Colleges across Texas and the Big 12 Conference continue their football seasons this week. Here is what’s on tap for the weekend.
FRIDAY
Kansas State (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1), 6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN
Kansas State entered the season as one of the favorites in the Big 12. While the Wildcats are no longer ranked, they are still in the thick of the conference race, falling only to Missouri on a 61-yard field goal as time expired. Oklahoma State is another team searching for consistency. Amid offensive struggles, the Cowboys have played three different quarterbacks and it has yet to pay dividends.
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SATURDAY
No.12 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) at No.3 Texas (5-0, 2-0 Big 12), Cotton Bowl (Dallas), 11 a.m. CT, ABC
Here’s the big game of the weekend. The Sooners and Longhorns have provided some instant classics, and last year’s 49-0 loss has to have weighed on Oklahoma. Both teams are contenders in the Big 12 and nationally, but which team will prove to be better come Saturday?
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UTSA (1-3, 0-0 American) at Temple (2-3, 0-1 American), 1 p.m. CT, ESPN+
UTSA plays its first official American Athletic Conference game against Temple. UTSA has played most of its season without star quarterback Frank Harris and faced some difficult teams. However, the Roadrunners could still compete in the conference and have everything in front of them. It all starts Saturday as they set the tone for the conference slate.
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No.11 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC) at Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC), 2:30 p.m. CT, CBS
Texas A&M tries to get to 3-0 in Southeastern Conference play against Alabama. The Aggies have been a good test for the Crimson Tide over the years, and this series has provided some instant classics. Alabama does not have nearly the offensive firepower it usually does, so if A&M can score on an elite defense, it has a chance to score the upset.
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North Texas (2-2, 0-0 American) at Navy (1-3, 0-2 American), 2:30 p.m. CT, CBS Sports Network
North Texas is looking to continue its momentum into its first-ever AAC matchup after two consecutive wins. The Mean Green seem to have answered their quarterback questions with Chandler Rogers but are emphasizing disciplined defense in this one. Navy doesn’t have a great record, but its unique offensive attack has caused trouble for opponents over the years.
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Texas State (4-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) at Louisiana (3-2, 0-1 Sun Belt), 2:30 p.m. CT, ESPNU
Head coach G.J. Kinne has Texas State as one of the biggest surprise teams in college football, upsetting Baylor to open the season. The team averages around 43 points per game, but the defense is still a work in progress, and Louisiana has the offense to keep up.
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UCF (3-2, 0-2 Big 12) at Kansas (4-1, 1-1 Big 12), 3 p.m. CT, FOX
UCF started the season 3-0 but has faltered in conference play with losses to Kansas State and Baylor. Meanwhile, Kansas comes off its first loss of the season against Texas, having been outscored 20-0 over the final 17:33 of the game. Former North Texas quarterback Jason Dean stepped in to play for an injured Jalon Daniels and may have to start again this week.
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UConn (0-5) at Rice (3-2, 1-0 American), 4 p.m. CT, ESPN+
Rice is also off to a good start, as transfer quarterback J.T. Daniels and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey have helped lead the Owls to a 3-2 record. They step outside the conference this week against an inferior opponent. While UConn can sometimes make things close, the Huskies have struggled to put up points this season, and Rice can score in a hurry.
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Texas Tech (2-3, 1-1 Big 12) at Baylor (2-3, 1-1 Big 12), 7 p.m. CT, ESPN2
Texas Tech and Baylor were hoping for better results early in the season. The good news is both teams can score at will, but the bad news is they allow other teams to do the same thing. It should be a high-scoring affair, as usual.
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TCU (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) at Iowa State (2-3, 1-1 Big 12), 7 p.m. CT
TCU follows a tough home loss to West Virginia with a road trip to Ames. While Iowa State is having a down year and has had plenty to deal with off the field, it is a notoriously challenging road environment. The Horned Frogs must be sharp and get their offense back on track.