ctinsider
The college football season has already delivered a slew of unforgettable moments: Michigan's improbable double Hail Mary victory, Oregon's stunning upset loss at Oklahoma State, North Carolina State's heartbreaking defeat after leading with 10 seconds left, Texas overtaking Ohio State for the No. 1 spot following a remarkable comeback, an AI-generated video involving the Longhorns' coach, the ongoing Big Ten vs. SEC debate, and the ever-present Lane Kiffin saga.
Yet the Big 12 conference is quietly crafting its own compelling narrative. On Sunday, the league placed three teams in the top 15 of The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time this season, with four teams ranked overall. No. 9 BYU achieved its highest ranking since a brief top-10 appearance late last season, while No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 15 Utah also reached season-best positions. Houston entered at No. 25, and four other Big 12 programs are receiving votes.
Now in its third year since Oklahoma and Texas departed for the SEC, the Big 12 has gained momentum with Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah leading the charge. As of Sunday, these teams sit in the top 12 of the ESPN power index. There is a genuine possibility that the conference could secure two College Football Playoff berths for the first time, a significant milestone for a league that hasn't claimed a national title since 2005 and has had only three current members reach the playoff since its inception in 2014. The only Big 12 team to reach the CFP title game, TCU in 2022, suffered a 58-point blowout loss.
Key Analysis
A major factor in the post-2023 Big 12 is the shedding of its reputation as a conference where high-powered offenses reign and defense is an afterthought. In 2023, the league had nine teams in the top 35 in total offense but only one in the top 35 in total defense. Through Week 3 of this season, six Big 12 teams rank in the top 35 in total defense, with a seventh at No. 36, while eight teams are in the top 35 in total offense. This balance was evident in the conference's first two league games: BYU pulled away late to defeat Arizona 28-17 in Week 2, and Texas Tech edged Houston 28-26 on Friday after stopping Conner Weigman on a 2-point conversion attempt with 49 seconds remaining.
Last season, 29 of 72 Big 12 games (40%) were decided by one score, and since the 2024 restructuring, 62 of 147 games (42%) have been one-score affairs, per Sportradar. In 2024, nine Big 12 teams entered the final week of the regular season with a mathematical chance at one of the two conference championship game spots, and an eight-team tie for first place was even possible. By contrast, 2025 was more straightforward, with Texas Tech and BYU clinching title game berths before their final regular-season games; Tech won the championship. Still, eight teams finished within three games of those two, and more of the same is expected as the season progresses.
Group of Six Scramble
With no Group of Six team having cracked the Top 25 through four polls, Boise State would currently be the projected G6 representative in the CFP, as it receives the most votes among teams outside the power conferences. However, this season's race for the G6 bid could be just as entertaining as 2025. Boise State's close game with Oregon looks less impressive after the Ducks' loss at Oklahoma State, and the Broncos were far from dominant in their win over South Dakota of the Championship Subdivision on Saturday. At least a half-dozen other teams warrant attention. North Dakota State is 4-0 in its first year in the Bowl Subdivision, and only one team has played the Bison closer than 21 points. South Florida is 3-0 for the first time since 2002 under first-year coach Brian Hartline. James Madison, one of two G6 playoff teams last year, hasn't missed a beat in the transition from Bob Chesney to Billy Napier and is 3-0 after an impressive road win over San Diego State. Tulsa is 3-0 and can match its 2025 win total with a victory at Arkansas this week. Western Michigan is 2-1 due to that extra-second loss at Michigan, and New Mexico played Oklahoma within 14-6 on the road in its only loss.
SEC vs. Big Ten
The two powerhouse conferences have several intriguing matchups this week, including No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee, No. 4 Mississippi at No. 21 Florida, No. 19 Missouri at No. 24 Mississippi State, and No. 23 Texas A&M at No. 10 LSU. The Big Ten's showcase game is No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 Southern California, which has lost its last four games against the Ducks. No. 17 Iowa also visits No. 18 Michigan, and these are not your typical Hawkeyes: their 111 points through three games are the most since 2003.
Extra Points
CJ Bailey's ill-timed, game-turning end-zone fumble in NC State's 35-31 loss to Vanderbilt was not an isolated incident. Since 2024, his first season, Bailey has put the ball on the ground 14 times, third-most among active FBS players, according to Sportradar. His seven lost fumbles are tied for fifth-most. ... Oregon scored on 12 of its 13 possessions in its 84-0 rout of Portland State. The Ducks would have gone 13 for 13, but Dylan Raiola's 38-yard touchdown pass to Messiah Hampton in the third quarter was nullified by offsetting penalties, and they ended up punting.
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Originally reported by ctinsider.