The 2023-24 college football season is down to the final two weeks of the regular season. Here is a look at the schedule for teams across the Big 12 and the state of Texas this weekend.
Friday, November 17
South Florida (5-5, 3-3 in the American Athletic Conference) at Texas-San Antonio (7-3, 6-0), 8 p.m. CT, ESPN2
South Florida has had some positives this season, including hanging around against now-No.8 Alabama, but has lost three of its last five games.Â
UTSA has yet to lose in conference play and is vying against SMU and Tulane for a spot in the AAC Championship game. Can the Roadrunners avoid the upset to keep their hopes of a third straight conference championship alive?
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Saturday, November 18
No.14 Oklahoma (8-2, 5-2 in the Big 12) at BYU (5-5, 2-5), 11 a.m. CT, ESPN
This is not expected to be a close game, as Oklahoma is favored by 24.5 on the road. The Sooners returned to their winning ways with a 59-point breakout last week and look to continue it and finish the season strong.Â
Meanwhile, BYU is trying to reclaim the play it had at the start of the season after losing four of its last five games. It looks bleak for the Cougars on paper, but they have never lost to the Sooners.
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Abilene Christian (5-5, 3-3 in the United Athletic Conference) at Texas A&M (6-4, 4-3 in the SEC), 11 a.m. CT, ESPN+/SEC Network+
Texas A&M gets a break as its first game since the firing of head coach Jimbo Fisher comes against an FCS foe. While the Aggies have had their share of struggles this season, this is not a game anyone should expect them to lose, regardless of who is coaching.
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SMU (8-2, 6-0 in the American Athletic Conference) at Memphis (8-2, 5-1), 11 a.m. CT, ESPN2
SMU takes its unbeaten conference record into its biggest road test of the season. With a win, the Mustangs will keep their conference title hopes alive and finish the year undefeated on the road in conference play. The task will be challenging as Memphis boasts an elite offense, and SMU has not won at the Liberty Bowl since 2015.
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Rice (4-6, 2-4 in the American Athletic Conference) at Charlotte (3-7, 2-4), 1 p.m. CT, ESPN+
Rice aims to continue its quest for bowl eligibility against Charlotte. The Owls have played three consecutive games against first-place teams in the AAC and done well in two of the three. They’ll look to get back on track against a Charlotte team that took Memphis to overtime last weekend.
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Cincinnati (3-7, 1-6 in the Big 12) at West Virginia (6-4, 4-3), 1:30 p.m. CT, Big 12 Network/ESPN+
Cincinnati earned its first-ever Big 12 win against Houston last week and will attempt to build on that momentum against West Virginia. The Mountaineers allowed 59 points to Oklahoma last week and have digressed since a 4-1 start.
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North Texas (3-7, 1-5 in the American Athletic Conference) at Tulsa (3-7, 1-5), 2 p.m. CT, ESPN+
UNT’s chances for making a bowl game evaporated with a lackluster second half in a loss to SMU last Friday, but the team will try to make progress and build momentum for next season. There have been positives in coach Eric Morris’s first season at the helm, but a good showing in the final two games would go a long way toward building the future.
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Texas State (6-4, 3-3 in the Sun Belt Conference) at Arkansas State (5-5, 3-3), 2 p.m. CT, ESPN+
Texas State has had a good season and should reach its first-ever bowl game. However, the program has not been able to win games against conference contenders to keep itself in the title hunt. Now, they have a chance to take sole possession of second place in the Sun Belt West and keep the chances of a team-record eight-win season alive.
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Baylor (3-7, 2-5 in the Big 12) at TCU (4-6, 2-5), 2:30 p.m. CT, Big 12 Network/ESPN+
The longest-running rivalry involving Texas universities renews with a new twist. The universities announced that their rivalry will be called “The Bluebonnet Battle” going forward and revealed a new trophy earlier this week. Both teams have struggled more than expected this year, but TCU can still make a bowl game. Baylor will try to end its rival’s postseason hopes.
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No.23 Oklahoma State (7-3, 5-2 in the Big 12) at Houston (4-6, 2-5), 3 p.m. CT, ESPN2
Oklahoma State was shocked with a 45-7 loss to UCF last week. The Cowboys have played well in conference play but are susceptible to making mistakes. They have to play nearly perfectly to reach their full potential, which could give Houston a chance to hang around and be competitive as it tries to make a bowl game.
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UCF (5-5, 2-5 in the Big 12) at Texas Tech (5-5, 4-3), 4 p.m. CT, FS2
Texas Tech beat Kansas on a last-second field goal last week and will ride that momentum into the new week. The season quickly turned on the Red Raiders after they began the season ranked, but back-to-back wins have them in a good enough position to salvage a bowl berth.
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No.21 Kansas State (7-3, 5-2 in the Big 12) at No.25 Kansas (7-3, 4-3), 6 p.m. CT, FS1
Defending Big 12 champ Kansas State still has a chance to return to Arlington and defend its crown but has to win its final two games. After last week’s loss to Texas Tech, Kansas cannot reach the title game but can spoil its in-state rival’s chances. Injuries at quarterback hurt the Jayhawks last week, and they will need one of Jason Bean or Jalon Daniels to return to have any chance this week,
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No.7 Texas (9-1, 6-1 in the Big 12) at Iowa State (5-4, 5-2), 7 p.m. CT, Fox
Texas looks to extend its lead in the Big 12 and knock Iowa State out of a tie for second place. The Longhorns held off a TCU rally last week and enter a hostile environment on Saturday, while the Cyclones look for their first ranked win of the season, with Kansas State looming next week.
