The 2026 college football season began with a bang for the Big 12, as the conference posted a 13‑2 record in Week 1, reflecting both resilience and the challenges of facing a mix of Group of Six, FCS and Power Four opponents.
Week 1 in Review
Twelve of the fifteen Big 12 members stepped onto the field against lower‑tier competition, while the remaining three squared off with Power Four foes, a balance that produced a 2‑1 aggregate record for the conference's heavyweight contingent.
Colorado edged Georgia Tech 14‑13 in a nail‑biting Power Four clash, while Cincinnati cruised past Boston College 34‑15, and Baylor fell by a single point, 17‑16, to Auburn. Oklahoma State, the only Power Four‑related defeat for the league, lost to Tulsa, exposing a vulnerable offense, whereas Iowa State managed a 38‑10 win over Southeast Missouri State despite early inconsistencies.
Other notable performances included West Virginia’s 31‑24 comeback victory over Coastal Carolina, TCU’s 15‑10 loss to North Carolina in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic held in Ireland, Kansas State’s dominant 71‑3 trouncing of Nicholls, and Arizona State’s 70‑7 romp over Morgan State. UCF’s 73‑6 demolition of Bethune‑Cookman, Houston’s 33‑20 triumph over Oregon State highlighted by quarterback Conner Weigman and receiver Amare Thomas, Utah’s 66‑14 win over Idaho, Texas Tech’s 33‑10 victory featuring quarterback Will Hammond, and BYU’s 63‑7 statement win over Utah Tech with a 42‑point halftime lead rounded out a busy opening week.
The Week 2 slate promises pivotal tests, with Oklahoma State traveling to face Oregon, Kansas taking on Missouri, and BYU squaring off against Arizona, games that could reshape early‑season rankings and influence the conference’s championship trajectory.
As the schedule unfolds, the Big 12’s blend of close Power Four battles and overwhelming non‑conference victories sets a compelling narrative, suggesting that the coming weeks will be decisive in determining which teams emerge as true contenders for the title.