Big 12 Football: Predicting the Best Game for Every Week in the 2026 Season

NCAAF College Football
July 27, 2026
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Texas Tech and BYU enter the 2026 college football season as heavy favorites to return to the Big 12 Championship Game. But even with the Red Raiders and Cougars holding the edge, the Big 12 schedule isn’t lacking intrigue or high-profile matchups that will shape the conference title race and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Week 8 showdown between Houston and Utah could decide which team poses the bigger threat to Texas Tech and BYU. Arizona’s road trips to Kansas State and Texas Tech also loom large for positioning in the conference. And the Big 12 has no shortage of must-see rivalry matchups, including BYU-Utah and Arizona State-Arizona.

With the 2026 season less than 40 days away, it's never too early to take a look at the upcoming schedule and project what the top contests and matchups will be this fall.

Which matchups involving Big 12 teams are the best for each week in the 2026 college football season? Athlon Sports picks the No. 1 contest for every week of the regular season:

TCU is the only Big 12 team in action for Week Zero. However, this contest in Ireland against North Carolina should provide plenty of insight into coach Sonny Dykes’ team and new quarterback Jaden Craig. How far have the Tar Heels improved in coach Bill Belichick’s second season?

This matchup is loaded with intrigue. New Auburn coach Alex Golesh is looking to start his tenure with a key non-conference win. This contest should provide plenty of insight into Golesh’s rebuilding effort on the Plains, along with the first look at how a handful of his former South Florida players—including quarterback Byrum Brown—are transitioning to their new surroundings. Considering it’s a make-or-break year for Baylor coach Dave Aranda, a win here would certainly cool some hot seat talk. This is also the first opportunity to see Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway in the Bears’ offense.

Other Key Games in Week 1

Colorado at Georgia Tech (Thursday, Sept. 3)
Oregon State at Houston
Boston College at Cincinnati
Oklahoma State at Tulsa

Week 2 features a couple of opportunities for the Big 12 to score major non-conference victories, including Arizona State’s trip to Texas A&M, Kansas’ Friday night showdown against rival Missouri, Iowa State’s rivalry battle versus Iowa and Oklahoma State hosting Oregon. However, it’s tough to pick against a high-stakes early-season Big 12 contest between Arizona and BYU.

Other Key Games in Week 2

Missouri at Kansas (Friday, Sept. 11)
Washington State at Kansas State
Oregon at Oklahoma State
Arizona State at Texas A&M
Iowa State at Iowa
Texas Tech at Oregon State
UCF at Pitt
Arkansas at Utah

Related: Big 12 Predictions for 2026

This early-season showdown will be instrumental in assessing the Big 12 title picture. Can Houston go on the road and upset Texas Tech? Or will the Red Raiders make an early statement? This game is also a good barometer test for Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond in his return from a torn ACL suffered last season.

Other Key Games in Week 3

Tulane at Kansas State
Bowling Green at Iowa State
Arizona State vs Kansas (London)
Miami (Ohio) vs. Cincinnati (TQL Stadium in Cincinnati)
Utah State at Utah
Louisiana Tech at Baylor
BYU at Colorado State
Colorado at Northwestern
West Virginia vs. Virginia (Charlotte)
Arkansas State at TCU
Northern Illinois at Arizona

This matchup in Morgantown marks the Big 12 opener for both teams, providing valuable insight into just how these squads stack up in the conference. The Cowboys and Mountaineers significantly reshaped their rosters this offseason through the portal. West Virginia’s defense allowed 30.8 points a contest last year, and its secondary will be under pressure with Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker coming to town.

