Five thoughts from Week 9 in the Big 12

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Five thoughts from Week 9 in the Big 12

FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 31: Texas Christian University Horned Frogs tight end Kari Ashley (81) fights off Kansas Jayhawks linebacker Quincy Davis (13) after a catch during the game between the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs and the Kansas Jayhawks on October 31, 2026 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Steve Helwick · SB Nation

Mon, November 2, 2026 at 9:55 PM UTC ·

8 min read

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The Big 12 entered Week 9 with six ranked teams, accounting for nearly a quarter of the latest AP Top 25.

While the weekend lacked the chaos of Week 8, the conference still delivered several memorable finishes in Week 9. Iowa State and Oklahoma State dressed up in Halloween colors and totaled 100 points in a back-and-forth shootout decided by a last-second Cyclone field goal. Colorado snapped a nine-game Big 12 losing streak by outlasting Kansas State in overtime, commencing a field storm in Boulder. And Utah, BYU, and Texas Tech each moved one step closer to securing a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Here is the scoreboard from Week 9 in the Big 12:

Baylor 41, UCF 9
Texas Tech 34, Arizona 26
Colorado 27, Kansas State 24 (OT)
TCU 22, Kansas State 16
BYU 27, Arizona State 20
Utah 49, Cincinnati 25
Iowa State 51, Oklahoma State 49

And here are five takeaways from the the latest week in Big 12 football:

Utah proved its championship mettle

CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Devon Dampier #4 of the Utah Utes runs with the ball as Kenny Worthy #8 of the Cincinnati Bearcats defends during the first quarter of the game at Nippert Stadium on October 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This matchup had all the makings of the ultimate trap game for Utah. The Utes were coming off a statement comeback victory over Houston, with the College GameDay crew and a raucous Rice-Eccles Stadium crowd adding to the emotional high. Also, the Holy War rivalry against BYU awaited on Nov. 7 in Salt Lake City. Sandwiched between those games, Utah had to travel two time zones east to Cincinnati, where the Bearcats had been 5-0 within city limits this season.

Instead of falling victim to a trap game, Morgan Scalley's team delivered its best performance of the season. The Utes silenced the Nippert Stadium crowd in the blink of an eye, manufacturing a 42-6 halftime advantage behind an efficient dual-threat showing from quarterback Devon Dampier along with two defensive touchdowns.

Utah dominated in virtually every phase, compiling 266 passing yards, 268 rushing yards, three sacks, and two takeaways, while surrendering just two offensive touchdowns to a Cincinnati team that just overwhelmed Texas Tech.

It was an emhatic statement from the Big 12's last remaining undefeated team, which overcame a 10-point second half deficit against Houston before dismantling Cincinnati on the road, extending the nation's longest win streak to 14 games. With the Holy War approaching, Utah has clearly established itself as the team to beat in the conference.

TCU's defensive consistency is incredible

WACO, TEXAS - OCTOBER 17: Jamel Johnson #2 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates making an interception with Max Carroll #3 during the second half against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Zach Del Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TCU is 4-4 and likely out of contention for the Big 12 championship race, but its defense continues to perform at a championship-caliber level on a weekly basis. In a 22-16 victory over Kansas, the Horned Frogs were burdened by severe offensive struggles in the first half, entering the break down 13-0 and punting on seven their first eight possessions.

TCU was able to overcome six three-and-outs and a 286-yard showing by the offense thanks to its dominant defense. The unit has kept the Horned Frogs in every game this season, and it still hasn't surrendered more than 24 points. TCU ranks eighth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 14.1 points per game.

Trailing 13-0 in the third quarter, the defense provided a spark when outside linebacker Max Carroll stuffed Kansas quarterback Cole Ballard at the 1-yard line on a 4th-and-goal. On the ensuing possession, Carroll swung the momentum with a pick-six which breathed life into a previously dormant TCU offense. The Horned Frogs eventually completed the comeback, once again leaning on a defense that has regularly provided the team opportunities to win. Head coach Sonny Dykes attributed the defense's incredible consistency to continuity.

"A lot of these guys have been together for a long time," Dykes said. "When you look at the starters that we have, nine of the 11 starters are homegrown players — high school kids that we've recruited — and the others have been in the program for a while. When you can come someplace and you get consistent coaching for a number of years, you're going to improve. And it's Andy (Avalos) and our defensive staff's third year together. The guys are really dialed in. We've been able to do more defensively than we have in the past. We're better fundamentally. We're more disciplined as a group. The guys know what they have to do. The guys believe in each other and they believe in our system, and it gives us a chance."

