Big 12 has Top 25 matchup with Arizona at Texas Tech, Cincy seeks another upset against Utah
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan, left, shares a moment with quarterback Noah Fifita, right, during an NCAA college football game against Iowa State during the second half Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. Credit: AP/Darryl Webb
Things to watch this week in the Big 12 Conference:
Game of the week
No. 22 Arizona (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) at No. 13 Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)
The Wildcats have won five games in a row by an average margin of 24 points since a 33-27 double-overtime loss to No. 8 BYU. Their 6-1 record matches the school's best start since 2014, a 10-win season with coach Rich Rodriguez in the Pac-12 Conference.
Texas Tech is coming off a 37-24 loss at Cincinnati. Just like last year, the first loss came in the seventh game, but the Red Raiders then had another six-game winning streak that included their first Big 12 championship to make the College Football Playoff.
The Red Raiders are back home, where their 11-game winning streak is one short of the school record set in 1942. They are 16-4 at home against Big 12 opponents in coach Joey McGuire's five seasons.
Fourth-year Wildcats starting quarterback Noah Fifita has thrown for 2,064 yards this season with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. He faces a Tech defense that has returned five interceptions for touchdowns in the last four games.
The undercard
No. 6 Utah (7-0, 4-0) at Cincinnati (5-2, 2-2), Saturday, 3:45 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Cincinnati cornerback Jacob Finley (0) and safety Mj Cannon (2) celebrate after Cannon intercepted a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Oct. 24 2026, in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Lydia Schembre
A week after beating Texas Tech for their first home win over a top 10 team in 20 years, the Bearcats host another undefeated team at Nippert Stadium. No unranked Big 12 team has ever won back-to-back games against top-10 opponents.
The Utes are 7-0 for the first time since 2010 and have won 13 games in a row, the longest active FBS streak. They beat then-No. 14 Houston 21-13 last week for their ninth Big 12 victory in a row.
Impact players
— UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins had a season-high 293 yards passing with three touchdowns, two in overtime, in the Knights' 39-31 upset of previously undefeated and then-No. 2 BYU. He also ran for a score. UCF (4-3, 2-2) is home again Friday night to host Baylor (4-3, 2-2), playing its first game since Dave Aranda was fired and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman took over as interim coach.
— Cincinnati's Cole Tabb ran for 173 yards and a 58-yard touchdown in the win over Texas Tech, which hadn't allowed a rushing TD this season or a 100-yard rusher since 2024. Utah is first in the Big 12 allowing only 88.3 yards rushing per game.
Buffalo Bills NFL tight end Dalton Kincaid, bottom left, a former Utah player, has a photo taken with the Utah student section prior to an NCAA college football game against Houston, nSaturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Jeffrey D. Allred
Inside the numbers
The Big 12 has six Top 25 teams for the first time since 2012. ... No. 8 BYU (6-1, 3-1) hasn’t lost consecutive games since late in the 2024 season. The Cougars are home against Arizona State (4-3, 2-2). ... TCU (3-4, 1-3) has the Big 12's top defense, allowing 13.9 points and 264 total yards per game. The Horned Frogs have four losses by a combined 24 points. They host Kansas (3-4, 1-3) ... Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker has thrown for at least 300 yards with multiple passing TDs in six consecutive games, one short of tying the Big 12's longest single-season streak. The No. 24 Cowboys (5-2, 3-1) play at Iowa State (3-4, 1-3). ... Colorado (2-5, 0-4) takes a nine-game Big 12 losing streak into its home game against Kansas State (4-3, 1-3). ... No. 18 Houston (6-2, 3-2) and West Virginia (5-3, 2-3) have the Big 12's final open dates.
