By Jacob Seliga
Lead Writer
If Week 9 of the Big 12 slate of games was the most consequential to this point of the season, then Week 10 was the ultimate following act.
This past week saw an almost three-hour weather delay, two highly ranked teams fall in shocking upsets, a nail biting finish that may save one coach's job and a tradition of domination carry on. This is the Big 12 Week in Review.
The desert tables have turned
When the initial Big 12 preseason media poll was voted on by different members of the media such as myself, one team that had the expectations of going to Arlington and possibly playing for a conference championship was the Arizona Wildcats.
Rightfully so, the Wildcats had reached double-digit wins in 2023 and returned arguably the best 1-2 punch in college football in quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. If, at that time, someone was to say that Arizona would be 3-6 in November and on the verge of missing a bowl game, many would believe they had gotten confused for Arizona State. But that's not the case.
The Sun Devils, coming off back-to-back 3-9 seasons, were the most disrespected team by the conference media, as they were voted to finish in last place by a heavy margin. That’s what makes their 6-2 record all the more special.
On Saturday, the Wildcats limped into Orlando to face a down trodden UCF team that was hoping for new life in their annual “Space Game." A game that, since it has started, has been a UCF dream as the Knights averaged a 38-point margin of victory in the few “Space Game” matchups that occurred in the past. And that trend continued as the Knights thoroughly dominated Arizona for four quarters in a game that felt similar to the Wildcats 70-7 loss to Arizona State during the Covid-19 season.
UCF could not be stopped on the day, as the Knights finished with over 600 yards of offense while only attempting one punt. For Arizona, it was another lackluster and ill-inspired performance that has many fans calling for Brent Brennan’s job already, and frankly rightfully so.
To come into a situation that had all the pieces to be successful and to handicap a good offense by hiring your friend who has a track record of terrible offenses is a level of ineptitude that cannot be ignored. Brennan and his staff are behind in recruiting, showing regression on both sides of the ball, and are circling the wagons by cutting themselves off from the media.
With a suddenly surging Houston team coming to town in Week 12, followed by a trip to face a desperate TCU team in Week 13 before a revenge game against Arizona State in week 14, things may go from bad to worse very quickly in Tucson.
Meanwhile, in Tempe, the vibes have not been this high in quite some time as the Sun Devils went into Stillwater, Okla. and got revenge for the previous two seasons in a dominating 42-21 victory that was highlighted by a lengthy weather delay.
For the first time since 2021, Arizona State is going to a bowl game, and it’s frankly shocking.
To most pundits, including myself. Six or seven wins felt like the ultimate ceiling for the Devils in 2024 as the roster was littered with question marks most notably at quarterback. Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt has delivered as he returned from a rib injury to throw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, his best performance as a Sun Devil.
Running back Cam Skattebo led the way as the senior became only the sixth player in the history of the conference to rush for 150 yards and have 100 yards receiving in the same game. With UCF coming to town, the Sun Devils have a chance to move to 7-2 and inside the top 25 before a tough stretch to end the season that includes a road trip to No. 22 Kansas State before coming home to face No. 9 BYU. They'll finish the season on the road at Arizona.
Upset in Ames and Houston
After surviving by the skin of its teeth at home against Kansas in Week 9, Kansas State suffered a classic “let down” game on the road against Houston on Saturday.
The Cougars defense buckled down as they forced two Wildcat turnovers and three punts in the fourth quarter. The Houston offense, led by quarterback Zeon Chriss, was effective on the night. Chriss had zero incompletions and scored two of the three Cougar touchdowns as the Houston offense bled the clock throughout the second half to keep the game close before eventually pulling away.
For Kansas State, its conference championship hopes take a severe hit with its second loss. And with tiebreakers, the Wildcasts are still alive -- barely -- to reach Arlington in December.
In Ames, the conference title race also got a bit more murky.
In what was the Game of the Week, Iowa State and Texas Tech met in a defensive slugfest that came down to the final seconds of the contest. The Cyclones defense had two interceptions to help turn a four-point deficit into a three-point second-half lead. Throughout the second half, both teams traded blows, highlighted by a 12-play 71-yard touchdown drive by the Red Raiders with 19 seconds left to steal a 23-22 victory.
Iowa State now falls to a tie for second place in the conference with Colorado and controls its own path to Arlington, needing only a little outside help in order to earn a spot in the conference championship game. Texas Tech stays alive and now has the biggest victory and holds the current tiebreaker amongst the five teams that sit at two losses in the conference.
Game of the week: No. 21 Colorado at Texas Tech, 2 p.m., Fox
Without a doubt, this is the biggest game on the conference slate this week.
This is a de-facto conference championship elimination game for Texas Tech and a destiny controlling matchup for Colorado. If Texas Tech were to win this game, any loss by Iowa State going forward would vault the Red Raiders as long as they keep winning to the No. 2 spot in the conference. For Colorado, a victory would give it the outright No. 2 spot in the conference with only three games to go. With Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma State remaining on the schedule, this is truly the Buffaloes last test in the regular season.
If Colorado can win this week, Coach Prime’s group has a chance to win the Big 12 and go to the College Football Playoff.
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