With the final week of the regular season on tap, excitement is palpable in the Big 12 as four teams find themselves tied at the top of the standings. It’s a thrilling time for college football fans, with nine teams still in the hunt for a coveted spot in the conference title game. Who will rise to the occasion?
Current Standings and Title Race
At the moment, the teams in the spotlight are Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, and Iowa State, all boasting a 6-2 record in conference play. But don’t count out the five other teams at 5-3; they’re still very much alive in this race. With so many possibilities, there are a staggering 256 combinations of outcomes that could determine which teams make it to the title game.
Arizona State’s Path to the Title Game
Losses: at Texas Tech, 30-22; at Cincinnati, 24-14
Week 14 game: at Arizona
Arizona State is in a prime position. A victory this week would almost guarantee their spot in the title game. The only scenario where they could win yet miss out involves a complicated three-team tie. But let’s be honest: barring a series of unfortunate events, if the Sun Devils win, they’re in. The biggest question then becomes who they would face in the title game. Most likely, it could be Iowa State, but as we know, the Big 12 can be unpredictable!
BYU’s Hopes for the Championship
Losses: vs. Kansas, 17-13; at Arizona State, 28-23
Week 14 game: vs. Houston
BYU finds themselves in a bit of a tricky situation. To secure a spot in the title game, they need help from the other teams. Specifically, at least one of Arizona State or Iowa State must lose. If a four-way tie occurs, BYU is at a disadvantage in the tiebreakers. However, if they find themselves in a three-way tie, they could still compete against whoever of Arizona State or Iowa State doesn’t lose. It’s a complicated web, but a two-way tie could also pave the way for BYU to make their championship dreams come true.
Colorado’s Challenge
Losses: at Nebraska, 28-10; vs. Kansas State, 31-28; at Kansas, 37-21
Week 14 game: vs. Oklahoma State (Friday)
The Buffaloes are in need of some serious help to reach the Big 12 title game. They cannot advance in a four-way tie and will require several favorable outcomes to emerge from a three-way tie. The simplest path for Colorado is to win their game and hope that two of the other teams tied for first lose. It’s a tall order, but not impossible!
In a three-way tie, Colorado’s chances hinge on a few specific scenarios. For instance, if BYU loses to Houston, Texas Tech beats West Virginia, Baylor beats Kansas, and Cincinnati beats TCU, then Colorado would face Iowa State in the title game. Alternatively, if BYU loses to Houston, Texas Tech beats West Virginia, Kansas beats Baylor, and TCU beats Cincinnati, Colorado would go up against Arizona State.
Iowa State’s Position
Losses: vs. Texas Tech, 23-22; at Kansas, 45-36
Week 14 game: vs. Kansas State
Iowa State is in a similar boat to Arizona State. A win this week would solidify their position, but they also need to avoid being caught in a three-way tie scenario that could favor Colorado. If they win, they’re likely looking at a matchup against Arizona State in the title game. However, if BYU loses and Colorado wins, things could get complicated for the Cyclones.
The Five Teams at 5-3 in Conference Play
While the four teams at 6-2 are in the spotlight, let’s not forget about the five teams currently sitting at 5-3: Baylor, Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia. These teams are still very much in the mix, but they’ll need at least three of the four 6-2 teams to lose to open the door for a potential title game appearance.
So, as we head into the final weekend of the regular season, the excitement is electric. Will Arizona State secure their spot? Can BYU and Colorado find the help they need? Will Iowa State hold their ground? And what about the five teams lurking just behind? The answers will unfold soon, and college football fans are in for a thrilling finish!
Until the results start rolling in, the Big 12 championship race remains wide open, and anything can happen!
