Collegiate football is one of the most chaotic sports there is today, where you truly have to expect the unexpected, and which conference represents this better than the Big 12? 

Last year, the team that won the conference, Arizona State, was picked last, coming off back-to-back three-win seasons. ASU's unprecedented run to the Big 12 title ultimately caused the termination of the Big 12 poll. 

Regardless, the Big 12 is the conference of chaos. You truly don’t know what to expect from it every week, and these 16 teams show why.

1. Arizona State (1-0)

It was some tough sledding for the defending conference champions on Saturday against Northern Arizona. 

The Sun Devils hoped to come out and dominate their in-state FCS opponent, and while they gained 463 total yards, 203 coming on the ground, Kenny Dillingham’s club had a lot of problems they have to fix before a road test against an SEC opponent. 

ASU racked up 12 penalties on Saturday, wiping out multiple big plays, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown by redshirt junior running back Raleek Brown that was wiped out by a holding call. 

Despite these issues, the Sun Devils had some positives. Redshirt junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, in his first game since suffering a shoulder injury against Arizona last season, hauled in 12 passes for 141 Yards and two touchdowns. 

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt had an efficient day, minus a fourth-quarter pick, throwing for 257 Yards and two touchdowns, as well as 73 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. 

The Sun Devils are 1-0, but many questions remain about whether they will replicate their success from 2024 this season. 

A road game against Mississippi State is up next, and coach Dillingham needs to hope his team can turn it around quickly, or else a Big 12 title will not be a possibility this season.

2. Iowa State (2-0)

If there is any team that has impressed the most in the Big 12 so far, it’s coach Matt Campbell’s company in Ames. 

The Cyclones are 2-0 to start the season, following a Week 0 win overseas against their rival Kansas State and a dominant win against one of the best FCS teams in the country in South Dakota.

Despite losing wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins to the NFL, ISU’s offense is showing no signs of slowing down. Redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht threw more touchdowns than incompletions, finishing 19/20 for 278 yards and three touchdowns. 

Junior tight end Benjamin Brahmer hauled in two touchdowns, becoming a reliable red-zone target for Becht, and fellow tight end, redshirt junior Gabe Burkle, caught another one while catching four passes for 86 yards. 

The Cyclones jumped from No. 22 to No. 16 and are rising as a contender in the Big 12, as they seek to win their first conference title since 1912. 

 ISU has a rivalry game at home next week, as its in-state rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes, come to town in an out-of-conference showdown. 

3. Texas Tech (1-0)

If you wanted to make a statement of how much you invested for this season, look at none other than the Texas Tech Red Raiders. 

Coach Joey McGuire’s squad brought in 22 transfers throughout the offseason, as many crowned them the best transfer portal class, and many began to put them as contenders in the Big 12. And even against an opponent like Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Red Raiders showed how dangerous they can be this season. 

Texas Tech led 47-0 at halftime and eventually won 67-7 in a unique second half, as the game was suspended at halftime due to lightning, and there were only two eight-minute quarters instead of the standard 15-minute quarters. 

The biggest question for the Red Raiders was their run game, as USC transfer, sophomore running back Quinten Joyner, suffered a torn ACL a few weeks prior. In Saturday’s win, Joyner’s absence didn’t seem to be much of a problem. 

Sophomore running back Cameron Dickey filled in the role well, with 13 carries for 90 yards, and redshirt freshman running back Adam Hill had seven carries for 78 yards. The Red Raiders finished with 296 yards rushing. 

Senior Behren Morton started at QB, finishing 16/20 for 201 yards and four touchdowns, before leaving the game with a hyperextended knee, and is questionable for Saturday’s game against Kent State. 

The Red Raiders dropped to No. 24 in the new AP Poll, but their new-look team will look to continue as Kent State comes to Lubbock. 

4. Utah (1-0)

Following their worst season since 2013, the Utes look to bounce back strongly. 

After a season where injuries plagued the quarterback position, coach Kyle Whittingham’s squad sought a revamp, and they found one in New Mexico transfer junior Devon Dampier, who came to Utah after his former offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, was hired at Utah.

