This Week’s Schedule
Thursday, August 31 CT
Kent State at UCF (FS1) 6:00 p.m.
Friday, September 1
Missouri State at Kansas (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 2
Colorado at No. 17/16 TCU (FOX) 11:00 a.m.
Arkansas State at No. 20/19 Oklahoma (ESPN) 11:00 a.m.
Northern Iowa at Iowa State (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 1:00 p.m.
Rice at No. 11/12 Texas (FOX) 2:30 p.m.
Eastern Kentucky at Cincinnati (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 2:30 p.m.
UTSA at Houston (FS1) 6:00 p.m.
Texas State at Baylor (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 6:00 p.m.
SE Missouri at No. 16/17 Kansas State (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 6:00 p.m.
Central Arkansas at Oklahoma State (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 6:00 p.m.
West Virginia at No. 7/7 Penn State (NBC) 6:30 p.m.
No. RV/24 Texas Tech at Wyoming (CBS) 6:30 p.m.
Sam Houston at BYU (FS1) 9:15 p.m.
CONFERENCE NEWS AND NOTES
The Big 12 will compete as a 14-team league for the first time this season after BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston officially joined the Conference on July 1.
All teams will be in action over Labor Day weekend with UCF hosting Kent State Thursday in the season-opener. On Saturday, TCU will host future Big 12 member Colorado while West Virginia travels to No. 7/7 Penn State in matchups of A5 opponents.
Ten of 14 programs received recognition in the USA Today/AFCA Preseason Poll, including five in the top 25 to tie for second among all conferences. Ranked teams include No. 12 Texas, No. 16 TCU, No. 17 K-State, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 24 Texas Tech. TTU is ranked in the preseason for the first time since 2008. Oklahoma State, Houston, BYU, Baylor and Kansas each received votes.
No. 11 Texas, No. 16 K-State, No. 17 TCU and No. 20 Oklahoma were ranked in the AP Preseason Poll while Texas Tech, Kansas and Baylor received votes.
In addition to No. 7/7 Penn State, Big 12 teams will play four other non-conference opponents ranked in the preseason – future Big 12 member No. 14/14 Utah (Baylor), No. 4/3 Alabama (Texas), No. 15/15 Oregon (Texas Tech) and No. 25/RV Iowa (Iowa State).
The Big 12 leads all A5 leagues with 52.4% of non-conference games (22/42) against 2022 bowl teams.
Big 12 players claimed 168 spots on national awards preseason watch lists. The complete rundown of preseason candidates can be found here.
Texas Tech enters the season with a four-game win streak, tied for 10th nationally. TCU’s eight-game home win streak is sixth while its six-game road streak is third.
Tickets are on sale for the Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship to be played on December 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Big 12 and AT&T Stadium recently extended their hosting agreement through the 2030 season. Grammy-award-winning artist Nelly will perform at halftime.
“Big 12 Homecoming” will make its debut Sept. 14-16 at Houston as the Cougars host TCU on Sept. 16 in their first Big 12 game.
The Big 12 was the only conference in which 60% of teams produced a first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Conference has 712 all-time draft selections with 95 in the first round.
TCU ended the 2022 season by making the Big 12’s first appearance in a CFP National Championship Game. K-State joined TCU in CFP New Year’s Six Bowls with the Big 12’s automatic bid to the Allstate Sugar Bowl after winning the Big 12 Championship.
The Big 12 had two teams in CFP New Year’s Six Bowls for the seventh season in the structure’s nine years.
A current member of the Big 12 has participated in five of the past six CFP Semifinals (Oklahoma 2017-19, Cincinnati 2021, TCU 2022).
The Big 12 sent a nation-high 80 percent of its teams to bowl games last season. The Conference produced eight bowl teams for the first time since 2017 and the 12th season in Conference history. It was the fourth time while the Big 12 competed as a 10-team league.
Of the Big 12’s current 14 members, 85.7 percent (12-14) competed in 2022 bowl games, including all four new members.
