kansascity
As long as safety is maintained, it's difficult to criticize fans for celebrating a significant win by rushing the field. Such moments are part of what distinguishes college football from the NFL. However, two Big 12 fan bases may have been a bit too eager to storm the field last weekend.
Colorado fans rushed the field after a 27-24 overtime win against Kansas State, even though the Wildcats are at the bottom of the conference standings. The Buffaloes were favored by 3.5 points, so fans could have easily stayed in the stands at Folsom Field. The other major celebration occurred at Jack Trice Stadium when Iowa State defeated Oklahoma State 51-49. It was a thrilling game, and the Cowboys were ranked, so perhaps a field-storming was justified. Still, it was a little surprising to see Iowa State fans react that way after all the success they have experienced over the past decade. In any case, they followed in the footsteps of BYU, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, and UCF—all of which have stormed the field this season.
Here's a recap of all the football results from Week 9 and an update to the Big 12 Power Rankings.
Playoff Contenders
1. Utah (8-0, 5-0 Big 12): The Utes may have played their best game of the season last weekend when they throttled Cincinnati. It could have been tricky for them to play a Big 12 road game in between mammoth showdowns against Houston and BYU, but they made it look easy.
2. BYU (7-1, 4-1 Big 12): The Cougars are on the other end of the spectrum. They still appear hungover from an epic win over Notre Dame two weeks ago. They were fortunate to beat Arizona State in their most recent game. BYU can bounce back in a big way with the Holy War against Utah on deck.
3. Texas Tech (7-1, 4-1 Big 12): Thomas Castellanos to the rescue. Texas Tech made a change at quarterback last week, and Castellanos made his coaches look smart by throwing for 144 yards and running for 117 yards in a 34-26 victory over Arizona. Castellanos is a much better runner than Will Hammond. Perhaps he can guide the Red Raiders to a strong finish.
Teams Hoping for Big 12 Chaos
4. Houston (6-2, 3-2 Big 12): There is no shame in losing close games to Texas Tech and Utah, especially on the road, but it won't be easy for the Cougars to reach the Big 12 championship game as long as those teams keep winning.
5. Arizona (6-2, 3-2 Big 12): Noah Fifita is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference, and he proved himself again by throwing for 417 yards against Texas Tech. The Wildcats led 17-10 at halftime, but they couldn't hold on in the second half. Now they are left hoping for teams in front of them to lose.
All Gas, No Brakes
6. Oklahoma State (5-3, 3-2 Big 12): Imagine where the Cowboys would be right now if they had an average defense. Oklahoma State finished with 49 points and 533 yards against Iowa State on Saturday, and it still wasn't enough because the Cyclones had 581 yards and 51 points.
7. West Virginia (5-3, 2-3 Big 12): Here's hoping the Mountaineers made a few defensive improvements during their off week. They would still be in the conference championship mix if they could come up with more stops.
Hey, Firing Your Coach Is Fun!
8. Baylor (5-3, 3-2 Big 12): The Bears looked like a brand-new team with interim head coach Joe Klanderman leading the way. Baylor demolished UCF 41-9 on Friday in its first game without fired coach Dave Aranda. Maybe it should have made that move sooner.
9. Cincinnati (5-3, 2-3 Big 12): The Bearcats have been a mediocre team most of the season, and they gave fans little to cheer about during a home loss to Utah on Saturday. But you have to give Cincinnati credit for its win over Texas Tech.
10. UCF (4-4, 2-3 Big 12): Remember the time the Knights beat BYU? UCF fans will have at least one good memory from this season, even if the team falls short of a bowl.
11. Iowa State (4-4, 2-3 Big 12): The Cyclones seemed way too eager to storm the field after a walk-off field goal against Oklahoma State. Then again, it's been a trying season in Ames. At least they won a big game this year.
Three Teams with a Coaching Controversy
12. Arizona State (4-4, 2-3 Big 12): It seems like Kenny Dillingham is mentioned as a candidate for every job that opens in college football these days. The latest one: Florida State.
13. TCU (4-4, 2-3 Big 12): The hot seat was beginning to sizzle, but Sonny Dykes successfully cooled it off for at least a little while as TCU mounted a come-from-behind victory over Kansas.
14. Colorado (3-5, 1-4 Big 12): Two years ago, celebrities were lining up to attend Colorado football games. Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders were two of the most popular players in the country, and the Buffaloes were winning. Now, their fans are storming the field after an overtime victory against Kansas State. Things have changed in Boulder.
Sunflower Sadness
15. Kansas State (4-4, 1-4 Big 12): The Wildcats may have found something with Blake Barnett at quarterback. A bowl game isn't out of the question if he continues to play the way he did against Colorado. But that is the ceiling for this team without Avery Johnson. The floor is a last-place finish in the Big 12.
16. Kansas (3-5, 1-4 Big 12): It's a good thing the Jayhawks beat Baylor by blocking a field goal in the final moments of that game. If not for that, Kansas would be in danger of going winless in the Big 12 this season.
Key Analysis
Utah's dominant start has positioned the Utes as the clear frontrunner in the Big 12, but challenges remain with tough matchups ahead. Meanwhile, the bottom of the conference is a stark contrast, with Kansas and Kansas State struggling to find consistency. The field-storming incidents highlight the passion of college football fans, but also raise questions about when celebrations cross the line. As the season progresses, the race for the conference championship game will intensify, with several teams still in contention.
Originally reported by kansascity.