In his first game with the club, Dampier looked like the guy who could get the Utes to potential Big 12 contenders, as he threw only four incompletions and rushed for 87 yards, and combined for three total touchdowns. 

The run game was also working for Utah, as running backs Wayshawn Parker, a sophomore transfer from Washington State, and NaQuari Rogers, who also transferred from New Mexico, each added a touchdown on the ground. The Utes had 286 total yards on the ground and had 492 total yards on the night. 

Utah’s defense was lights out, spoiling redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s UCLA debut, as the Bruins gained only 220 total yards on the night. 

Utah entered the Top 25 following its win, and after entering the season as a sleeper in the Big 12, the Utes now have confidence they can compete in the Big 12 this season. They get an FCS matchup at home as Cal Poly comes to Salt Lake City for the home opener. 

5. TCU (1-0)

In a game where they weren’t talked about too much nationally, coach Sonny Dykes' team showed why they should be talked about. 

In the midst of Bill Belichick’s coaching debut at North Carolina, TCU played a dominant game of football on both sides of the ball, making a statement of its own. 

 While the game showed that UNC did not perform to expectations as some people had thought, it demonstrated that the Horned Frogs are a team that could make some noise in the Big 12.

Junior quarterback Josh Hoover excelled, and TCU amassed 258 yards rushing, with senior running back University of Texas-San Antonio transfer Kevorian Barnes leading the way with 113 yards on just 11 carries. 

The offense fired on all cylinders, and the defense shut down the Tar Heels, allowing only 222 yards, while UNC was 1/10 on third downs. 

The Horned Frogs will become a team to watch and potentially make some noise. TCU receives an early bye this week, before playing a tune-up game against Abilene Christian.

6. Kansas (2-0)

It truly felt like a brand-new season for Kansas as they opened their newly renovated David Booth Memorial Stadium. 

The Jayhawks played home games at Children’s Mercy Park and Arrowhead Stadium last season during the stadium’s renovations. Away from an actual home, Kansas struggled in 2024,  starting the season 1-5 before finishing 5-7. 

However, coach Lance Leipold’s team had some significant wins over the elite of the Big 12 last season, and now, with its stadium back, Kansas is carrying the momentum gained from last season, evidenced by dominant home wins against Fresno State and Wagner. 

Sixth-year quarterback Jalon Daniels looks to be on track for his best season with the Jayhawks, as Kansas aims to continue one of the best stretches of their program’s history. 

A true test comes this Saturday, as the Border War rivalry is renewed as they visit their old rival, Missouri. 

If Kansas wins that game, the Jayhawks might put themselves in the Big 12 contention conversation.

7. BYU (1-0)

Maybe letting quarterback Jake Retzlaff go was a move that won’t cost BYU in the long run. Based on what we saw in their win against Portland State, BYU appeared to be the same team that nearly made the Big 12 championship last season.

Freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier didn’t have to do too much in his first start as a true freshman, but he looked efficient, throwing for three touchdown passes. 

The Cougars mainly saw their success on the ground, as 14 different players had a carry in the game, as BYU racked up 468 yards. Junior running back LJ Martin had 131 yards on just eight carries.

Coach Kalani Sitake’s team will have a run-first approach this season, similar to their in-state rival, but Bachmeier will have to make some plays if BYU wants to go places in the conference this season.

The Cougars host Stanford in a West Coast showdown next week as they look to start 2-0.

8. Baylor (1-0)

A lot of hype surrounded Baylor as the season began. While the offense, more specifically the passing game, did a good job, the Bears’ defense seems like it’s gonna have some troubles this season. 

Auburn ran for 307 yards rushing in their win, gashing Baylor’s front four led by Tigers’ junior quarterback Jackson Arnold, who finished with 137 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, as well as junior running backs Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb, who contributed as well. 

What really did Baylor in was turning the ball over on downs twice in the first half, one of them at the goal line, and Auburn returning a kickoff for 98 yards for a score, courtesy of junior Rayshawn Pleasant. 

