Ranking the 118 Big 12 football games in the 2024 season (Stopped at top 80)
- Aug 14, 2024 Updated 11 hrs ago
Berry Tramel
Sports ColumnistBig 12 football teams will combine for 118 games before the conference championship game on Dec. 7.
Not all are created equal.
The Tulsa World has ranked all 118 games, from a Big Noon Kickoff (West Virginia-Penn State) on Labor Day weekend to a transplanted rivalry (Arizona State-Arizona) on Thanksgiving Saturday.
The games are rated on the perceived status of both teams, where the games are played, when they’re played and how competitive they project to be.
In other words, how important will they be to the Big 12 season?
1. Utah at Oklahoma State, Sept. 21: Utes’ Kyle Whittingham and Cowboys’ Mike Gundy were hired a couple of weeks apart 19½ years ago, and both have built excellent programs that will collide for early Big 12 supremacy.
2. Kansas at Kansas State, Oct. 26: Sunflower Showdown could easily have been No. 1, and either of these teams could easily be the Big 12’s best.
3. Arizona at Utah, Sept. 28: UofA and Utah have been conference mates 29 years (Western Athletic, 1962-77, and Pac-12, 2011-23). But their biggest showdown ever might come in Year 1 of their Big 12 eras.
4. Oklahoma State at Kansas State, Sept. 28: By October, Cowboys could be well ahead of the pack — or well behind it — with Utah and KSU in the rear-view mirror.
5. Penn State at West Virginia, Aug. 31: The Big 12’s only chance at a non-conference takedown of a blueblood. Fox will televise with its first Big Noon Kickoff telecast of the season.
6. BYU at Utah, Nov. 9: The Holy War comes to the Big 12 stage. Could the Cougars ruin a ballyhooed Ute season?
7. Kansas at West Virginia, Sept. 21: Man, the Big 12 has a bunch of interesting September games.
8. Florida at Central Florida, Oct. 5: Massive game for UCF’s in-state stature, and a big game for Big 12 pride.
9. Kansas State at BYU, Sept. 21: KSU has rough road assignments — Provo, Boulder, Morgantown, Ames. Plus Houston.
10. Iowa State at West Virginia, Oct. 12: Some label WVU a darkhorse candidate to reach Arlington.
11. Arizona at Central Florida, Nov. 2: Some label UCF a darkhorse candidate to reach Arlington.
12. Texas Tech at Iowa State, Nov. 2: Some label Tech a darkhorse candidate to reach Arlington.
13. Oklahoma State at TCU, Nov. 9: Cowboys have lost three straight games in Fort Worth.
14. Kansas State at Colorado, Oct. 12: Can Deion Sanders’ second Buff team make some noise? Here’s an early chance.
15. Central Florida at TCU, Sept. 14: The only conference game of the first three weeks; a fringe contender gets an early knockdown.
16. Colorado at Nebraska, Sept. 7: Two prodigal sons, but only CU has come home.
17. Iowa State vs. Kansas in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 9: Cyclones might have the Big 12’s toughest conference schedule.
18. Utah at Central Florida, Nov. 29: On a short week, Utes could be playing for a trip to Arlington.
19. Arizona at Kansas State, Sept. 13: This showdown is not a conference game. It was scheduled as a non-conference game, then retained after ‘Zona jumped to the Big 12. But it could be big for playoff considerations.
20. Oklahoma State at Colorado, Nov. 29: On a short week (and a 10 a.m. Mountain time kickoff), Cowboys could be playing for a trip to Arlington.
21. Texas Tech at Arizona, Oct. 5: Potential trap game for Wildcats, who will be coming off trips to Manhattan and Salt Lake City.
22. TCU vs. Kansas in Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 28: Jayhawks are playing their conference games in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, while Memorial Stadium undergoes massive renovation.
23. Arizona State at Arizona, Nov. 30: Territorial Cup. The newcomers are bringing some great rivalries to the league.
24. Kansas State at West Virginia, Oct. 19: Crazy how the Big 12 has morphed. This passes as a legacy-type matchup.
25. Iowa State at Iowa, Sept. 7: A chance to clock a Big Ten team — Cyclones’ last three wins vs. Hawkeyes have come in Iowa City.
26. West Virginia at Arizona, Oct 26: The last of a brutal stretch for the Mountaineers, who in addition to opening with Penn State, open conference play with Kansas, OSU, Iowa State, Kansas State and ‘Zona.
27. TCU at Utah, Oct. 19: Mountain West Cinderella reunion.
28. West Virginia at Oklahoma State, Oct. 5: Cowboys generally play well vs. the Mountaineers, but you never know.
29. Baylor at Colorado, Sept. 21: Bears’ best chance to play a relevant conference game.
30. Kansas at BYU, Nov. 16: KU’s relatively easy schedule (Jayhawks don’t play OSU, Utah or Arizona) should keep this game relevant.
31. Central Florida at Iowa State, Oct. 19: Could be an early elimination game for two fringe contenders
32. Oklahoma State at BYU, Oct. 18: The Cougars took OSU to overtime last year in Stillwater.
33. Kansas State at Iowa State, Nov. 30: Farmageddon could be Armageddon if Cyclones overachieve.
34. Utah at Colorado, Nov. 16: The Pac-12 used this game as a Thanksgiving weekend staple, but the Big 12 nixed that.
35. TCU at Southern Methodist, Sept. 21: With SMU joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Iron Skillet rivalry returns to power-conference status for the first time since the breakup of the Southwest Conference.
36. Iowa State at Utah, Nov. 23: Cyclones will not wilt under Salt Lake City’s cold weather.
37. Texas Tech at TCU, Oct. 26: Horned Frogs were a postseason darling in 2022, the Red Raiders a preseason darling in 2023.
38. Arkansas at Oklahoma State, Sept. 7: Once an annual rivalry, the series returns as a prime opportunity for the Big 12 to rough up the SEC.
39. Arizona at BYU, Oct. 12: Border state rivals, but the schools are 730 miles apart.
40. Houston at Cincinnati, Sept. 21: Cougars (and new coach Willie Fritz) make their conference debut, and UC coach Scott Satterfield seeks a much-needed quick start in Year 2.
