Around the Big 12
Undesirable Debuts
The four new schools in the Big-12 — BYU, Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati — have all played their inaugural Big-12 conference games, and none have managed to secure a victory.
BYU came up short against the high-flying Kansas offense, falling 38-27. Read more about BYU vs. Kansas here.
UCF lost in a shootout against Kansas State, with a final score of 44-31. The story of the game centered around the ground game, as Kansas State rushed for 281 yards, with running back DJ Giddens accounting for 207 of those yards. Giddens and quarterback Will Howard combined for six touchdowns on the ground.
UCF briefly took a 24-21 lead early in the third quarter, but that would be the last time they held the lead. Kansas State went on to score 23 consecutive points, with quarterback Will Howard running in for two touchdowns.
The Golden Knights will have another opportunity to secure their first conference win next Saturday when they play Baylor at home. Kansas State has a bye week ahead.
Cincinnati hosted their Big-12 home opener against the 16th-ranked Oklahoma. The Bearcats managed to take a 3-0 lead halfway through the first quarter, but that lead was quickly erased by a five-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel at the end of the first quarter.
Cincinnati put up a fight, but their lack of offensive explosiveness ultimately held them back. Dillon Gabriel ran for a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter, sealing their fate.
The Bearcats are scheduled to face BYU in Provo next Friday, while the Sooners will take on Iowa State in Norman next Saturday on FS1.
Houston played their first Big 12 game in week three and suffered a 36-13 defeat at the hands of TCU. However, they showed significant improvement after a lackluster performance against the Horned Frogs. In a Saturday evening matchup against Sam Houston State, they bounced back from an early 7-3 deficit to score 35 unanswered points, ultimately winning 38-7.
The Cougars are still in search of their first Big-12 win, with their next opportunity coming in Lubbock against Texas Tech.
Texas is still back
After an underwhelming performance against Wyoming the previous week, Texas had a completely different outcome in Waco on Saturday night. Texas took a commanding 28-6 lead into halftime.
The Longhorns defeated Baylor with a final score of 38-6, with running back Jonathan Brooks leading the way with 106 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Texas is set to face undefeated Kansas in Austin next Saturday on ABC.
Baylor, on the other hand, has struggled this season, with their only win coming against FCS-school Long Island. They’ll be looking to secure their first Big-12 win of the season when they face UCF in Orlando.
Mountaineers fight off Red Raiders
West Virginia improved to 3-1 on the season after defeating Texas Tech 20-13 in Morgantown. The Mountaineers were projected to finish last in the Big-12 preseason poll, but it appears that their mindset has shifted. West Virginia faces their first conference road test of the season against TCU next Saturday.
Texas Tech, on the other hand, is off to a nightmare start this season. Despite being projected to finish fourth in the Big-12 preseason poll, they currently hold a 1-3 record after falling to West Virginia. The Red Raiders have a chance to bounce back with a home game against Houston next week.
Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State
Both teams entered this matchup coming off devastating losses. Oklahoma State had been trampled by South Alabama, while Iowa State had suffered a lackluster 7-10 loss to Ohio.
The Cyclones managed to defeat the Cowboys 34-27, with quarterback Rocco Becht throwing for 348 yards in the air and three passing touchdowns. Iowa State now holds a 2-2 record on the season after winning a high-scoring game against Oklahoma State.
Iowa State looks to maintain their momentum against 16th-ranked Oklahoma in Norman next week, while Oklahoma State enjoys a bye week.
Horned Frogs tame Mustangs
TCU added another win to their record by defeating crosstown rival SMU 34-17. The Horned Frogs were led by an exceptional performance from quarterback Chandler Morris, who threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns.
TCU, quietly accumulating wins after a previous upset against future Big-12 opponent Deion Sanders-coached Colorado Buffaloes, improved to 3-1 after Saturday’s victory. They are set to host West Virginia in Fort Worth next weekend.