Redshirt senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson was a bit inaccurate to start the game, but he heated up in the second half, finishing with 419 yards passing and three touchdowns.

It’s a tough loss for the Bears, but one I don’t think should derail them too much. Baylor will have to hope that Auburn has an elite run game, or it may be a long season for the team. 

The Bears don’t get a tune-up game just yet, as they travel to Dallas for an in-state game against No. 17 SMU.

9. Kansas State (1-1)

There wasn’t much panic for the Wildcats after their Week 0 loss to Iowa State in Dublin. Sure, it was against a rival, and they failed to claim themselves as Big 12 contenders, but the rainy weather seemed to play a part in it. 

However, after their narrow win against FCS North Dakota, it begs the question of whether Kansas State is a legit foe. The polls didn’t seem to agree as they fell out of the Top 25. Junior quarterback Avery Johnson had 318 Yards and three touchdowns, but only had a QBR of 58.1. 

Kansas State nearly lost the game as they turned it over on downs with just over two minutes left, but their defense forced a three-and-out, and Johnson was able to lead the Wildcats down the field and found Joe Jackson for the game-winning 6-yard score.

Yes, junior running back Dylan Edwards being out is a blow, but the Wildcats still had a consistent running game with sophomore Joe Jackson and redshirt freshman DeVon Rice; the latter had two touchdowns on the ground. 

Coach Chris Klieman needs to work closely with his team, or else things may get ugly quickly for the Wildcats once conference play begins.

Kansas State hosts Army next week, a team that lost to an FCS team at Tarleton State. However, the Wildcats need to play a strong game, or an upset may occur.

10. West Virginia (1-0)

The Mountaineers won 45-3 at home against FCS Robert Morris, but it was not a very clean game for West Virginia. 

West Virginia had four fumbles in the first half, with three of them being lost to the other team. 

They finished with four total turnovers, and Robert Morris outdid them in time of possession. 

However, Robert Morris only gained 123 yards on the day. 

Coach Rich Rodriguez needs to get his team to clean up the mistakes. It may work against an FCS squad, but it won’t work once conference play begins. 

Redshirt junior quarterback Nicco Marchiol, who played limitedly last season, got the start and played well, throwing for 224 yards and averaging 11.2 yards per attempt. 

Junior running back Jahiem White had 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Cam Vaughn, who came to West Virginia with Rodriguez from Jacksonville State, caught seven balls for 126 yards and a touchdown. 

The Mountaineers head down to Athens to face Ohio on the road before returning home for the 107th edition of the Backyard Brawl. 

Time will tell if Rodriguez can turn this team around like he did when he coached it 20 years ago.

11. Cincinnati (0-1)

From the beginning, Cincinnati was put at a disadvantage going into week one. What was once a home game was then moved to a neutral site at Arrowhead Stadium, which is far closer to their opponents' home in Lincoln, Nebraska, than it is to Cincinnati, Ohio.  

Although Cincinnati was the “home” team, it felt more like a road game for the Bearcats. In a game that started as a defensive slugfest, Cincinnati drove down the field for a chance to win the game before redshirt junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby threw a ball into double coverage and was picked, sealing the win for the Cornhuskers.

Sorsby himself struggled in the passing game, finishing with 69 yards and averaging 2.8 yards per attempt. However, he did provide a spark in the running game, with 96 yards and two touchdowns. 

Head coach Scott Satterfield and the Bearcats now have six straight losses, dating back to last season, as their last win came on Oct 19 against Arizona State. 

The lack of a passing game is concerning, and if Cincinnati fails to make a bowl game again, it may mark the end of Satterfield’s tenure in Cincinnati.

12. Colorado (0-1)

In an offseason where head coach Deion Sanders overcame obstacles thrown at him, his opponent certainly overcame the mistakes they made.

Georgia Tech had three turnovers in the first eight minutes of the game, but Colorado only scored seven points off those turnovers. 

It was a golden opportunity for Colorado to run away with the game. Instead, the Yellow Jackets rebounded, and a 45-yard touchdown run by redshirt senior quarterback Haynes King iced the game. 

