Last Saturday, there were eight out-of-conference games for the Big 12, and all eight teams won their games. With two conference games happening the day before, a Big 12 team won every game this past week.

With Week 4 approaching, conference play is now in full swing, with a couple of teams still finishing out their non-conference slate. The next few weeks will determine the outlook for these teams by the time the bowl season arrives.

1. Texas Tech (3-0) - Last Week: 1

One thing that has been consistent with the Red Raiders over the years is their great offenses, but defenses that have always hindered the potential of their teams.

So far through three weeks of play, the defensive woes may be a thing of the past.

The Red Raiders have allowed an average of 11.7 points per game to start 2025, after allowing 34.8 points per game in 2024. Although conference play has not begun, this is a very positive sign for Coach Joey McGuire’s squad, which used the transfer portal heavily to bolster the defense.

In its 45-14 victory at home against Oregon State, Texas Tech only allowed eight yards rushing on 22 carries. Junior running back Anthony Hankerson had 11 carries for just 12 yards, forcing redshirt junior quarterback Maalik Murphy to beat the Red Raiders through his arm. 

Senior quarterback Behren Morton threw for 464 yards on just 35 passing attempts and four touchdowns on the day.

Freshman running back Cameron Dickey and freshman running back J’Koby Williams each ran for a touchdown on the day. Dickey had 77 yards rushing, and Williams had 48 yards rushing.

Texas Tech finished its non-conference play undefeated and lived up to the expectations set heading into the season. They jumped from No. 21 to No. 17 in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Next week will be the Red Raiders’ biggest test of the season, as they head down to Salt Lake City for a 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time kickoff against No. 16 Utah. A win here would all but ensure Texas Tech is the team to beat in the Big 12.

2.Utah (3-0) - Last Week: 2

Coach Kyle Whittingham’s squad had a tale of two halves in their 31-6 win over Wyoming.

While it looks like Utah didn’t have many problems, it only had a 3-0 lead at halftime before scoring 28 points in the second half in an offensive explosion led by junior quarterback Devon Dampier.

Freshman kicker Dillon Curtis missed three field goals in the first half, all of which were from 45 yards out, and Wyoming blocked the third missed kick.

Utah had just four drives in the second half, and all four drives ended with Utah scoring a touchdown. Dampier threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 86 yards on the night.

It was a little sloppy to begin with, but the Utes are 3-0 and ranked No. 16 in the nation.

Texas Tech comes to Rice-Eccles Stadium next week for the biggest showdown in the Big 12 so far in 2025. A victory here for Whittingham would, without a doubt, install hope in the fanbase that they are a front-runner for the College Football Playoff.

3. Arizona State (2-1) - Last Week: 4

Redshirt junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is making a case to be the first player of his position off the board to an NFL team in April.

In his final eight games of 2024, Tyson had 61 receptions for 892 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming one of the more prominent threats in the country before fracturing his collarbone against Arizona.

He missed the Big 12 championship game against Iowa State and the Peach Bowl against Texas. In the latter game, his presence was missed very much, as redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for only 222 yards on 46 passing attempts.

Tyson is now back and fully healthy in 2025, and his return has had a significant impact on the Sun Devils.

Tyson had 141 yards on 12 catches in their week one win over NAU, and this past week he had six catches for 102 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown against Texas State.

Coach Kenny Dillingham must be pleased with how his team performed, as the Sun Devils finally delivered the complete game they were looking for before conference play began.

ASU heads to Waco, Texas, to face Baylor next week, a team that has a potential Heisman candidate at quarterback, but with how lackluster Baylor’s defense has been so far, it gives the Sun Devils hope their offense can keep up.

4. Iowa State (4-0) - Last Week: 2

A win is a win. That is the likely thought process for Cyclones fans following a 24-16 win against Arkansas State.

Iowa State’s defense had some trouble with the run game as the Wolves piled up 165 yards on the ground, finishing with 387 yards on the day.