TCU's record might not reflect the quality of the defense, but the unit has been dependable time after time. Nobody has defeated the Horned Frogs by multiple scores yet, which makes them a tough out for the three ranked teams on their remaining schedule.

Texas Tech QB change makes run game essential

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 17: Thomas Castellanos #4 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs the ball during the second half of the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Galaxy Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Following its first loss of the season, Texas Tech made a significant change under center. The Red Raiders benched starting quarterback Will Hammond in favor of Thomas Castellanos for their Week 9 home matchup against Arizona.

It wasn't the first time Joey McGuire turned to Castellanos this season. Texas Tech briefly started the former UCF, Boston College, and Florida State quarterback against Houston in Week 3, but he threw an interception on his first pass and was subsequently benched.

This time, Texas Tech reverted to Castellanos, and the quarterback provided an offensive spark in a 34-26 ranked victory over Arizona. The Red Raiders' rushing attack amassed a season-high 328 yards and two touchdowns on a 7.0 average, as Castellanos added an extra dimension to the run game with 117 yards. Texas Tech finished with just 144 passing yards, marking its second-lowest total of the season. Castellanos finished 11-of-24 through the air, but the ground attack was so productive that the aerial production didn't prove costly.

Mobility has been the hallmark of Castellanos' game in his five years of playing college football. He rushed for 1,113 yards at Boston College in 2023 and has consistently extended plays with his legs. If Texas Tech sticks with Castellanos for the remainder of the year, the Red Raiders will have to lean into that strength, giving the offense a much different identity.

Following up an emotional upset is difficult

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 30: Jadon Porter #3 of the Baylor Bears stiff arms a defender against the UCF Knights on October 30, 2026 at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Hanna Kotlarek/Baylor Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)

It's been a struggle this season for college football teams coming off massive wins. Georgia followed a road win over Alabama with a home loss to Auburn. Auburn followed that aforemtioned win at Georgia by suffering consecutive blowout defeats. Florida was routed by Missouri after dismantling Ole Miss. And Wisconsin was shut out by Iowa after upsetting USC.

UCF and Cincinnati became the latest victims of this phenomenon in Week 9.

Both programs entered the week coming off statement AP Top 10 victories over undefeated opponents — their biggest wins since joining the Big 12 in 2023. UCF outlasted BYU 39-31 in double overtime in perhaps the most chaotic ending of the entire season, while Cincinnati knocked off Texas Tech 37-21 to position itself on the fringe of the rankings.

The Knights and Bearcats each had the luxury of remaining at home the following week, but neither could replicate the energy from Week 8. Despite the benefit of electrifying home crowds, both looked like a shell of the teams we saw the week prior.

UCF failed to score a touchdown against a Baylor team debuting interim head coach Joe Klanderman and was annihilated 41-9 in its annual Space Game. Meanwhile, Cincinnati trailed 42-6 at halftime before ultimately falling 49-25 to Utah. It was a golden opportunity for both former American Conference programs to generate momentum, but as demonstrated throughout this 2026 season, the biggest wins are often followed by the biggest letdowns.

Flora completely dictates Iowa State's offense

Oct 31, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Aiden Flora (21) outruns Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Evan Jackson (1) for the touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Iowa State might be the most confusing team in the Big 12. After scoring just 13 combined points in its previous two outings against BYU and Arizona, one might have wondered how the Cyclones could generate enough offense to compete with an Oklahoma State attack which ranks third nationally in points and yards per game.

But for the third time this year, Iowa State unleashed what could be called "the Aiden Flora game."

Just like he did in previous wins against Bowling Green and West Virginia, the running back put the Cyclones' offense on his shoulders, generating 221 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 attempts against the Cowboys. Flora has developed of the most unique distributions of any running back in college football. In eight games this year, he has exceeded 190 yards three times yet finished below 90 yards five times, with no performances in between.

In those three 190+ yard games, which all transpired in Ames, Iowa State is 3-0 averaging 50.3 points per game, outdueling two explosive offenses in West Virginia and Oklahoma State. But in the four remaining games against FBS competition, Iowa State is 0-4 and averaging just 10.8 points per game. Iowa State has essentially become the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde offense in the Big 12, operating with a low floor but an incredibly high ceiling. The Cyclones are the conference's mystery box, and when No. 21 produces video game numbers, they can go punch for punch with the Big 12's most explosive teams.

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