Week 2 in Big 12: Rivalries, top-10 upset bids, and conference play commences

Week 2 in Big 12: Rivalries, top-10 upset bids, and conference play commences

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Week 2 in Big 12: Rivalries, top-10 upset bids, and conference play commences
EUGENE, OREGON – SEPTEMBER 6: Matayo Uiagalelei #10 of the Oregon Ducks battles with Grant Seagren #74 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in action during a game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on September 6, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images

The Big 12 opened the 2026 season with a 13-3 record. Things were off to a rocky start when TCU fell victim to an upset in Ireland, but Colorado allowed the conference to bounce back with an upset road win at Georgia Tech. In most other Week 1 matchups, the Big 12 played outmatched opponents.

However, the competition ramps up in Week 2, and the conference receives several opportunities at quality non-conference victories. Additionally, conference play commences Saturday afternoon when Arizona and BYU collide in Provo in a rematch of a 2025 double-overtime thriller.

Here is this week’s 15-game Big 12 slate.

Friday, Sept. 11:

  • Missouri at Kansas, 8 p.m. ET (FOX)

Saturday, Sept. 12:

  • Oregon at Oklahoma State, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN)
  • Arizona State at Texas A&M, 12 p.m. ET (ABC)
  • Washington State at Kansas State, 12 p.m. ET (TNT)
  • UT Martin (FCS) at West Virginia, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
  • Arizona at BYU, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
  • UCF at Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
  • Weber State (FCS) at Colorado, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
  • Southern (FCS) at Houston, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
  • Texas Tech at Oregon State, 7:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
  • Iowa State at Iowa, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
  • Grambling (FCS) at TCU, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
  • Prairie View (FCS) at Baylor, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
  • Arkansas at Utah, 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Here are key things to watch in the Big 12 in an action-packed Week 2:

Border War and Cy-Hawk rivalries resume

Kansas and Missouri used to share one of the defining rivalries of the old Big 12, until Missouri fled to the SEC. The teams didn’t meet once from 2012 through 2024, but the hatred between the two programs remains as prevalent as ever. Mizzou won last year’s back-and-forth affair in Columbia, 42-31 behind 595 yards of offense. This year, the series shifts to Kansas, where the Jayhawks look to snap a four-game skid to the Tigers in the Border War.

Both teams handled an FCS opponent by 40+ in Week 1, but the competition ramps up in Week 2. Kansas found success in the early 2020s under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, and after two seasons at Penn State, Kotelnicki reunited with Lance Leipold. The creative offensive coordinator looks to dig into his bag of tricks and catch Mizzou off-guard with constant motions and pre-snap eye candy. Kansas will heavily emphasize the run game behind mobile quarterback Isaiah Marshall and the running back duo of transfers Yasin Willis (Syracuse) and Dylan Edwards (Kansas State). Meanwhile, Mizzou will attack with a heavy dose of Jamal Roberts, who rushed for 143 yards in last year’s shootout. Tiger quarterback Austin Simmons will have his first taste of the Border War after a nearly-perfect Week 1 where he finished 17-of-19 with 252 yards and four touchdowns.

That isn’t the only bitter non-conference rivalry this week. The Cy-Hawk series, a Week 2 college football staple, kicks off Saturday night in Iowa City. Iowa owns the historic bragging rights over Iowa State, but recently, the series has leaned in favor of the Cyclones, which ride a two-game win streak and have won three of the last four.

However, Iowa State is in the midst of a full reset right now. It was one of two programs, along with North Texas, to lose every primary starter from 2025. Head coach Jimmy Rogers has filled in the gaps with a transfer laden roster, led by former Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor and former Washington State defensive end Isaac Terrell. It wasn’t the most dominant Week 1 performance for the retooled team, and the offense must gel together better to have a shot at Kinnick Stadium after managing just 303 yards against FCS competition.

Iowa is coming off a dominant shutout of Northern Illinois where Kamari Moulton produced 183 rushing yards on 11 attempts, while the run game — supported by several NFL caliber linemen — generated 289 yards as a unit. But nobody has scored more than 20 points in the last four Cy-Hawk matchups, implying points might be at a premium again Saturday.

