BYU edged out Notre Dame 28-24 in a late thriller to hold onto the top spot in the Big 12 Conference standings. The victory came as BYU improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play, reinforcing their status as the league’s leading contender.
The Cougars’ win against a traditionally strong Notre Dame side offers a significant boost to the Big 12’s reputation, which has faced criticism this season. BYU’s success suggests the conference might have multiple teams capable of contending for College Football Playoff berths, provided BYU maintains its form.
BYU’s next challenge will be an away game against UCF, a team sitting at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12. The Knights come off a bye week, while BYU heads into the match riding momentum from their latest victory. This game presents a test for BYU’s consistency, as UCF could exploit any lapse after their rest week.
Elsewhere in the conference, Texas Tech remains undefeated at 6-0 (3-0 Big 12) after overpowering Arizona State 53-25. Their upcoming game at Cincinnati, who are 4-2 (1-2), will examine whether the Red Raiders can sustain their dominant form.
Houston, ranked third, also notched a win over Oklahoma State by 32-25, improving to 6-1 and 3-1 in the conference. The Cougars will face Utah next, a team still undefeated at 6-0 (3-0). Utah’s recent narrow 27-24 victory over Colorado has left questions about their performance against stronger opponents, making their matchup with Houston an intriguing prospect.
Oklahoma State dropped to fourth after their loss but will look to rebound at home against Colorado, which has struggled with a 2-4 record and no conference wins. The Buffs showed some fight in the previous close defeat to Utah but are unlikely to threaten Oklahoma State’s defense.
Kansas State climbed to seventh following a 35-24 win over Kansas. Their upcoming three-game stretch against Kansas, Arizona State, and Colorado will be critical for their hopes of finishing the season strongly.
Iowa State, Baylor, West Virginia, Cincinnati, UCF, TCU, Arizona State, Kansas, and Colorado fill out the rest of the conference rankings, with varying fortunes. Baylor’s recent 17-6 loss to TCU and Cincinnati’s defensive struggles — highlighted by surrendering 464 passing yards to Michael Hawkins Jr. — have raised questions about their prospects moving forward.
The Big 12 season continues to unfold with BYU firmly in control after taking down Notre Dame. Their ability to handle the next challenges will shape the conference’s standing on the national stage.
According to Yahoo Sports.