Every conference has its marquee matchups.
The SEC has The Iron Bowl, The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (discontinued name) and the Red River Rivalry Showdown. The Big Ten has The GAME and plenty of other marquee matchups. In the Big 12, the schedule may not feature as many national brands, but it does offer something just as compelling: a conference race that rarely follows the script.
Sure, Texas Tech and BYU could repeat 2025 and meet in the Big 12 Title game again, but that is simply not how the new Big 12 has worked. There are a handful of games that have the potential to reshape the championship picture. Rivalries, standalone television windows and late-season showdowns all combine to create three games that stand above the rest.
1. BYU vs. Utah (Nov. 7)
The Holy War doesn’t need extra motivation, but this year’s edition could have plenty riding on it…