BYU lost its starting quarterback to the transfer portal late in the offseason following controversy, and turned to true freshman Bear Bachmeier for leadership. What looked like a rebuilding year has turned into a stunning rise.

Through eight weeks, the Cougars stand as the only undefeated team in the Big 12 and the conference’s highest-ranked program.

Last week, BYU hosted bitter rival Utah and earned a gritty 24-21 win in a defensive battle. Bachmeier showed poise beyond his years, throwing efficiently and adding 64 rushing yards, including a 22-yard touchdown run on third-and-11, carrying multiple defenders into the end zone.

Junior running back LJ Martin paced the offense with 122 yards on 26 carries as the Cougars finished with 202 rushing yards.

The BYU defense bent but didn’t break, allowing yards but forcing four turnovers on downs and two takeaways to stall Utah drives.

Now, coach Kalani Sitake’s team controls its destiny in the Big 12 title race. The Cougars are one of two teams still unbeaten in conference play but face a daunting stretch ahead, including road games against No. 14 Texas Tech and No. 21 Cincinnati, plus matchups with Iowa State and TCU.

After an easier start to the season, the grind of Big 12 play is here, and the coming weeks will reveal whether BYU is truly for real.

2. Arizona State (5-2) - Last Week: 5

If Arizona State wants to go where it aspires to be, it’ll be on the back of sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt.

After missing the Sun Devils’ 42-10 loss to Utah, Leavitt returned against No. 7 Texas Tech and reminded fans why there was so much hype surrounding him entering the season.

Leavitt threw for more than 300 yards and a touchdown in a 26-22 upset win, a statement performance against a Red Raiders defense ranked ninth nationally in total defense.

In front of a sold-out crowd at Mountain America Stadium, ASU’s defense fed off the energy, holding Texas Tech’s offense to just 276 yards.

The win marked the Sun Devils’ 10th straight victory at home. Their last home loss came at the end of the 2023 season against rival Arizona.

The victory vaulted Arizona State back into the Top 25 at No. 24 after falling out following the loss to Utah. Now 3-1 in Big 12 play, ASU faces a favorable stretch with upcoming games against Houston and Iowa State. 

Wins in those matchups could pave a clear path back to the Big 12 Championship Game, with the final stretch featuring West Virginia, Colorado, and Arizona.

Junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson will be out for ASU, a huge piece of news for the Sun Devil faithful. But, as long as Leavitt is under center, coach Kenny Dillingham believes his team can reach lofty expectations.

3. Texas Tech (6-1) - Last Week: 1

The bad news for Texas Tech is that it suffered its first loss of the season in a heartbreaker to Arizona State.

The good news is that the Red Raiders showed plenty of fight despite being without senior quarterback Behren Morton, who sat out with an ankle injury.

Freshman quarterback Will Hammond made his second career start and handled the pressure well in a hostile environment. He threw for 167 yards on 37 attempts and added 47 rushing yards, including a touchdown.

Coach Joey McGuire’s defense kept the Red Raiders in the game, bending but not breaking against an Arizona State offense that totaled 397 yards. Texas Tech forced four field goals and repeatedly held strong in the red zone.

Trailing 19-7 with under eight minutes remaining, the Red Raiders rallied thanks to special teams miscues by the Sun Devils, taking a 22-19 lead at the two-minute warning. But the defense that had carried them much of the game couldn’t hold on, as Arizona State marched down the field for the game-winning touchdown drive.

Texas Tech fell to 6-1 overall and dropped to No. 14 in the AP Top 25. Still, the Red Raiders remain firmly in the Big 12 race with a favorable schedule ahead. 

The lone marquee test left is a matchup against No. 11 BYU, a game that could decide a berth in the Big 12 Championship.

Texas Tech returns home next week to face Oklahoma State, in what will be a tortilla-free stadium, as the Red Raiders look to bounce back and keep their title hopes alive.

4. Cincinnati (6-1) - Last Week: 4

The Cincinnati Bearcats continued their surprise season Saturday, cruising to a 49-17 win over Oklahoma State to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2022, their final year in the American Athletic Conference.

The victory marked Cincinnati’s sixth straight win, its longest streak since that same 2022 season. Coach Scott Satterfield’s team has emerged as one of the Big 12’s surprising teams.

Junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby continued his stellar play, throwing for 284 yards and five total touchdowns, four through the air and one on the ground. Senior wide receiver Cyrus Allen broke out after a quiet stretch, hauling in three touchdowns on just four receptions.

Defensively, the Bearcats had their challenges, surrendering 228 rushing yards to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys trailed 35-17 in the fourth quarter and were threatening to make it a two-possession game before Cincinnati sealed it.

Senior cornerback Matthew McDoom jumped a slant route at the goal line, intercepted the pass, and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown with several Bearcats escorting him to the end zone, putting the game out of reach.

With the win, Cincinnati climbed three spots to No. 21 in the AP Poll. The road ahead, however, remains difficult. 

The Bearcats still face key matchups against Utah on the road and No. 11 BYU at home in the penultimate week of the season.

Next up, Cincinnati returns to Nippert Stadium for a Big 12 clash against Baylor.

5. Utah (5-2) - Last Week: 2

Watching coach Kyle Whittingham’s Utah team this season has been an emotional roller coaster. Just when it seems the Utes are poised to climb back into Big 12 contention, a winnable game slips away.

That pattern continued Saturday night as Utah fell 24-21 on the road to in-state rival BYU, its third straight loss in the rivalry and its first three-game skid against the Cougars since 1989-1991. The Utes haven’t beaten BYU since 2019.

Utah’s offense moved the ball effectively, balancing the run and pass, but repeated fourth-down failures proved costly. The Utes converted just one of five attempts, with several drives ending deep in BYU territory. 

The most puzzling decision came in the second quarter, when Utah went for it on fourth-and-7 from the BYU 28, passing up a field-goal try.

Junior quarterback Devon Dampier delivered a solid performance, throwing for 244 yards and two touchdowns while adding 64 yards on the ground. Freshman running back Daniel Bray broke out with 121 yards on 10 carries, including a 49-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter that gave the Utes a 14-10 lead.

Despite the offensive success, missed opportunities defined the night. The loss stings not only for the bragging rights surrendered, but also for what it means in the Big 12 race, another missed statement opportunity following the earlier defeat to Texas Tech.

At 2-2 in conference play, Utah’s hopes for a Big 12 Championship berth remain alive but narrow. The Utes will likely need to win out and get help from other contenders. 

Their remaining schedule is manageable, with a home matchup against No. 21 Cincinnati standing as the biggest test.

Utah will return to Rice-Eccles Stadium next week to host former Pac-12 rival Colorado.

6. TCU (5-2) - Last Week: 6

It was a much-needed bounce-back win for TCU, and doing it against rival Baylor made it even sweeter.

After a disappointing loss to Kansas State the week before, the Horned Frogs responded with a 42-36 victory over the Bears in a weather-delayed thriller Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

The score was closer than the game indicated. TCU led 42-21 with less than five minutes remaining before a fumble returned for a touchdown and a late Baylor score cut the lead to six. 

The Bears recovered an onside kick to set up one last chance, but the Horned Frogs sealed it with their third interception of the game, all coming in the final six minutes.

Since their infamous 61-58 loss to Baylor in 2014, the Horned Frogs have dominated the rivalry, winning nine of the last 11 meetings and extending their all-time series lead to 60-54-7.

Junior quarterback Josh Hoover bounced back after a rough outing against Kansas State, throwing for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Jordan Dwyer led TCU in receiving with seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, while senior wide receiver Eric McAlister added seven receptions for 62 yards.

On the ground, senior running back Kevorian Barnes carried 25 times for 106 yards and two scores. Fellow senior running back Trent Battle added 75 yards, highlighted by a 65-yard touchdown run that put TCU ahead 35-21 early in the fourth quarter.

Despite the late scare, the victory was crucial for coach Sonny Dykes’ squad as it keeps the Horned Frogs’ Big 12 Championship hopes alive.

The road ahead won’t be easy, as TCU faces upcoming challenges against No. 11 BYU on the road and No. 21 Cincinnati at home. A loss in either matchup could derail its title aspirations.

Next week, the Horned Frogs travel to Morgantown to face West Virginia in what should, at least on paper, be a manageable contest.

7. Houston (6-1) - Last Week: 10

It’s time to start giving Houston the respect it deserves.