The Buffaloes were outgained in nearly every part of the game, but found themselves in the game because of costly turnovers by Georgia Tech. 

In his first start after transferring from Liberty, senior quarterback Kaidon Salter showed he has some work to do as a passer. He did have a touchdown through the air and on the ground, and sophomore running back Micah Welch also had an efficient day on the ground. 

However, this is a season where Colorado has lost a lot of their talent to the NFL. Mainly, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter leaving for the NFL, with the latter leaving a huge absence as he was impactful on both sides of the ball. 

Similar to Baylor, the Buffaloes got gashed in the run game defensively, as King ran for 156 yards and the Yellow Jackets had 302 total rushing yards. 

Lastly, Deion did not use his timeouts when Colorado had time to go down the field for a chance to tie the game, forcing the squad to opt for a Hail Mary instead. 

Following a brutal loss at home, the Buffaloes will need to rebound. Fortunately for the squad, they will have an easier opponent next week as the recently converted to FBS team, Delaware, will come to town.

13. Arizona (1-0)

It’s early in the season, but this was a win Arizona needed badly.

 Following a disappointing 2024 campaign and losing wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to the NFL, Arizona is seeking to at least make a bowl game, with hopes to do what their in-state rivals did last season. 

This was a good start, as the Wildcats picked off redshirt freshman quarterback Micah Alejado and junior quarterback Luke Weaver three times. 

Junior running back Quincy Craig, a recent transfer from Portland State, had 125 yards rushing on just seven carries. 

Arizona finished with 185 yards rushing on the night. Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Fifita didn’t put up jaw-breaking numbers, throwing for 161 yards, but he was efficient and didn’t turn the ball over. 

Wildcat fans are hoping to see more out of this following a 2024 where Fifita seemed to be over-reliant on the connection with him and McMillan.

The Wildcats stay home and host Weber St, another tune-up game. Head coach Brett Brennan needs a good win here to ensure that Arizona can remain competitive in the Big 12 this season.

14. Houston (1-0)

It wasn’t the most explosive game for Coach Willie Fritz’s club, but Houston showed they were the better team and got a comfortable week one victory over Stephen F. Austin, 27-0. 

Junior quarterback Conner Weigman, who transferred from Texas A&M, got the start and threw for 159 yards and three touchdowns, and had a solid running game. 

The Lumberjacks only gained 144 yards offensively and were shut out by the Cougars as Fritz’s team looks to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2022, when they were still part of the American Conference.

15. Oklahoma State (1-0)

Coach Mike Gundy’s squad ended a nine-game losing streak dating back to last season with a win at home against UT Martin. 

The only thing that may bother Cowboys fans is that it was not as comfortable as they had hoped. Redshirt freshman quarterback Hauss Henjy started the first two drives and the game, and he looked great, leading OSU to two touchdowns. However, Henjy suffered an injury that took him out of the game, and turned out to be a fracture in his left foot.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Zane Flores took over and wasn’t terrible, but the Cowboys' offense stalled after. It was primarily a two-possession game before OSU went on a long touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to ice it.

Flores will have to get comfortable with the team soon, as the Cowboys travel to Eugene to play the No. 6 team in the country, Oregon. Coach Gundy needs to have at least a bowl-eligible season if he wants to keep his job.

16. UCF (1-0)

Coach Scott Frost made his long-awaited return to UCF, and while the Knights did win, there are some concerns to be had.

UCF’s game against Jacksonville State was scoreless at halftime, and the Knights trailed 10-3 in the fourth quarter before coming back and winning 17-10.

Redshirt senior quarterback Cam Fancher started the game but exited with a back injury, right before a two-hour rain delay occurred. Redshirt junior quarterback Tayven Jackson took over and played well, throwing for 282 yards and two touchdowns. 

UCF’s lack of a running game was a bit concerning, as the Knights averaged only 3.1 yards per carry. 

This was a season with low expectations, and although UCF won, these are games that cannot come down to the wire. 

The Knights have yet to name a starting quarterback for next week’s game against NC A&T, as Fancher’s status is uncertain, though many UCF fans are calling for Jackson to start.