However, Arkansas State had issues with penalties as it picked up 10 penalties in the game, including a holding penalty on a touchdown that would have given it the lead; instead, it had to settle for a field goal.

If there are any positives to take away from the game for Coach Matt Campbell’s squad, it’s that their running game was a force, which I’m sure many Cyclones fans love to see since it was a question heading into the season.

Sophomore running back Carson Hansen had 116 yards on 18 carries, and sophomore running back Abu Sama III had 69 yards on only nine carries on the day, adding a touchdown.

Iowa State resembles a team very similar to TCU in 2022, where they aren’t a super dominant team, but they are consistently the better team, regardless of the opponent.

The Cyclones receive a bye week before Arizona comes to visit Ames, facing a team whose defense has been sound. Conference play will determine what kind of team Iowa State will be in the Big 12.

5. TCU (2-0) - Last Week: 5

Redshirt junior quarterback Josh Hoover is inserting himself into the conversation as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12.

Following a 2024 season in which he led the Horned Frogs to a 9-win season, Hoover started 2025 with six touchdown passes in two games and leads the Big 12 in completion percentage.

TCU hosted Abilene Christian last week following an early bye week, and it was a continuation of what we saw from the North Carolina game. The Horned Frogs had a 28-0 lead at halftime before letting the foot off the gas pedal, eventually winning 42-21.

Hoover threw for 337 yards, averaging 12.6 yards per attempt and throwing for four touchdowns. He was protected well, as TCU’s offensive line didn’t allow any sacks.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV had 114 yards receiving on four receptions, and junior wide receiver Jordan Dwyer had 89 yards on five catches and a touchdown. Freshman wide receiver Ed Small had 45 yards and two touchdowns.

The running game for the Horned Frogs was a committee effort. No one had an explosive game on the ground, but TCU had 129 yards on the ground and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Passing served as the game’s main component of offense. 

Coach Sonny Dykes’ club will remain at home for non-conference play and will host in-state rival SMU, a game that did not go in the Horned Frogs' favor last season, as Dykes was ejected at the beginning of the second half in a 66-42 loss.

6. Baylor (2-1) - Last Week: 6

Despite winning 42-7 at home last week, it was a game coach Dave Aranda is going to want to put in the rearview mirror.

The Bears were only 4 of 13 on third downs, and redshirt senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson also had his least efficient game statistically this season, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt, and was picked off twice.

Despite these struggles, Baylor’s run game was excellent, thanks to the efforts of redshirt sophomore running back Bryson Washington. He had 135 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns.

Baylor had 223 rushing yards on the day, showing they can provide a spark if Robertson is having some trouble.

The Bears will begin conference play at home with a huge showdown, as they host the reigning Big 12 Champions in Arizona State. Robertson will need to have his play from the first two games of the season if Baylor wants to get the win.

7. BYU (2-0) - Last Week: 7

The Cougars are coming off a bye week with hope that they are going to contend in the conference.

The defense for the Cougars has been lights out, as they have yet to allow a touchdown this season, and their run game has also been looking good to open the season. It just comes down to quarterback play.

Freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier hasn’t been awful, but he is going to need to make plays of their own if BYU wants to live up to the expectations they are setting on themselves.

The Cougars will finish non-conference play on the road against East Carolina. If Bachmeier can make some plays of his own to complement the offense, the optimism level for BYU fans will continue to grow. He doesn’t need to do too much, but enough not to hurt his team.

8. Kansas (2-1) - Last Week: 8

The Jayhawks had their first bye week at the right time after an intense rivalry loss to Missouri.

So far, Kansas has exceeded expectations, as its offense has resembled the team we saw in 2023, and redshirt senior quarterback Jalon Daniels is playing the best football of his collegiate career.

As conference play begins for coach Lance Leipold’s club, Kansas will be hoping to get off to a better start than last season, as they started 0-3 in conference play in 2024.

They’ll host West Virginia, a team that is coming off an emotional rivalry win, so this is a matchup that should favor the Jayhawks as they look to begin conference play 1-0.

