The staff predicts the week’s action in the Big 12 and the top games of the week
Big 12
Oklahoma State Cowboys at Colorado Buffaloes – Fri. Nov. 29, 11:00 AM, ABC
- Anthony: The opportunity for Coach Gundy in his worst season to end the Coach Prime dream season would make for high comedy, but with the world watching on Black Friday morning the Buffs punch a ticket to Arlington and Travis Hunter puts a bow on his Heisman campaign
- Austin: Colorado gets back on track against the lowly Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Cowboys’ porous pass defense won’t be able to contain the Sheduer Sanders and the Buffaloes.
- Russ: No chance the Cowboys pull off this upset. Coach Prime and the Buffaloes win big here.
- Wyatt: As much as I want Oklahoma State to get their first win in Big 12 play, I don’t think it happens. Colorado will bounce back from their loss against Kansas and win big at home.
- CFB 25: Pokes make the score look respectable late, but was never close, losing 43-31 as Shedeur Sanders throws for 411 yards & 4 TDs.
Utah Utes at UCF Knights – Fri. Nov. 29 7:00 PM, FOX
- Anthony: It’s hard to believe this would be one of the more meaningless games of the Big 12 season, but with a pair of teams eliminated from bowl contention, there’s little intrigue here. Utah has no offense and will find a way to keep it close here, but UCF’s skill talent is so far superior and leads the Knights to the win.
- Austin: Hope is lost for the Utah Utes. After losing seven consecutive games, the Utes drop an eighth. UCF gets the win following two narrow defeats.
- Drew: Both teams have fallen apart after solid starts to the season. I think Utah’s defense slows down RJ Harvey and the Utes find enough offense to win on the road.
- Russ: A close battle near the bottom of the Big 12 standings, I think Utah’s defense does enough to slow the Knights down. Utah wins here.
- Wyatt: I think Utah’s defense keeps it close, but ultimately RJ Harvey will be the deciding factor in this one. UCF wins.
- CFB 25: Just a hideous football game goes to the Utes as UCF’s game-winning 55-yard FG attempt sails wide right
Kansas Jayhawks at Baylor Bears – Sat. Nov. 30, 11:00 AM, ESPN2
- Anthony: The motivation is far higher for the Jayhawks, needing a win here to get to bowl eligibility, as these two teams have been on fire over the back half of the season. Think KU’s spoiler efforts fall short as Sawyer Robertson continues his ascension and the Bears close the season with the win in Waco.
- Austin: Kansas is the hottest team in the Big 12. That’s saying a lot considering Arizona State’s ascension. I digress, the Jayhawks will beat the Bears by at least a touchdown.
- Drew: Both teams have had incredible mid season turn arounds and are playing great football right now. I think Baylor stays hot with a win over the Jayhawks at home.
- Russ: This will be a fun matchup, as both teams are soaring thanks to great play on the offensive end of the field. I’m feeling an upset here and the Jayhawks clinch bowl eligiblity.
- Wyatt: Will Kansas continue the winning streak and defeat the bears to gain bowl eligibility? Both teams are hot right now. Give me Kansas to officially kill Baylor’s chances to make the Big 12 Championship game.
- CFB 25: An ugly football game goes to the Jayhawks 14-7 with Jalon Daniels 4th quarter TD pass.
West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas Tech Red Raiders – Sat. Nov. 30, 11:00 AM, FS1
- Anthony: Neal Brown turns into Nick Saban once the ‘Eers season is beyond saving, WVU overcomes the tortillas in cactus country to jump the Red Raiders in the conference standings.
- Austin: Texas Tech wins a shootout. The Mountaineers’ subpar defense isn’t enough to hold the Red Raiders to less than 35 points.
- Drew: I have the Red Raiders winning this one at home to spark the offseason discussions of them being a dark horse in the Big 12 for the 14th year in a row.
- Russ: Another fun matchup in the Big 12 this weekend. I expect a lot of points to be scored in this matchup, with Texas Tech hanging on to win at home.
- Wyatt: For some reason, I get the feeling that West Virginia comes out on top in Lubbock.
- CFB 25: With the game tied at 38 in the final minute, WVU makes a 51-yard FG as time expires to walk off with the win in Lubbock
Arizona State Sun Devils at Arizona Wildcats – Sat. Nov. 30, 2:30 FOX
- Anthony: The Territorial Cup rivalry showdown will be closer than projected, and Tetairoa McMillan’s final collegiate game is sure to be a showcase, but Cam Skattebo breaks the Wildcats’ will early – if that defense got torched by the TCU running game, just imagine what ASU will do to it. Devils complete the stunning run to Arlington.