After finishing 4-8 last season, the Cougars have turned things around in 2025, improving to 6-1 and clinching their first bowl berth since 2022, their final year in the American Athletic Conference.

Despite the success, national attention has been limited. Perhaps it’s because Houston’s lone loss came in a 35-11 defeat at home to one of the Big 12’s top teams, Texas Tech. 

But this team is intent on changing the narrative, and it will have a prime opportunity to do so this weekend.

Last week, senior kicker Ethan Sanchez drilled a 41-yard field goal as time expired to lift Houston to a 31-28 win over Arizona. Sanchez’s heroics came after missing a 48-yarder on the previous drive that would have given the Cougars a two-possession lead.

As has been the trend this season, Houston’s offense relied on balance and efficiency. 

Junior quarterback Connor Weigman threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover while adding 98 rushing yards. Senior running back Dean Conners complemented him with 100 yards on the ground.

After trailing 14-7 in the first quarter, Houston rattled off 21 unanswered points to take a 28-14 lead before Arizona tied it late. Weigman then guided the Cougars on the decisive drive that set up Sanchez’s redemption kick.

The road ahead appears manageable, with late-season matchups against TCU and Baylor being the main challenges. But first comes the biggest test yet: a road trip to Tempe to face No. 24 Arizona State.

If coach Willie Fritz’s squad can pull off the upset, Houston could force its way into the Big 12 Championship conversation, and finally earn the recognition it deserves.

8. Kansas (4-3) - Last Week: 8

Some streaks are meant to be broken. That’s the mindset for Kansas heading into its rivalry matchup with Kansas State.

The Jayhawks haven’t beaten the Wildcats since 2008, when they rolled to a 52-21 victory at home to improve to 6-3. Since then, it’s been 16 straight losses in the Sunflower Showdown, a streak that has defined the rivalry for over a decade.

Kansas came close last season, falling 29-27 in Manhattan, but the gap between the two programs has noticeably narrowed.

Now, in 2025, there’s renewed optimism in Lawrence. The Jayhawks may not be an elite Big 12 contender, but they’ve built one of the conference’s most explosive offenses behind senior quarterback Jalon Daniels.

Kansas State has bounced back after a sluggish start to the season, but the Jayhawks believe this is the year they can finally end the skid.

With the game set in a newly renovated David Booth Memorial Stadium, and Kansas entering as the favorite, fans are hopeful that after 16 long years, the Jayhawks’ time has finally come.

9. Kansas State (3-4) - Last Week: 9

It’s been a wild and unpredictable season for Kansas State fans, and the year is only halfway through.

Ranked No. 17 entering the season, the Wildcats were widely projected as Big 12 contenders. But the optimism faded quickly. 

They opened with a loss in Ireland to No. 22 Iowa State, a setback many brushed off at the time. Then came the collapse.

Kansas State narrowly escaped an upset at home to FCS North Dakota, followed by losses to Army, which had fallen to FCS Tarleton State the week before, and then to Arizona on the road. Suddenly, comparisons were being made to Florida State’s disastrous 2-10 campaign in 2024, another team that began its season overseas with high expectations and ended in disappointment.

But when conference play resumed, something changed for coach Chris Klieman’s squad. 

The Wildcats have won two of their last three Big 12 games, including a statement upset over TCU at home. Their only recent loss came on a last-second field goal against Baylor.

While the preseason expectations of contending for a Big 12 title are now a long shot, Kansas State appears to have rediscovered its competitive edge.

Next up is the 123rd edition of the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas in Lawrence. The Wildcats have dominated the rivalry, winning 16 straight and 29 of the past 34 meetings.

This time, however, the tables have turned, as Kansas enters as the favorite. For Kansas State, the goal is simple: keep the streak alive and prove that the season still has meaning.

10. Baylor (4-3) - Last Week: 7

Oh, Baylor, when will you stop being one of the Big 12’s most frustrating teams to watch?

Much like Kansas State, the Bears entered the season with high expectations. Yet through the first half of the year, they’ve struggled to find any rhythm, at least on defense.

Last week’s 42-36 loss to rival TCU summed up Baylor’s season perfectly, moments of promise followed by costly mistakes. 

Despite the close final score, the game wasn’t as tight as it appeared. The Bears trailed by 21 points in the fourth quarter before a late surge made things respectable.

