Predicting the 2024 Big 12 Season: Week 4
The preseason series predicting every single Big 12 game of the 2024 season continues today with week No. 4 as conference play truly gets rolling.
Previous Weeks: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
Saturday, September 21st
Baylor 38 at Colorado 33
How about a shootout in Boulder? Shedeur Sanders and Dequan Finn both have terrific games moving the football as they expose the opposing secondaries. Each totals over 300 yards of total offense as they drive up and down the field for large chunks of the game. This one ultimately comes down to who the more physical team in the trenches on both sides of the ball is as neither of these teams could run the ball, pass protect, or stop the run a season ago. I think Baylor has done a slightly better job while developing from within the program. The Bears run for over 150 yards while keeping Colorado under 100 yards on the ground. That ends up being the difference as the Bears are more versatile offensively. Shedeur Sanders has a great game, but the Buffs' reliance on him eventually wears him down, as the Bears sack him three times in the second half and force an interception. Baylor goes on the road and gets a signature win after a rough 2023 season.
TCU 38 at SMU 23
Great bounce-back opportunity for the Horned Frogs here in a rivalry matchup. They take the quick drive to SMU and absolutely handle business once they get there. Josh Hoover airs it out as he throws for 300 yards while hitting seven different wide receivers in this one. Wide receiver Eric McAllister has a big performance with two scores. They also get back to running the football, as Cam Cook really plays well here, as the holes are up open, and he takes advantage of a 100-yard outing. SMU scores some points, but they are thoroughly beaten by the frogs.
Kansas State 26 at BYU 20
The Cougars are a much different team at home than they are on the road plus Kansas State is coming off a huge win over Arizona. QB Gerry Bohanon and RB LJ Martin really controls the tempo in the first half for BYU as they run the ball for 125 yards and two scores in the first half as they lead the Cougars to a 14-6 lead at the half. In the second half, the Wildcats flip the script as Avery Johnson’s legs start to take over. He leads two scoring drives in the 3rd quarter to give the Wildcats a lead. Then, in the 4th quarter, Gerry Bohanon throws a pick-six to Austin Moore. That puts the game out of reach and gives Kansas State a key road win.
Houston 23 at Cincinnati 24
The Bearcats are trying to keep this train rolling as they are off to an incredible start, but they have a bit of a letdown game here. The offense looks out of sync, and the Houston defense forces a couple of turnovers. Houston gets out to a 13-3 lead early in the 2nd quarter. Cincy has to rely on its run game once again to save the day. Corey Kiner ends up with 30 carries for 180 yards and two scores, and he is the only thing working for them. Houston, on the other hand, is not allowed to run the football at all as Donovan Smith is asked to play hero ball once again this season. He does all he can, but it’s not enough. Down 23-17 with nine minutes left in the game. Cincy goes 75 yards in 18 plays before capping things off with a game-winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak by Brendan Sorsby. The Bearcats' strong early push continues.
Utah 24 at Oklahoma State 28
What a game. These two teams go to absolute war in Stillwater as the defenses stifle the offenses in the first half followed by the star players singing in the second half. The Pokes take a 7-6 lead into the half as the two defenses combine to force three turnovers and tally five sacks. But adjustments are made in the second half as Cam Rising hits on a couple of deep shots in the 3rd quarter, and Ollie Gordon finds pay dirt twice for the Cowboys. The game is tied up at 21 heading into the 4th quarter. Cam Rising gets the Utes down the field with a couple of completions to Brant Kuithe and Money Parks, which leads to a field goal. Immediately after that Alan Bowman takes a shot over the top of the defense and finds Brennan Presley for a 40-yard touchdown with seven minutes left. Both teams exchange stops, which leads to Utah getting the ball back with 1:45 left, down by 4. Rising drives them down the field inside the 15-yard line, but they are intercepted by Kendal Daniels in the end zone. Pokes win a thriller.
Arizona State 17 at Texas Tech 35
The Sun Devils are reeling a little bit and now have to go on the road to face a Tech team that is off to a hot start. Behren Morton starts this game on fire as he completes his first 10 passes. The Red Raiders score two touchdowns to start the game up 14-0. They don’t look back as the run game takes over the game from there with Tahj Brooks. The defense forces a couple of turnovers and sacks Sam Leavitt four times. It takes Arizona State too long to settle into the game, but they score a couple of times in the second half to make this game look closer than it is.
Kansas 37 at West Virginia 38
Lots of points in this one as I expect it to be really fun. These offenses just dominate through the air and on the ground as both teams go for over 400 yards of total offense. All the stars make plays, and the quarterbacks battle it out. Jalon Daniels finds Lawrence Arnold for a touchdown with five minutes left in the game to give the Jayhawks a 37-30 lead, but they left too much time on the clock. Garrett Greene leads the Mountaineers down the field and finds Kole Taylor in the end zone as time expires. They go for two, and CJ Donaldson finds pay dirt for the walk-off score.
Arkansas State 13 at Iowa State 37
The Cyclones will make quick work of this matchup as Abu Sama goes for 150 yards and two scores while the defense holds Arkansas State to under 200 yards of total offense. This is a beatdown that will feel even worse than the score will be.
Big 12 Standings
1. UCF — 3-0 (1-0)
1. Texas Tech — 4-0 (1-0)
1. Cincinnati — 4-0 (1-0)
1. Oklahoma State — 4-0 (1-0)
1. Kansas State — 4-0 (1-0)
1. Baylor — 3-1 (1-0)
1. West Virginia — 3-1 (1-0)
8. Arizona — 2-1 (0-0)
8. Iowa State — 2-1 (0-0)
10. Colorado — 3-1 (0-1)
10. Kansas — 3-1 (0-1)
10. Utah — 3-1 (0-1)
10. TCU — 3-1 (0-1)
10. BYU — 2-2 (0-1)
10. Houston — 2-2 (0-1)
10. Arizona State — 1-3 (0-1)