Kansas Football opened their Big 12 season with a 41-10 victory over West Virginia in Week 4. Aside from allowing only 10 points, their fewest points allowed in a conference game since 2007, KU also dominated in special teams and did plenty offensively to beat the Mountaineers. It was a great start to conference play with certainly more difficult games on the horizon. A handful of Big 12 teams were idle last week, but a full slate of conference games begins Friday night.
- Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0)
- After coasting through three non-conference games, Tech proved themselves in a big way on the Salt Lake, upending Utah 34-10. Backup QB Will Hammond was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week after replacing Behren Morton. With the win over the Utes being perhaps the strongest win a Big 12 team has had this season, the Red Raiders catapult into 1st. Tech is idle before heading to Houston on Oct. 4.
- Iowa State (4-0, 1-0)
- Iowa State drops to 2 solely based on Tech’s big win while the Cyclones were idle. ISU has solid wins over Iowa and K-State. Next up is another big opportunity when Arizona visits Jack Trice Stadium.
- BYU (3-0)
- BYU was expected to be tested for the first time this season when they traveled to Greenville to take on East Carolina. That was far from the case. The Cougars blew out the Pirates 34-13, and they have allowed just 5.33 points per game. BYU heads to Colorado Saturday night.
- TCU (3-0)
- TCU won a hard-fought battle against SMU last week, and a slightly better resume than Arizona to this point has the Frogs hopping the Wildcats. Josh Hoover threw for five touchdowns in the 35-24 win, including three to Eric McAlister, who collected 254 yards in becoming Co-Offensive Player of the Week in the Big 12. He’s proving to be one of the top wide receivers in the conference. A battle awaits Friday night when the Frogs head to ASU.
- Arizona (3-0)
- Arizona was idle after closing their non-conference slate with a “non-con” win against K-State, winning 23-17 in Tucson. Noah Fifita has six TDs and no interceptions through three games. Conference game number one promises to be a test when the Wildcats head to Ames on Saturday.
- Arizona State (3-1, 1-0)
- After dropping one in the non-con at Mississippi State, ASU picked up a big win in Waco last week, 27-24. The offense hasn’t been exceptional, but Sam Leavitt played better against the Bears. It should be a good one on Friday night when they play host to TCU.
- Kansas (3-1, 1-0)
- The Jayhawks blew out West Virginia in their Big 12 opener last week, 41-10. KU’s defense allowed the fewest points they’ve allowed in a conference game since 2007, Jalon Daniels threw for three touchdowns and special teams dominated as well. Tougher tests await, beginning with Cincinnati visiting Lawrence on Saturday.
- Houston (3-0, 1-0)
- The Cougars were idle last week, basking in their 3-0 start. Tied with four others atop the conference at 1-0, Houston dips back to the non-conference as they battle Oregon State in Corvallis Friday night.
- Utah (3-1, 0-1)
- After cruising to a 3-0 start with blowout wins over UCLA, Cal Poly and Wyoming, a start in which they allowed just 8.33 points per game, Utah got a dose of reality when Texas Tech beat them by 24 in Salt Lake City. The Utes have a chance to get right when they battle a depleted West Virginia team in Morgantown on Saturday.
- UCF (3-0)
- UCF has done what they need to through three ho-hum games this season. Their non-con season ended with a 34-9 domination of North Carolina. The Knights open conference play against a hungry K-State team in Manhattan on Saturday.
- Cincinnati (2-1)
- Cincinnati was idle last week after a 2-1 non-con season. The Bearcats lost a nail-biter to Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium in the opener before beating Bowling Green and Northwestern State. QB Brendan Sorsby has already accounted for a dozen touchdowns. Cincinnati has an opportunity on the road when they had to Lawrence on Saturday.
- Baylor (2-2, 0-1)
- Bears Quarterback Sawyer Robertson continues to put up gaudy numbers, but Baylor dropped their second of the year on Saturday, losing a heartbreaker to Arizona State. Saturday’s trip to Stillwater is shaping up to be a must-win for Dave Aranda and company.
- Kansas State (1-3, 0-1)
- K-State moves up by virtue of the drubbing West Virginia took against Kansas. A lot of questions remain for Chris Klieman, Avery Johnson and company after a nightmarish start to the season. After the Wildcats were idle last week, they hope to get right in hosting UCF on Saturday.
- Colorado (2-2, 0-1)
- There haven’t been a ton of surprises for Colorado football so far this season. Deion’s team has taken losses to Georgia Tech and Houston with wins over Delaware and Wyoming. A big opportunity comes on Saturday night when the Buffaloes welcome BYU.
- West Virginia (2-2, 0-1)
- A week after a nice win in the Backyard Brawl over Pitt, West Virginia was a mess in their loss last week to Kansas. The Mountaineers were dominated in all three phases. WVU needs to get Tye Edwards healthy at the running back position, and they need better quarterback play, be it from Nicco Marchiol or the slew of other options.
- Oklahoma State (1-2)
- A disastrous year-plus for Oklahoma State football resulted in head coach Mike Gundy being fired this past week. The Pokes have a blowout loss to Oregon and their first loss to Tulsa in Stillwater since 1951. Oklahoma State hosts Baylor in their first game in the post-Gundy era.
Sean Kellerman