9. Cincinnati (2-1) - Last Week: 9

If you wanted a textbook example of a comfortable win with no worries at all, Cincinnati’s last game filled it very well.

The Bearcats cruised to a 70-0 victory over Northwestern State. Half of the points Cincinnati scored were in the first quarter alone.

Redshirt junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby was perfect, throwing the ball, as he completed all 15 passes he threw. He threw for 253 yards and had six total touchdowns – five through the air and one on the ground.

Junior wide receiver Caleb Goodie had 106 yards on three receptions, while sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Johnson and redshirt senior tight end Joe Royer each hauled in two touchdowns.

There is still a lot to be desired with coach Scott Satterfield’s squad, as the week one loss to Nebraska still holds some doubt in Cincinnati’s fans' heads, but these past two games will hopefully instill confidence in Sorsby and the offense.

The Bearcats head to their first bye this week before they head down to Lawrence, Kansas, to open Big 12 play against Kansas

10. Houston (3-0) - Last Week: 13

Coach Willie Fritz’s impact is finally being felt in Houston.

After a transitional 2024 season in Coach Fritz’s first year, the Cougars bolstered their roster through the transfer portal, improving their defense and securing the services of redshirt junior quarterback Conner Weigman.

Even if the Cougars aren’t a contender in the Big 12 this season, they should at least be a team that should not be taken lightly in conference play.

Houston had as balanced an attack as you can imagine, with Weigman throwing for 222 yards, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt. Meanwhile, Houston gained 209 yards on the ground, with contributions from Weigman, who had two rushing touchdowns of his own, and senior running back Dean Conners, who had 89 yards and a touchdown.

Houston’s defense was also lights out, as Colorado had only 300 yards of offense, with 181 of those coming on two drives to end the half. They racked up three sacks in the game, and Colorado was 4 of 14 on third downs.

The Cougars face a bye this week before finishing their non-conference slate with a Friday night showdown against Oregon State. 4-0 is a very real possibility for Houston.

11. Arizona (3-0) - Last Week: 11

For the first time since 2015, Arizona begins the season 3-0 to end a non-conference slate.

The Wildcats haven’t been the most fun team to watch, but their defense, which struggled mightily last season, has taken a huge step to begin the season. Coach Brett Brennan’s defense has allowed an average of 8.7 points per game, following a 2024 season in which they allowed over 30 points per game.

Yes, it is something to consider that their opponents haven’t been the strongest, but considering teams like New Mexico scored 39 points on them last season, this is a breath of fresh air for Arizona fans.

Arizona defeated Kansas State 23-17 last Friday at home, but the game felt a little disappointing for the Wildcats, as they dominated Kansas State in nearly every statistical category.

However, special teams miscues and some missed throws by redshirt junior quarterback Noah Fifita made this game a lot closer than it should have been.

Senior running back Ismail Mahdi had his best game as a Wildcat, rushing for 189 yards on 22 carries, as the Texas State transfer is trying to fill a gap at running back that was desperately missed last season for Coach Brett Brennan’s squad.

Arizona heads off to its bye this week before a road test against a ranked conference opponent, Iowa State. This is the Wildcats' chance to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with in the conference this season.

12. West Virginia (2-1) - Last Week: 14

Coach Rich Rodriguez finally got the long-awaited revenge he’s been waiting for almost 20 years to get. 

In 2007, West Virginia was the No. 2-ranked team in the country and was primed to play in the BCS National Championship Game. All they needed was a win at home against a Pittsburgh team that was 4-7 and eliminated from bowl contention.

What happened in that game would be one of the most shocking upsets in recent history, as the Mountaineers lost 13-9 at home and would go on to play in the Fiesta Bowl that season.

Coach Rodriguez returned to West Virginia following the 2024 season, and this was a game he and the entire team had circled coming into the season, not just to avenge their 38-34 loss the previous season, but also for Rodriguez to exorcise the demons haunting him from 2007.

