Big 12 midseason report: The best players, coaches and moments from seven wild weeks

We have reached the midway point of an unprecedented college football season, with conference realignment and the expanded playoff heaping storylines onto a sport already oozing intrigue.

With seven weeks down and seven remaining, the Big 12 race is inside-out, upside-down and deliciously insane.

The favorites are struggling, the pretenders are thriving and mayhem reigns supreme.

Here’s a review of the first half.

Top storyline: Chaos everywhere

The three teams tied for first place with 3-0 conference records were picked sixth (Iowa State), ninth (Texas Tech) and 13th (Brigham Young) in the Big 12 preseason poll. The three teams tied for last place with 0-3 conference records were picked third (Oklahoma State), fourth (Kansas) and 12th (Baylor). The team picked to win the conference, Utah, is 1-2. The team picked for the cellar, Arizona State, is 2-1.

Biggest surprise: Brigham Young

The Cougars (6-0) aren’t merely contenders in the Big 12 race; they stand as the favorite thanks to a stretch-run schedule that does not include Iowa State. Which means a team picked 13th in the preseason poll is a legitimate candidate for the College Football Playoff. The Cougars demolished Kansas State, overpowered Arizona and won at SMU (which is 5-1, by the way). And not to be ignored: They are undefeated against the point spread, as well. We also considered ASU in this category but gave the edge to BYU because of its undefeated record and stronger schedule.

Biggest disappointment: Oklahoma State

Despite unexpected struggles in Tucson, Lawrence and Salt Lake City, the Cowboys were an easy call. Picked third in the Big 12 preseason poll and No. 17 in the AP preseason rankings, they are 3-3 overall but winless in conference play. The defense has been substandard, the offense third rate and the quarterback play perplexingly poor. With a stretch-run schedule that includes BYU, ASU, Texas Tech and Colorado, a sub-.500 record at the finish is entirely possible. Mike Gundy’s eye injury last week — due to what he called “a little run-in with my cattle” — stands as a deeply unfortunate metaphor.

Best game: Arizona State 35, Kansas 31

It was not the cleanest affair with 14 combined penalties and two ASU turnovers. But the Oct. 5 matchup in Tempe was riveting football, particularly during a fourth quarter that produced five touchdown drives — each was at least 50 yards — and five lead changes. The Sun Devils scored the winning touchdown with 16 seconds left.

Best finish: Colorado 38, Baylor 31 (OT)

An entertaining game went next level in the final seconds when CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders hit receiver LaJohntay Wester on a 43-yard Hail Mary that forced overtime. (The ball was perfectly placed as Webster lunged to his left into an unoccupied spot in the end zone.) The Buffaloes scored first in the extra period, then sealed the victory when cornerback Travis Hunter — who else? — forced a Baylor fumble inches from the end zone.

Best offensive player: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

Whatever you think of his conduct off the field and after games, there’s no denying his talent. Despite constant pressure from opposing defenses, Sanders is on target and on time with his throws, allowing receivers to make plays after the catch. He’s completing 72.6 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and he’s superb in the clutch.

Best defensive player: Brigham Young DE Tyler Batty

The second-team all-Big 12 selection last season has become a dominant force for the conference’s best defense, with Batty’s individual statistics (one sack) a poor representation of his impact. (Iowa State’s defense has been terrific, as well.) The attention paid to Batty by opposing offenses creates rush lanes for the Cougars’ hard-charging linebackers to harass the quarterback and stuff the run.

Best player: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter

We created a separate category for the sport’s most unique talent. Hunter is averaging approximately 120 snaps per game and performing at an elite level as a receiver (six touchdown catches) and cornerback. As a result, he’s a top contender for the Heisman Trophy — and the Big 12’s best candidate, by far. But Hunter injured his shoulder last weekend. Can he maintain his pace on both sides of the ball for the next six games?

Best postgame celebration: ASU coach Kenny Dillingham

If you haven’t seen Dillingham’s joyous postgame interview with ESPN after the victory over Utah, find it on YouTube. He answered a few questions, then disappeared into the mosh pit of fans on the field. We haven’t seen anything quite like it.

Top coach: Brigham Young’s Kalani Sitake

Sitake entered his ninth season in Provo on the Warm Seat after the Cougars struggled last year with the adjustment to Big 12 play. But he has made all the right moves in 2024, including the choice of quarterbacks. (Jake Retzlaff has grown into the role after an uneven start.) But the prime driver of BYU’s success is a first-rate defense that has dominated the line of scrimmage and produced 14 takeaways in six games. Note: We gave serious consideration to Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Arizona State’s Dillingham.

Hottest seat: Baylor’s Dave Aranda

Aranda’s job seemingly has been on the line since Baylor ended the 2023 season with a 3-9 record, and his team has done nothing to alter that perception. The Bears are 2-4 overall (with victories over Tarleton State and Air Force) and 0-3 in conference play, largely due to a defense that has been shredded frequently. Aranda needs four wins down the stretch to secure the bowl bid that could save his job.

Keep an eye on: Boise State

The Big 12’s fate in the College Football Playoff selection process could depend on Boise State. How so? Imagine a scenario in which the conference champion has two losses while the Broncos run the table and finish 12-1, with their only loss at Oregon (by three points). Could the selection committee rank Ashton Jeanty and Co. ahead of the Big 12 winner, thereby giving the Broncos an opening-round bye in the CFP that everyone presumed would go to the power conference champs? It’s worth monitoring.

Fearless prediction: Kansas State wins the conference

The Wildcats (5-1/2-1) are lurking one game behind the leaders as sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson gains crucial experience by the week. They have a first-rate running game, solid defense, elite coaching and favorable schedule (no Texas Tech, no Utah; ASU and Cincinnati at home). But because of the head-to-head loss to BYU, the Wildcats will need to win the finale in Ames to qualify for the conference title game. We expect them to find a way.

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