- Austin: Arizona State gets it done in Tucson. The Wildcats have looked a bit better offensively as of late, but they won’t score enough to threaten the well-rounded Sun Devils.
- Drew: I think this game will be closer than expected but I cannot see the Wildcats slowing down Arizona State and Cam Skattebo. Give me the Sun Devils.
- Russ: The Sun Devils are by far the superior team in their state and I think Arizona State rolls for a win here.
- Wyatt: After watching Arizona play in person last week in Fort Worth, I cannot see them upsetting the Sun Devils. It is rivalry week, so anything can happen, but I don’t see it. Arizona State wins big
- CFB 25: Sun Devils drill the 31-yard FG to walk off with the 16-14 win to survive rivalry showdown.
Kansas State Wildcats at Iowa State Cyclones – Sat. Nov. 30, 6:30 PM, FOX
- Anthony: Which team’s head coach will be in Chapel Hill next season as the successor to Mack Brown? Avery Johnson and the ‘Cats roll into Ames and knock the Cyclones out of the Big 12 Title game. The hype train for 2025 KSU will get started immediately while ISU’s best shot at a conference title and 10-win regular season vanishes .
- Austin: Easily the best game of the weekend in the Big 12, the battle between the 24th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats and 18th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones will be close. I have Iowa State winning a close one.
- Drew: Farmageddon is always fun to watch and I expect this game to be no different. The funniest possible outcome is Kansas State winning in Ames to prevent Iowa State’s first regular season 10-win season in school history. Give me the Wildcats.
- Russ: I expect a raucous crowd in Ames to throw Avery Johnson and the Wildcats off their game. Iowa State wins a close battle.
- Wyatt: This game could go either way. I think the Wildcats get it done on the road, handing Iowa State their third loss of the season, further preventing Iowa State to get their first 10-win season in school history.
- CFB 25: Overtime in Farmageddon! KSU kicks a field goal, but ISU answers with an Abu Sama TD to get the win.
Houston Cougars at BYU Cougars – Sat. Nov. 30, 9:15 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: The Cougar battle goes to the home team; it’s hard to see a path to Houston making the trip to Provo and escaping with a win as BYU sits in a must-win game to remain alive in the Big 12 Championship hunt.
- Austin: It’s been an unfortunate slide for the Big 12’s College Football Playoff representative. Now, out of the CFP, BYU gets it done at home against the Houston Cougars.
- Drew: BYU needs a win to keep their postseason hopes alive and they will get one at home over Houston.
- Wyatt: BYU takes care of business at home, and win handedly.
- CFB 25: BYU has no trouble with UH at home, rolling to a 21-point victory, scoring 21 points in the 4th quarter.
Top National Games
Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Commodores – Sat. Nov. 30, 11:00 AM, ABC
- Anthony: Vols by a billion. While it would just be the best if Vandy could knock Tennessee out of the playoff with 30,000 orange-clad fans visiting Nashville. The SEC simply will not allow it to happen. This will either be a rollover blowout akin to OSU-Wisconsin 2014 or the officials will find sufficient shenanigans to push the scales in favor of UT
- Austin: Vanderbilt is fun, but their upset streak appears to be over after consecutive losses. The Volunteers win a close one on the road.
- Drew: I have Tennessee winning big here. No one is overlooking Vandy after their win over Alabama and the Vols are by far the more talented team.
- Russ: Tennessee cruises into Nashville and unloads for a decisive win over Vanderbilt.
- Wyatt: Vanderbilt keeps it close at the begging, but the Vols will pull away and win big.
- CFB 25: Tennessee trounces the ‘Dores in Nashville 65-26.
South Carolina Gamecocks at Clemson Tigers – Sat. Nov. 30, 11:00 AM, ESPN
- Anthony: While I think it is very likely South Carolina is the better team, Klubnik & Mafah score enough for Clemson to keep its CFP case alive. Although the Tigers’ defense may not be up to its National Championship past, think they’ll create some turnovers and keep Sellers from ever getting rolling.
- Austin: This will be an entertaining game. Clemson’s schedule has been a cakewalk thus far while South Carolina has seen four ranked teams and a pesky Vandy squad. The Gamecocks knock off the Tigers in a back-and-forth affair.
