Mickey the Mouth
The Syndicate News Wire
- May 21, 2026
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Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas, center, can't make the catch as Oregon defensive back Aaron Flowers defends during the second half of the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. | Lynne Sladky
After league champion Texas Tech rolled through the Big 12 last season — and twice handled league runner-up BYU in blowouts — it appeared the Red Raiders would make a run in the College Football Playoff.
That was far from the case, as Texas Tech, after earning a first-round bye, was humbled 23-0 by Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals.
Then Miami, the lone ACC representative in the playoff, made it all the way to the national championship game, where it lost a 27-21 thriller to Indiana.
It was a disappointing end to what had been a promising year for the Big 12, which went 6-1 against ACC programs and 8-6 overall against power conference foes during the regular season.
This year, the Big 12 will presumably again be viewed as the weakest of the four power conferences, behind the Big Ten, which has produced the past three national champions, the SEC and the ACC.
There will be 13 opportunities during the 2026 regular season for Big 12 schools to face other power conference opponents and try to improve the perception of the league.
Here’s a look at every nonconference game that features a Big 12 team against a fellow power conference school this season:
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Audric Estime (7) runs the ball during the game against the BYU at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Big 12 games vs. other power conference teams in 2026
Big 12 vs. ACC (5)
- TCU vs. North Carolina (Dublin, Ireland) — Aug. 29
- Colorado at Georgia Tech — Sept. 3
- Boston College at Cincinnati — Sept. 5
- UCF at Pittsburgh — Sept. 12
- West Virginia vs. Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia) — Sept. 19
Big 12 vs. Big Ten (3)
- Oregon at Oklahoma State — Sept. 12
- Iowa State at Iowa — Sept. 12
- Colorado at Northwestern — Sept. 19
Big 12 vs. SEC (4)
- Baylor vs. Auburn (Atlanta) — Sept. 5
- Missouri at Kansas — Sept. 11
- Arkansas at Utah — Sept. 12
- Arizona State at Texas A&M — Sept. 12
Big 12 vs. Independent (1)
- Notre Dame at BYU — Oct. 17
Two games in particular stick out as the most important to the Big 12’s ability to showcase it can compete at the highest levels with other power conference programs.
The first is Arizona State’s road game at Texas A&M in Week 2. The Aggies earned the No. 7 seed in the CFP last season but lost in the first round. ASU, one year after winning the Big 12 and appearing in the playoff, went 8-5 in a down year, but the Sun Devils could be a contender again in the conference and make a run at the playoff.
A win over an SEC program on the road would go a long way for the Big 12’s image.
The other marquee matchup is when BYU hosts Notre Dame in mid-October. Last year, the Fighting Irish and Cougars were the top two ranked teams outside the CFP field when it was announced, and Notre Dame chose not to play in a bowl game after the snub.
Notre Dame is expected to be one of the nation’s best teams again this season, and the snub no doubt will fuel the fire to prove last year’s committee wrong.
BYU, meanwhile, has missed the CFP two years in a row despite winning 11 and 12 games, respectively. A victory over the Fighting Irish at home, plus taking care of business in Big 12 play, would make for an impressive CFP résumé — one that could finally get BYU in the playoff.
Utah, another Big 12 contender, also has a home game against the SEC’s Arkansas in Week 2, while Oklahoma State hosts Oregon, though the Cowboys are coming off a rough 1-11 season. In both instances, the Big 12 school has a new coach — Morgan Scalley took over the Utes, while Eric Morris is in charge at Oklahoma State.
There are a few Big 12 teams without a power conference team on their nonconference slate.
That includes defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech, whose toughest nonconference game is at Oregon State, not much of a challenge for the Red Raiders — and likewise, it doesn’t help the league’s perception.
Arizona has no games against power conference opponents outside of league play, though the Wildcats will play at both BYU and Texas Tech this season.
Kansas State, too, is devoid of any power conference opponents in the nonconference schedule.
Kudos to Colorado, though. The Buffaloes are the only Big 12 team who will face two power conference teams in nonconference play — and both games are on the road.
Utah Utes defensive end Logan Fano (0) brings down UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) as Utah and UCLA play at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
How Big 12 teams fared against other power conference teams in 2025
2025 regular season (8-6 overall)
Big 12 vs. ACC (6-1)
- Georgia Tech 27, Colorado 20
- TCU 48, North Carolina 14
- Baylor 48, SMU 45
- BYU 27, Stanford 3
- West Virginia 31, Pittsburgh 24
- TCU 35, SMU 24
- UCF 34, North Carolina 9
Big 12 vs. Big Ten (2-2)
- Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
- Utah 43, UCLA 10
- Iowa State 16, Iowa 13
- Oregon 69, Oklahoma State 3
Big 12 vs. SEC (0-3)
- Auburn 38, Baylor 24
- Missouri 42, Kansas 31
- Mississippi State 24, Arizona State 20
Bowl games (4-3 overall)
ACC (1-2)
- BYU 25, Georgia Tech 21
- Duke 42, Arizona State 39
- SMU 24, Arizona 19
Big Ten (2-1)
- TCU 30, USC 27
- Utah 44, Nebraska 22
- Oregon 23, Texas Tech 0
SEC (1-0)
- Houston 38, LSU 35
BYU Cougars running back Enoch Nawahine (21) hurdles Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Omar Daniels (9) as the Cougars and the Yellow Jackets play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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