The Big 12 Conference is set to attract significant attention during the final week of the regular season, as more than half of its 16 teams still have a chance to qualify for the championship game.
If both No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State secure wins on Saturday, they will face off for the Big 12 title and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff on December 7.
Conversely, should either team lose, there are seven others who still harbor hopes, albeit slim in many cases, of contending for a place in the game scheduled at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In the previous week, No. 19 BYU and No. 23 Colorado were considered as likely candidates for the championship matchup. However, following Arizona State’s victory over the Cougars and Kansas taking down the Buffaloes, the situation has dramatically shifted.
“Everyone wrote us off a couple of weeks ago,” said Iowa State coach Matt Campbell following his team’s narrow 31-28 victory over Utah.
“We didn’t back down. We kept fighting.”
The Cyclones were the standout team during the first half of the season, achieving a historic seven-game winning streak, which matched the best start in their program’s history. However, they faced setbacks with consecutive defeats to Texas Tech and Kansas but have recently rebounded with two victories as they prepare for “Farmageddon,” their upcoming home rivalry match against Kansas State.
“Right now, the players are writing their own narrative,” Campbell remarked. “I hope they will continue to shape it positively. They have demonstrated unwavering mental and physical toughness throughout.”
Arizona State’s performance has been remarkable as well. The Sun Devils have improved significantly, boasting six more wins than last season’s 3-9 record.
Initially expected to struggle in their first year in the Big 12, they now aim for their fifth consecutive victory against Arizona on Saturday.
“These players began with no momentum and faced skepticism, yet they keep exceeding expectations,” said second-year coach Kenny Dillingham.
“It’s a remarkable achievement.”
Shifting focus to the Top 25 teams:
No. 1 Oregon has been resting after clinching a spot in the Big Ten Championship game with a victory over Wisconsin on November 16.
If the Ducks manage to defeat Washington at home this week, they will finish the regular season with a flawless 12-0 record for the first time since 2010.
Their only two losses last season were against Washington — each by a narrow three points.
This time around, Oregon is favored by 19.5 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
No. 2 Ohio State is gearing up for a clash against Indiana, which has somewhat diminished the hype of their upcoming face-off with Michigan.
Should Michigan win their fourth consecutive game against the Buckeyes, it might keep Ohio State from competing in the Big Ten Championship game and the playoffs, igniting considerable buzz in Columbus.
The famed Lone Star Showdown returns as No. 3 Texas plays against No. 20 Texas A&M for the first time since 2011.
Texas heads into this match riding a four-game winning streak, while the Aggies come in after losing two of their last three, including a recent four-overtime thriller against Auburn.
The victor will move on to face Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship.
No. 11 Boise State is tied with Notre Dame for the second-longest active winning streak, at nine games.
They have adopted a survival mentality, previously trailing by 23 points against underdog Wyoming before securing a 17-13 victory, which guarantees them a spot in the Mountain West championship.
In their last game, they defeated San Jose State 42-21 but only pulled ahead in the final quarter.
Finally, No. 22 Illinois found a way to secure a win against Rutgers just when it seemed they were down for the count.
Trailing 31-30, they attempted a 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds on the clock. After a timeout by Rutgers, coach Bret Bielema opted for a passing play instead, resulting in a 40-yard touchdown from Luke Altmyer to Pat Bryant.
While Illinois won’t compete for the Big Ten title, they are on track for a potential nine-win season and a good bowl invitation.
Extra Points:
Ohio State has played in three of the five top-five matchups during the regular season, securing victories in each.
Kansas’s recent 37-21 win over Colorado marked a milestone, making them the first FBS team with a losing record to defeat three consecutive Top 25 opponents.
If the Jayhawks win at Baylor, they will be bowl eligible.
Nebraska ended its long-standing bowl drought with a convincing 44-25 victory over Wisconsin, marking their first bowl appearance since 2016.