Will second-year coach Deion Sanders lead Colorado to the Big 12 championship game? This tantalizing question looms large as the college football season enters its final three weeks. The Buffaloes are one of six teams still in contention for a spot in the championship game, set for December 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With the stakes high, fans are eager to see how this thrilling race unfolds.
Current Big 12 standings
As it stands, BYU leads the conference with an impressive record of 9-0 and remains the only unbeaten team in Big 12 play at 6-0. However, Colorado is hot on their heels with a record of 7-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play. Four other teams—Kansas State, Iowa State, Arizona State, and West Virginia—are also in the mix, each with two losses in conference action. With just three weeks left in the regular season, the competition is fierce.
The Big 12 has six teams with two losses or fewer in conference play, making this a critical time for each contender. Here’s a snapshot of the standings:
| SCHOOL | BIG 12 | OVERALL | PF | PA |
| BYU | 6-0 | 9-0 | 303 | 178 |
| Colorado | 5-1 | 7-2 | 292 | 203 |
| Iowa State | 4-2 | 7-2 | 280 | 169 |
| Kansas State | 4-2 | 7-2 | 281 | 195 |
| Arizona State | 4-2 | 7-2 | 284 | 214 |
| West Virginia | 4-2 | 5-4 | 261 | 251 |
Paths to the championship game
Each of these contenders has a unique path to the championship game, and it’s essential to look at their remaining schedules:
BYU (9-0, 6-0)
Remaining schedule: vs. Kansas, at Arizona State, vs. Houston
BYU continues to impress, climbing to No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings. With a victory over Kansas State already secured, they have two of their next three games at home. However, the trip to Arizona State could be a challenge, especially since they haven’t played there since 1997.
Colorado (7-2, 5-1)
Remaining schedule: vs. Utah, at Kansas, vs. Oklahoma State
Colorado’s next three games could define their season. They face preseason Big 12 favorite Utah, followed by a challenging game at Arrowhead Stadium against Kansas. The final matchup against Oklahoma State could be a spoiler alert. If Colorado wins out, they control their destiny.
Kansas State (7-2, 4-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Arizona State, vs. Cincinnati, at Iowa State
After a tough loss to Houston, Kansas State is looking to bounce back. Their head-to-head victory against Colorado is crucial, and they need to win their next games to maintain pressure on the Buffaloes.
Iowa State (7-2, 4-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Cincinnati, at Utah, vs. Kansas State
Iowa State is currently on a two-game losing streak and needs to turn things around quickly. They have two home games left, and a win against Kansas State could lead to some intriguing tie-breaker scenarios.
Arizona State (7-2, 4-2)
Remaining schedule: at Kansas State, vs. BYU, at Arizona
Under second-year coach Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State has made a remarkable turnaround. They can significantly impact the race in the coming weeks, especially with key matchups against Kansas State and BYU.
West Virginia (5-4, 4-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Baylor, vs. UCF, at Texas Tech
West Virginia remains a long shot in the championship race, especially with head-to-head losses to Iowa State and Kansas State. However, they still have a chance if they can capitalize on their home games.
Understanding the tie-breaker rules
With so many teams in contention, understanding the tie-breaker rules is vital. The Big 12 will utilize the following steps to break ties:
Step 1: Head-to-head competition among the tied teams.
Step 2: Win percentage against all common conference opponents among the tied teams.
Step 3: Win percentage against the next highest placed common opponent in the standings.
Step 4: Combined win percentage in conference games of conference opponents.
Step 5: Total number of wins in a 12-game season.
Step 6: Highest ranking by SportSource Analytics following the last weekend of regular-season games.
Step 7: Coin toss.
Potential championship game scenarios
Looking ahead, the most likely scenario sees BYU and Colorado both winning out to meet in the Big 12 championship game. However, Kansas State could complicate matters if they secure victories against Colorado and other contenders.
Alternatively, if Arizona State wins out and upsets BYU and Colorado, a four-way tie could emerge among BYU, Colorado, Arizona State, and Iowa State. In this scenario, Arizona State’s victory over BYU would become pivotal, potentially knocking the Cougars out of the championship picture.
As the season progresses, every game becomes crucial. Fans are on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the outcomes that will determine the fate of their teams in the Big 12 championship race. With excitement in the air, the next few weeks promise to be nothing short of thrilling!