Other Key Games in Week 4

Houston at Georgia Southern
Colorado at Baylor
Kansas State at Cincinnati
TCU at UCF
Utah at Iowa State
Arizona at Washington State

The Cougars and Horned Frogs have split their two meetings since joining the Big 12. And oddly enough, the scores were nearly identical. TCU pounded BYU 44-11 in 2023, and the Cougars dished out a 44-13 victory last year in Provo. This early road test should provide plenty of clues into how far along BYU’s revamped receiving corps has developed for quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

Other Key Games in Week 5

Baylor at Arizona State
UCF at Houston
Cincinnati at Arizona
Texas Tech at Colorado
West Virginia at Iowa State

Under new coach Collin Klein, K-State could be a sleeper contender in the Big 12 title mix. The Wildcats won’t play Texas Tech, BYU or Utah, leaving this matchup against Houston as one of the biggest contests on the 2026 slate. This trip to Manhattan kicks off a crucial stretch of games for coach Willie Fritz’s team. After playing at Kansas State, the Cougars host Oklahoma State and then face a road trip to Utah on Oct. 24.

Other Key Games in Week 6

Iowa State at BYU (Friday, Oct. 9)
Hawaii at Arizona State
Arizona at West Virginia
UCF at Oklahoma State
Kansas at Utah

Notre Dame’s trip to Provo is one of its toughest obstacles on the 2026 slate. Not only would a win over the Fighting Irish be a huge boost to the Big 12 and its reputation in the non-conference battle, but coach Kalani Sitake’s squad has a chance to take a big step forward in its quest to earn a playoff spot. The Cougars won 20-17 the last time these two teams played in Provo (2004).

Other Key Games in Week 7

Arizona State at Texas Tech
Cincinnati at West Virginia
Kansas at Kansas State
Oklahoma State at Houston
TCU at Baylor
Utah at Colorado

Could this game determine whether Houston or Utah is the biggest threat to Texas Tech and BYU at the top of the conference?

Other Key Games in Week 8

Baylor at Kansas
BYU at UCF
Colorado at Oklahoma State
Iowa State at Arizona
Kansas State at Arizona State
Texas Tech at Cincinnati
West Virginia at TCU

Arizona State at BYU is intriguing, but it’s tough to pick against Texas Tech hosting Arizona. This matchup features the Big 12’s No. 1 quarterback entering 2026 with Noah Fifita returning for the Wildcats, while the Red Raiders counter with one of the top defenses in the conference. A late-October showdown also allows Arizona plenty of time to reload a defense that returns only four starters and features a revamped secondary.

Other Key Games in Week 9

Baylor at UCF (Friday, Oct. 30)
Arizona State at BYU
Kansas at TCU
Kansas State at Colorado
Oklahoma State at Iowa State
Utah at Cincinnati

The Holy War is one of the best rivalries in college football.

Other Key Games in Week 10

TCU at Arizona (Friday, Nov. 6)
UCF at Kansas
Cincinnati at Houston
Colorado at Arizona State
Iowa State at Baylor
Oklahoma State at Kansas State
West Virginia at Texas Tech

November always brings a surprise upset or two in the world of college football. Could this trip be a trap game for the Red Raiders? Also, this late-season matchup gives new Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris plenty of time to find the right mix on both sides of the ball to push the Red Raiders.

Other Key Games in Week 11

Houston at Colorado (Friday, Nov. 13)
Arizona State at UCF
Baylor at BYU
Cincinnati at Iowa State
Kansas at West Virginia
Kansas State at TCU
Utah at Arizona

Utah at TCU and Oklahoma State at Arizona State are intriguing games, but Arizona’s trip to Manhattan to play Kansas State gets the nod here. The quarterback battle of Noah Fifita (Arizona) versus Avery Johnson (Kansas State) should deliver plenty of fireworks in a game that could decide key Big 12 positioning.

Other Key Games in Week 12

Iowa State at UCF (Friday, Nov. 20)
BYU at Kansas
Colorado at Cincinnati
Houston at West Virginia
Oklahoma State at Arizona State
Texas Tech at Baylor
Utah at TCU

The Territorial Cup is the Big 12's must-see matchup for the final weekend of the regular season. Arizona has won three of the last four against its in-state rival Arizona State.

Other Key Games in Week 13

TCU at Texas Tech (Thursday, Nov. 26)
West Virginia at Utah (Friday, Nov. 27)
Baylor at Houston
UCF at Colorado
Cincinnati at BYU
Kansas at Oklahoma State
Kansas State at Iowa State

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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