The Big 12 Championship game is still to be determined as the final week of the regular season unfolds. A recent victory by Colorado over Oklahoma State on Friday has clarified several potential outcomes ahead of an action-packed Saturday.
Currently, four teams stand with two losses in conference play: Colorado, Arizona State, Iowa State, and BYU. Meanwhile, five additional teams—Kansas State, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, and West Virginia—each carry three losses in Big 12 play.
The fate of the championship could shift dramatically depending on the results from Saturday’s games. Here’s a look at the most promising scenarios, as outlined by Bill Bender from The Sporting News.
**Colorado (9-3, 7-2 Big 12)**
The Buffaloes secure at least three potential routes to the championship game after their win. Firstly, if Arizona State, Iowa State, and BYU all lose, Colorado would emerge as the top team based on conference records. The next easiest scenario would see Colorado qualify if two of those three teams lose, leading to a matchup between the two remaining two-loss teams. In a more complicated situation where Arizona State and Iowa State win but BYU loses, Colorado can still advance, provided Texas Tech defeats West Virginia, Baylor overcomes Kansas State, and Cincinnati beats TCU, leading to a championship clash with Iowa State.
**Arizona State (9-2, 6-2 Big 12)**
Arizona State can clinch a championship game appearance simply by winning on Saturday while benefiting from losses by Iowa State and BYU. They also have a chance if a four-way tie occurs with Colorado, ASU, Iowa State, and BYU. In a scenario where ASU, Colorado, and Iowa State win, but BYU loses, and Texas Tech beats West Virginia, Arizona State would miss out.
**Iowa State (9-2, 6-2 Big 12)**
Similar to Arizona State, Iowa State would advance with a victory alongside losses for the Sun Devils and BYU. If Iowa State, BYU, and Colorado win and Arizona State loses, the championship would be Iowa State facing BYU. The outcome of the Texas Tech versus West Virginia game could also dramatically influence Iowa State’s chances.
**BYU (9-2, 6-2 Big 12)**
For BYU, an ideal scenario would involve Iowa State and Arizona State losing, thereby setting up a title match against Colorado. However, if BYU and Arizona State win but Iowa State falters, it results in a championship showdown between Arizona State and BYU.
**The Big Picture**
If all three Arizona State, Iowa State, and BYU lose, it opens the door for one of the five three-loss teams, thereby potentially leading to a situation where Colorado faces either Kansas State or Baylor in the championship game, depending on how the rest of the conference games unfold on Saturday.
Overall, the excitement surrounding these matchups highlights the unpredictability of college football. Fans can look forward to a thrilling conclusion to the regular season, with multiple teams still in contention for the Big 12 title. This not only adds to the excitement for this week’s games but also showcases the competitive nature of collegiate athletics. It’s a moment when every game counts, and upsets could lead to surprising outcomes—a reminder that anything can happen in sports.