- Drew: The game will be the most important iteration of this rivalry in many years and I think South Carolina’s defense shuts down Cade Klubnik and the Tigers. Give me South Carolina.
- Russ: South Carolina is one of the most battle-tested teams in the nation, while the Tigers have played a very weak schedule. I’ll take the Gamecocks in the upset.
- Wyatt: This will be a good game. I think Clemson wins and keeps their CFP hopes alive.
- CFB 25: Tigers took a lead with a FG with 2 minutes left then get a stop on SC’s 4th & 1 attempt, giving Clemson the Palmetto Bowl.
Auburn Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide – Sat. Nov. 30, 2:30 PM, ABC
- Anthony: Nick Saban needs to learn how to just shut up sometimes. He’s the greatest college football coach of all time and a perfectly fine ESPN talking head, but any time he talks SEC propaganda, it’s just so unbecoming of someone of his stature. He’ll go to his grave crying about TCU’s successful playoff run. He’s so unsatisfied with his successes that he is unable to reckon with his failings, so he must make excuses for those failings and blame them on anyone else. He must continue telling himself the lie that his 2022 team was worthy because it’s the only way he can sleep at night. Anyway, Alabama wins this game and the Tide make the Playoff with 3 losses, perhaps even getting a home game, because the CFP only exists to serve Saban and ESPN.
- Austin: Alabama by a lot. It’s been quite the turbulent season, but the Crimson Tide get back on track in the Iron Bowl.
- Drew: Alabama tends to take care of business at home against Auburn. Tide by a bunch.
- Russ: Auburn will hang around in this one, but I think the Crimson Tide pull away at the end and win this year’s Iron Bowl.
- Wyatt: Alabama by 30. Auburn is not good.
- CFB 25: Iron Bowl Blowout. Tide rolls 52-16 with seven Jalen Milroe TDs.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at USC Trojans – Sat. Nov. 30, 2:30 PM, CBS
- Anthony: Lincoln Riley pulls all the tricks out of his bag and his QB Jayden Maiava finds major success improvising to carve up the Irish. Notre Dame will be conservative in protecting its guaranteed CFP spot, which the committee will grant regardless of this result as the Irish do not require a 13th game and losing games to bad opponents doesn’t matter when you have a large fan base. Trojans win.
- Austin: Notre Dame has been rolling since its week two loss against Northern Illinois. While this game will be closer than the records suggest, Notre Dame pulls away to earn an 11th victory.
- Drew: I have a gut feeling that USC plays spoiler here and pulls off the upset at home. Lincoln Riley is still one of the best offensive coaches in the nation and will find a way to outscore the Irish. Notre Dame loses on the road and chaos ensues in the playoff race.
- Russ: Notre Dame has played extremely well since its catastrophic home loss to NIU. The Trojans have fallen flat this season, so I’ll roll with the Fighting Irish on the road.
- Wyatt: Notre Dame win big and punch their ticket into the CFP Playoff.
- CFB 25: Trailing by 3 with the ball at the 10 yard line and 22 seconds to play, USC throws an interception in the endzone to lose the game. Brutal
Texas Longhorns at Texas A&M Aggies – Sat. Nov. 30, 6:30 PM, FOX
- Anthony: Just have a feeling TAMU takes this one in College Station. There’s enough smoke about Ewers that something feels off there for the Texas offense and that highly touted A&M defense finds a way to flip this game. A&M needs this game while Texas might be just as happy to drop this one, avoid the SEC Championship, and be handed the 5-seed and an opening round game at DKR. I’m not totally sure how this A&M offense actually scores against Texas, but maybe it won’t have to do much if its own special teams and defenders make it easy
- Austin: After looking untouchable early in the season, the Longhorns have fallen back down to earth following a loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. As for Texas A&M, the Aggies are about as unpredictable as they come. Texas wins by more than a score.
- Drew: I expect this game to be very closely contested and I don’t have a ton of faith in either quarterback to have success in this game. The difference for me is the talent UT has at the skill positions. Give me the Longhorns.
- Russ: I always pick against A&M and even if Quinn Ewers doesn’t play, I think the Longhorns can do just enough to escape College Station with a win.
- Wyatt: The Longhorns have lost their only true test this season against. Texas gets it done in College Station.
- CFB 25: Longhorns cruise to a 34-20 victory
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Staff Standings
Overall Season Win %
- Russ: 68%
- Wyatt: 66%
- Austin: 65%
- Drew: 64%
- Anthony: 59%
- CFB25: 52%