They recovered an onside kick with under 40 seconds left, giving fans a fleeting sense of hope, but a turnover moments later sealed their fate.

Senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson had his roughest outing of the season, completing fewer than 50% of his passes. He threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted three times, all within the final six minutes.

Senior tight end Michael Trigg was heavily targeted, seeing 13 passes come his way, but finished with only three catches for 68 yards.

The loss dropped Baylor further down the Big 12 standings and deepened what has become a disappointing campaign. Coach Dave Aranda’s team needs to find consistency if there’s any hope of salvaging the season.

The schedule ahead isn’t brutal, but it offers little margin for error. Home matchups with Utah and Houston loom late in the year, while the immediate challenge is formidable: a road trip to face No. 21 Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Saturday.

11. Iowa State (5-2) - Last Week: 12

Iowa State’s season hasn’t gone as planned, but don’t let the current ranking fool you. The Cyclones are better than they’ve shown.

After a bye week, coach Matt Campbell’s team is looking to regroup following consecutive conference road losses to Cincinnati and Colorado. Injuries, particularly in the secondary, have weakened the defense, while the offense continues to search for rhythm with a thinner roster of playmakers than it had last year.

Just weeks ago, Iowa State was ranked No. 12 in the country and looked every bit a Big 12 contender. A convincing 39-14 win over Arizona had the Cyclones riding high.

But since then, they’ve stumbled, falling 38-30 to Cincinnati and 24-17 to Colorado. Both defeats ended with opposing fans storming the field, symbolic of how far the Cyclones have slipped in just two weeks.

Now, Iowa State returns home to Jack Trice Stadium, where it has played its best football this season. The Cyclones reached the Big 12 Championship Game last year despite two losses, and Campbell hopes his team can still make a run if it gets back on track quickly.

The upcoming stretch will define Iowa State’s season. The Cyclones host No. 11 BYU and No. 24 Arizona State in back-to-back weeks, two ranked matchups that will determine whether this team can rebound or fade from the Big 12 title picture.

12. Arizona (4-3) - Last Week: 11

It’s shocking how close Arizona is to being 6-1 this season. Instead, the Wildcats sit at 4-3, their Big 12 title hopes all but gone.

A couple of weeks ago, Arizona led then-No. 18 BYU 24-14 at home with five minutes remaining, only to collapse and lose 33-27 in double overtime. This past week brought more heartbreak — after erasing a 14-point deficit to tie Houston at 28, the defense faltered in the final seconds, allowing a game-winning field goal as time expired in a 31-28 loss.

Junior quarterback Noah Fifita has been inconsistent this season, but he delivered one of his best performances against the Cougars, completing all but two of his passes for 269 yards.

A key moment in the game came late in the second half when Arizona went for it on fourth-and-1. Junior running back Kedrick Reescano was stuffed short of the line, killing a promising drive. 

The play appeared to be a read option in which Fifita could have kept the ball, but head coach Brent Brennan later clarified it was a designed handoff, though he said Fifita “could have pulled it.”

Now at the season’s midway point, the question becomes whether Arizona can reach bowl eligibility, something it failed to do last year. The Wildcats have winnable games ahead against Colorado, Kansas, and Baylor, but none will come easily.

Arizona heads into its second bye week with time for Brennan and his staff to regroup and address growing frustration among the fan base.

13. Colorado (3-4) - Last Week: 13

It’s been a down-to-earth season for Colorado and coach Deion Sanders.

Before the season began, Sanders revealed that he had successfully fought off bladder cancer during the offseason. The Buffaloes’ head coach has also dealt with lingering health issues, including visible discomfort and a limp during Colorado’s game against TCU, where he was seen coaching from a stool on the sideline.

Despite it all, the former NFL star has remained fully engaged, headset on, determined to lead his team through a challenging season.

On the field, Colorado’s year has been down but not without flashes of promise. A 24-17 upset win over then-No. 22 Iowa State a few weeks ago provided a much-needed spark heading into the team’s bye week.

Senior quarterback Kaidon Salter delivered his best performance of the season in that win, giving the Buffaloes a jolt of confidence and some momentum down the stretch.

The road ahead remains difficult, with matchups against Utah this week and No. 24 Arizona State still looming. But with winnable games against Arizona, West Virginia, and Kansas State on the schedule, there’s still a path for Colorado to reach bowl eligibility.