West Virginia took a 14-3 lead early in the third quarter before Pitt began to take control of the game. Coach Rodriguez rotated different quarterbacks, with redshirt junior Nicco Marchiol starting the game, and freshman Scotty Fox Jr. and redshirt senior Jaylen Henderson also receiving reps.

Fox struggled in his limited appearance, throwing two interceptions on the day, and as Pitt took a 24-14 lead with under 10 minutes remaining, it seemed that all hope was lost for the Mountaineers.

That’s when Marchiol and the Mountaineers mounted a comeback, as West Virginia would make a field goal and, after forcing a Pitt punt, they would go down the field and score a touchdown to tie the game with seven seconds remaining.

West Virginia would score a touchdown on their first possession in overtime before forcing a four-and-out to seal the biggest win for the Mountaineers in years.

As Coach Rodriguez was visibly fired up after winning the Backyard Brawl, he got his own closure from the Backyard Brawl of 2007.

The Mountaineers hit the road to David Booth Memorial Stadium to face Kansas next week as they open up conference play.

13. Colorado (1-2) - Last Week: 10

Colorado tried to ride the hot hand heading into last week, but their offense looked very cold in its loss to Houston.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Staub started for the Buffaloes after a great showing in limited action against Delaware. Still, his recent performance against Houston raises the question of “is Colorado stuck in quarterback purgatory?”

Staub threw for only 204 yards on 35 passing attempts and two interceptions on the day, as Colorado’s offense couldn’t get much traction going.

Coach Deion Sanders hasn’t revealed who the starting quarterback is for Saturday’s game against Wyoming, but there is speculation that senior quarterback Kaidon Salter will be starting. However, nothing has been confirmed as of Sept 16.

The Buffs need a bounce-back win at home before the thick of conference play begins.

14. UCF (2-0) - Last Week: 15

The Knights are 2-0 coming off their bye week, as Coach Scott Frost looks to extend his win streak to 16 games, matching UCF's record.

After a lackluster opening game against Jacksonville State, UCF looked much better in its 66-7 win over FCS NC A&T as it headed into an early bye.

The most significant question mark for UCF is its quarterback situation. Redshirt senior quarterback Cam Fancher started the season before suffering a back injury. Redshirt junior quarterback Tayven Jackson has played well, but Coach Frost is still undecided on who will start.

The Knights remain home for a matchup against North Carolina to close out non-conference play.

15. Kansas State (1-3) - Last Week: 12

Another week of the Kansas State train. It is not a fun ride to be on.

The Wildcats are coming off a 23-17 loss to Arizona, in which their struggles continue to be shown.

Junior quarterback Avery Johnson’s disappointing 2025 continued, as he went 13 of 29 passing for only 88 yards, averaging only three yards per attempt in the game.

Sophomore running back Dylan Edwards returned from injury but only had four carries in the game for 18 yards. Kansas State had 105 yards rushing on the day, but 75 of those rushing yards came on a touchdown by junior wide receiver Jayce Brown.

If not for that touchdown and special teams miscues by Arizona, the game likely would not have been as close as it actually was. Despite getting gifts from Arizona, the lack of offense was a big blow to their chances of winning.

After beginning the season as the second-highest-ranked team in the Big 12 at No. 17, Kansas State is now 1-3, with its lone win being a three-point victory over FCS North Dakota.

The Wildcats head into their bye to desperately figure things out before they host UCF.

16. Oklahoma State (1-1) - Last Week: 16

The bye week may have been the best moment of the season for Oklahoma State.

It was needed after the 69-3 walloping received from Oregon, and with redshirt freshman Hauss Hejny out for the next month, things may get ugly for the Cowboys over the next few weeks.

Coach Mike Gundy has been with the program since 2005, but he needs to turn the ship around quickly if he wants to keep his job. Oklahoma State went winless in conference play last year, and anything similar outcome may lead to him leaving Stillwater.

The Cowboys will host Tulsa on Friday at home. It’s a game that can get Oklahoma State back on track, but it’s also one they have to be careful not to be upset at home.