| Houston | 7-2 | 4-2 |
| Arizona State | 6-3 | 4-2 |
| TCU | 6-2 | 3-2 |
| Baylor | 5-4 | 3-3 |
| Kansas | 5-4 | 3-3 |
| Kansas State | 4-5 | 3-3 |
| Arizona | 5-3 | 2-3 |
| Iowa State | 5-4 | 2-4 |
| UCF | 4-4 | 1-4 |
| Colorado | 3-6 | 1-5 |
| West Virginia | 3-6 | 1-5 |
| Oklahoma State | 1-8 | 0-6 |