14. UCF (4-3) - Last Week: 14

Despite their mid-tier ranking in the Big 12 standings, UCF showed there’s a clear separation between them and the conference’s bottom teams.

The Knights had little trouble dispatching West Virginia 45-13 at Acrisure Bounce House, using a balanced offensive attack to secure their first conference win of the season and snap a three-game losing streak.

Things started unevenly for coach Scott Frost’s squad. UCF scored on its first two drives, both on fourth-down conversions from junior quarterback Tayven Jackson to senior wide receiver Chris Domercant, but then stalled for much of the first half after, turning the ball over on downs twice.

After halftime, however, the Knights took control, erupting for 31 second-half points to put the game away.

Jackson, starting in place of injured senior quarterback Cam Fancher, who was diagnosed with broken ribs after an MRI earlier in the week, was efficient and composed. He threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns while spreading the ball around effectively.

The ground game also shined, as senior running back Myles Montgomery set the tone early with a 39-yard burst and finished with 88 yards. Fellow senior running back Jaden Nixon led the team with 116 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yard scoring run in the third quarter that broke the game open.

Defensively, UCF shut down West Virginia’s run-heavy offense, holding the Mountaineers to just 2.7 yards per carry.

Now 4-3 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play, the Knights head into their second bye week with renewed optimism. The path to bowl eligibility won’t be easy, matchups against Oklahoma State and others loom, though the Cowboys should on paper be a victory. But with a rejuvenated offense and a healthier roster, UCF’s postseason hopes remain alive.

15. Oklahoma State (1-6) - Last Week: 16

This might just be the most entertaining 1-6 team in college football.

Despite dropping six straight games and parting ways with longtime head coach Mike Gundy, the atmosphere at Boone Pickens Stadium remains electric. The Cowboy faithful continue to show up in full force, especially the now-infamous Section 231, where students and fans take off their shirts and wave them in unison, often joined by a few dressed in banana costumes.

Unfortunately for Oklahoma State, the celebrations have been mostly for effort rather than outcome. The Cowboys fell 49-17 to No. 24 Cincinnati on Saturday, extending their conference losing streak of 12 that dates back to 2023.

The scoreline doesn’t tell the full story. Oklahoma State hung around for much of the game and showed flashes of progress on offense.

Freshman running back Rodney Fields Jr. was the standout, rushing for 163 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while averaging 7.8 yards per attempt. He also caught two passes for 27 yards.

Senior Sam Jackson V, who transitioned from wide receiver to quarterback earlier this season, performed admirably given the circumstances. He threw for 149 yards and rushed for a touchdown, showcasing athleticism and leadership.

Trailing 35-17 in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys made a final push before a goal-line interception, returned 100 yards for a touchdown, sealed their fate.

Now sitting at 1-6, Oklahoma State is on the brink of mathematical elimination from bowl contention and could be the first Big 12 team to reach that point this season. The road ahead doesn’t get easier, with a trip to face No. 14 Texas Tech looming this weekend.

Still, with an upcoming matchup against UCF offering a potential upset opportunity, the Cowboys’ loyal fan base continues to hope for at least one feel-good moment before season’s end.

16. West Virginia (2-5) - Last Week: 15

At least Oklahoma State has been entertaining to watch. The same can’t be said for West Virginia.

The Mountaineers fell 45-13 on the road against UCF in what might have been their best opportunity to notch a conference win this season. Now, the possibility of finishing winless in Big 12 play looms large.

Freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. started the game but split time with fellow freshman quarterback Khalil Wilkins, who later exited with an injury. Fox returned to finish the game, but neither quarterback was able to spark the offense.

Once again, West Virginia leaned heavily on its rushing attack, and once again, it failed to produce. The Mountaineers were stifled on the ground, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry, while the passing game never found its rhythm.

Now sitting at 2-5 overall, coach Rich Rodriguez’s squad is searching for anything to build on as frustration grows. While bowl eligibility hasn’t been mathematically ruled out, the odds are slim given the team’s current trajectory and lack of offensive consistency.

West Virginia will try to regroup this weekend with a trip to Fort Worth to face TCU, a daunting matchup against a Horned Frogs team fighting to stay alive in the Big 12 title race.