Pokes, Sun Devils eye top-10 upsets

The Big 12 can make a big statement in the early Saturday block with a pair of AP Top 10 opponents on the schedule.

Oklahoma State was arguably the conference’s greatest disappointment in Week 1. Cowboys fans were eager for a new era, equipped with head coach Eric Morris — who led the nation’s No. 1 offense at North Texas last year — and a slew of offensive weapons in Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins, and Wyatt Young. However, all that offensive firepower only amounted to 10 points on the road at Tulsa. Oklahoma State committed four turnovers in a 24-10 defeat, but the Cowboys’ offense struggled even outside the turnovers. Starting left tackle Jacob Sexton suffered a season-ending injury in the first quarter, and it is imperative Oklahoma State finds a viable replacement to protect Mestemaker, who led the FBS in passing in 2025.

This will be the first home game of the Eric Morris era, and the opponent is daunting but not unbeatable. Oregon dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 after escaping Boise State, 34-27, in a back-and-forth Week 1 showdown. The Ducks out-gained the Broncos 497-274 and won thanks to explosive offensive playmaking in the fourth quarter by its speedy skill position stars. Oklahoma State can go toe-to-toe with Oregon at the skill positions, but the key matchup in this one involves the Cowboys’ offensive line against a Ducks’ defensive front littered with All-Big Ten talent, including Teitum Tuioti, Bear Alexander, and A’Mauri Washington.

South of Stillwater, Arizona State seeks a signature win in College Station. The Sun Devils are 6-1 against AP Top 25 opponents under Kenny Dillingham, most recently upsetting the Big 12 champion Texas Tech last October. Arizona State is 3-2 in its last five trips to Texas, with all five contests coming down to the wire. This year’s Sun Devils started with an expected 70-7 win over FCS Morgan State, where Kentucky transfer quarterback Cutter Boley looked better than ever in a 21-of-27, 387-yard, 6-touchdown masterclass.

Arizona State’s offense faced little resistance in Week 1, but how does it all translate in all hostile environment at Texas A&M in Week 2? The Aggies produced a shutout in their opener against Missouri State, but they’re still adjusting to the new roster, needing to replace reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell. Texas A&M will attack Arizona State’s secondary with Marcel Reed and his loaded receiving corps of Mario Craver, Terry Bussey, and Isaiah Horton. Can Arizona State, which finished 13th in the Big 12 in passing defense last year, handle those receivers on the road?

Big 12 play commences with a bang

There is one Big 12 matchup on the Week 2, and it was one of the conference’s best showcases in the 2025 season. Last year, Arizona held a 10-point lead over BYU with under five minutes remaining in Tucson, but the Cougars road backed with two death-by-paper-cuts drives, knotting the score at 24-24 with 19 seconds remaining. BYU ultimately prevailed, 33-27, in double overtime — a massive road win on its quest to the Big 12 Championship Game.

Now the rematch transpires in Provo. The Cougars, ranked No. 15, are armed with returning talent all over. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier should take a natural leap as a true sophomore, and he remains accompanied by reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin, who rushed for over 1,300 yards last season, including 162 on Arizona. BYU also features some of the top offensive line and defensive talent in the Big 12 and receives homefield advantage at LaVell Edwards Stadium, where it was won 11 of 12 since 2024.

Last season, Arizona remained competitive against the Cougars thanks to an NFL caliber secondary. However, the Wildcats lost three defensive backs to the NFL Draft in April and must replace that elite talent. The Wildcats remain dangerous on offense, trotting out the program’s all-time leading passer in Noah Fifita along with a stacked running back corps — which will add Ismail Mahdi this week, whose eligibility was reinstated by the Wisne v. NCAA decision.

In a 16-team conference known for immense parity, every conference win is massive, but every conference defeat could be extremely consequential to the Big 12 title race. Arizona and BYU have opportunities to make or break their seasons Saturday afternoon.

Check out more Big 12 coverage from our sister SB Nation Big 12 sites:

AZ Desert Swarm (Arizona), Vanquish the Foe (BYU), Wide Right & Natty Lite (Iowa State), Rock Chalk Talk (Kansas), Bring on the Cats (Kansas State), Frogs O’ War (TCU), The Smoking Musket (West Virginia)

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos