Predicting the 2023 Big 12 Season: Week 2

My preseason series predicting every single Big 12 game of the 2023 season continues today with week No. 2 as the challenges ramp up for many teams in the conference.

Previous Weeks: Week 1

Friday, September 8th

Kansas 30 vs. Illinois 27

This is going to be a really fun Friday night game. Both these teams started the 2022 season on fire as Kansas was 5-0 and Illinois was 7-1 but both struggled down the stretch for a number of reasons. This year we will see more of the same as these teams are going to try to run the ball successfully. Illinois will use it to set up the defense and Kansas will use it to put up some points. But the difference in this close-scoring game will be Jalon Daniels as he totals 350 yards and scores three times including a game-winning touchdown pass to Lawrence Arnold with one minute left in the game.

Saturday, September 9th

Cincinnati 16 at Pittsburgh 24

This will be a defensive battle between two teams who are going to try to establish a legit run game. These teams will combine for under 300 yards passing but will combine for 300 yards on the ground. The difference here is going to come down to quarterback play and where the game is played which both favor Pitt. Give me the veteran in Phil Jurkovec over Emory Jones, especially in a home game for Pitt. This is a battle but the Bearcats just can’t do enough in this one to win it.

Baylor 30 vs. Utah 21

I find it hard to believe that Cam Rising is going to be 100% at least during the first month of the season as he is coming back from a torn ACL suffered in the Rose Bowl. Because of that, I think the Utes get by the Florida game with revenge on their mind but in week two they have to travel to Waco against a team trying to rebound after a down 2022 season. The Bears' defense gets after Rising forcing two turnovers and sacking the veteran quarterback five times as his lack of mobility shows up. On offense, Baylor has its struggles but the run game breaks out in the second half behind a steady dose of Dominic Richardson and Richard Reese as they each score touchdowns and pace the game. Blake Shapen hits on a couple of big plays to Ketron Jackson and Monaray Baldwin which seals the deal in this top 10 victory.

Kansas State 23 vs. Troy 20

This is a beyond sneaky trap game and gives off major Tulane vibes from a year ago when the Wildcats were upset by the Green Wave. Troy went 12-2 last year while winning 11 games in a row to end the season. Luckily for Kansas State, it has Will Howard who struggles but doesn’t make the costly plays to lose the game and comes through late. He leads a final drive with 5 minutes left and brings the clock down to three seconds left where Chris Tennant buries a 33-yarder for the win. Wildcats survive!

BYU 43 vs. Southern Utah 13

The Cougars' offense looks a lot better in this matchup against a really bad Southern Utah team. Kedon Slovis throws three touchdowns and the run game gets going for over 250 yards. Easy win for BYU.

Iowa State 12 vs. Iowa 13

Another year, another Cy-Hawk defensive battle. Neither team gets anything going on the offensive side of the ball as both turn the ball over twice and neither totals more than 250 yards. Hunter Dekkers gets the ball down 13-12 with five minutes left as he gets a chance to get the Cyclones a marquee win early in the season. Iowa State gets to midfield but Dekkers is sacked two straight times then intercepted on fourth down with one minute left as the Hawkeyes come away with the win.

Oklahoma 41 vs. SMU 31

This is not the defensive performance Brent Venables was hoping for in week two but they make enough plays to come away with a win against a talented Mustangs squad. Dillon Gabriel throws three touchdowns and the rushing attack goes for 250 yards as the offense carries the day for the Sooners.

West Virginia 44 vs. Duquesne 9

There are some good games this week but this is not one of them. The Mountaineers get back on track against an overmatched FCS team. The offense totals 500 yards of offense and the defense forces three turnovers in a dominant effort.

Texas 23 at Alabama 30

The Longhorns come into Tuscaloosa with a lot of confidence after playing close against Alabama last year and bringing in a more complete team this season. Quinn Ewers played well in last years matchup but was inconsistent last year so we will see how much he has improved because this road trip is unlike anyone he has been on. It gets to Ewers early as he throws two interceptions and is sacked multiple times as Alabama gets out to a 10-0 lead in the early stages of the game. Ewers regroups as he throws a touchdown to JT Sanders late in the second quarter to cut into the lead as it is 13-10 Bama at the half. Jonathon Brooks and Jase McClellan each score touchdowns in the 3rd as it is a 23-20 game heading into the 4th quarter. Ty Simpson hits Malik Benson on a deep post down the middle of the field that goes for a 55-yard touchdown to give Bama some cushion. Ewers misses Xavier Worthy on 3rd down inside the redzone so they settle for a field goal, 30-23 Bama, The Crimson Tide get three first downs and punt the ball with just two minutes left. Ewers gets Texas to the 40 yard line before attempting a Hail Mary as time expires and it is broken up by Kool-Aid McKinstry. 

Texas Tech 34 vs. Oregon 38

Two dynamic offenses square off in a major non-conference matchup in Lubbock. Tyler Shough starts the game with explosive touchdown passes to Jerand Bradley and Loic Fouonji, Tech takes an early 14-7 lead. Oregon responds in the second quarter with two rushing touchdowns by Bucky Irving as Oregon takes a 21-17 lead into the half. Both teams strike early in the second quarter with explosive plays to Troy Franklin and Drake McCray to push the score to 28-24. Tech gives up a field goal to start the 4th quarter then Tyler Shough is intercepted by Jeffrey Bassa who returns it 35 yards for a touchdown. Tech isn’t able to catch up after that as they fall at home against a top 10 Oregon team.

UCF 21 at Boise State 17

This one is going to be a battle between two of the most explosive quarterbacks in the nation as John Rhys Plumlee and Taylen Green go at it. Unfortunately for both of them, the game doesn’t live up to the hype as it is lower scoring than many anticipated. Both teams run the ball efficiently for nearly 200 yards but neither team throws the ball well. Plumlee hits Javon Baker on a slant route in the 4th quarter that goes 50 yards to the house which ultimately seals the massive road win for the Knights.

Houston 45 at Rice 17

The Owls were the 121st scoring defense in the nation and they just gave up 61 points to Texas in week one. Things are going to continue going wrong on that side of the ball against the Cougars who are coming off a tough loss in week one. I expect Donovan Smith to put on a show with three touchdown passes to go along with a big day from Tony Mathis Jr. on the ground as he goes for two scores. The Cougars get back in the win column with an easy victory and a complete team performance.

TCU 58 vs. Nicholls 14

The Horned Frogs are going to ROLL. This game won’t close for long and we will all get to see the talent and speed on display from Alabama transfer Jojo Earle who totals 150 yards and three scores. Many, many points here by the Frogs as they name the score in this one.

Oklahoma State 30 at Arizona State 17

A nice early road test for the Cowboys. Arizona State has three quarterbacks on the roster who have at least a little bit of hype but I am not sure any of them will be good this year and against this OSU defense, that is a problem. Collin Oliver and Nathan Latu combine for four sacks as they simply wreak havoc getting into the backfield. Korie Black and Xavier Benson each get an interception as well. The Cowboys' defense dominates and the offense takes advantage of the Sun Devils' mistakes as the Pokes get a nice early-season victory.

Big 12 Standings

1. Baylor — 2-0 (0-0)

1. Kansas — 2-0 (0-0)

1. Kansas State — 2-0 (0-0)

1. Oklahoma — 2-0 (0-0)

1. Oklahoma State — 2-0 (0-0)

1. TCU — 2-0 (0-0)

1. BYU — 2-0 (0-0)

1. UCF — 2-0 (0-0)

1. Texas — 1-1 (0-0)

1. Texas Tech — 1-1 (0-0)

1. Iowa State — 1-1 (0-0)

1. Cincinnati — 1-1 (0-0)

13. Houston — 1-1 (0-0)

13. West Virginia — 1-1 (0-0)