Big 12 Week 1: A Laramie Letdown And Shutout Season Openers

Week 1 for the Big 12 Conference saw several home openers for most members of the conference, but four teams were unlucky enough to start the season 0-1.

The Week 1 Winners:

BYU:

The Cougars won a battle of attrition against Sam Houston State University. In a 14-0 shutout, BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson caught two interceptions, highlighting the defensive capability of the team.

Where the Cougars fell short, was on the offensive side of the ball. The team scored a single touchdown in the first quarter, leading much of the game 7-0 until they scored another early in the fourth.

BYU will stay in Provo for Week 2, where they will host Southern Utah on Saturday.

Houston:

Another Big 12 newcomer, and another Cougar-related team, Houston was able to hold off the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners in a 17-14 win. 

Next week, the Cougars set off to play the Rice Owls, who are still recovering from their 37-10 beatdown at the hands of Texas.

Texas:

Speaking of the Longhorns, who despite only leading by four points going into the second quarter, were able to come out on top of Rice with an additional 30 unanswered points.

Next week, you can see the Longhorns seek revenge against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, where they will complete the home-and-home series that began last season with a 20-19 loss.

Cincinnati:

In a 66-13 victory over Eastern Kentucky, the Bearcats opened their first season in the Big 12 in dominating fashion, making quick work over the Colonels.

Moving forward, the Bearcats are set to play the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday.

Iowa State:

After defeating Northern Iowa 30-9, the Cyclones will stay in Ames to welcome their in-state rivals, the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday.

Iowa currently leads the rivalry series with 46 wins over the Hawkeyes’ 23 wins.

Kansas:

The Jayhawks of Lawrence, Kansas were able to break out of a first quarter stalemate against Missouri State on Saturday, taking down the Bears in a 48-17 rout.

Coming up, the Jayhawks welcome the Illinois Fighting Illini, who are coming off of a 31-0 win over Chattanooga.

Kansas State:

The Wildcats, much like the Jayhawks, also beat down a Missouri team over the weekend, making a statement with a 45-0 win over Southeastern Missouri State.

After the win, Kansas State is now preparing to welcome the Troy Trojans to Manhattan on Saturday.

Oklahoma:

Not much can be said about the Sooners’ 73-0 win over the Arkansas State Red Wolves other than that we may be seeing a return to form for the Crimson and Cream. 

After a season that can only be measured in terms of fallen expectations and disappointment, the Sooners played like they had something to prove. One might even say, in head coach Brent Venables words, we saw a “suffocating” defensive display, coupled with an “explosive” offense.

Next week, the Sooners welcome the Southern Methodist University Mustangs to Norman.

Oklahoma State: 

The Cowboys headed into the second half up 13-0 against the Central Arkansas Bears and were able to improve their rushing later in the game, finishing 27-13 in the team’s first win of the season.

The Cowboys saw Garret Rangel and Alan Bowman at quarterback for much of the game, combining for 13 points across eight drives.

Assisting the team in their victory was head coach Mike Gundy’s son, Gunnar Gundy, who came in at quarterback leading the teams final four drives, scoring 14 points.

The battle for the Cowboys’ starting quarterback continues, but nevertheless, the team is set to play Arizona State in Tempe on Saturday.

UCF:

Our final winner from Week 1, the Golden Knights met up with the Kent State Golden Flashes, in a battle to determine who can be the “true” golden team. The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes were not invited to the party, however.

The battle proved quick and merciless, in a 56-6 win over Kent State, UCF proved they have what it takes to open their first season in the Big 12.

Looking ahead, the Golden Knights travel to Idaho to play the Boise State Broncos on Saturday.

The Week 1 Losers:

Baylor:

The Texas State Bobcats, who finished 4-8 overall last season, proved to be the better team on Saturday, winning 42-31 over the Baylor Bears.

Baylor, still reeling from the loss, gets no time to mope about however, as the team prepares to welcome the Utah Utes to Waco on Saturday.

TCU:

“Prime Time” proved to be the wrong time for the Horned Frogs, who fell to the newly rejuvenated Colorado Buffaloes’ football program 45-42. 

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, also the son of head coach Deion Sanders, totaled for over 500 passing yards, while TCU’s Chandler Morris only threw for over 270 yards.

TCU now looks ahead to the Nicholls State Colonels, who they welcome to Fort Worth on Saturday.

Texas Tech:

The game to determine the superior form of saddle-folk commenced on Saturday, pitting the Red Raiders against the Wyoming Cowboys. 

In a thrilling second-overtime finish, the Cowboys were able to punch through for a two-point conversion after stopping Texas Tech at the goal line.

The first quarter saw a 17-0 Red Raider lead, but the second and third quarters belonged to the Cowboys, responding with their own 17 points.

The fourth quarter saw field goals from both teams, tying the game at 20 points each and sending it into overtime.

First overtime saw the Cowboys score first, followed by the Red Raiders shortly after, tying the game 27-27.

However, in the second overtime, Texas Tech was able to score but fell short on their two-point conversion attempt, leaving fate in the hands of the Cowboys.

Luckily for Wyoming, they were able to capitalize on the Red Raiders stoppage and score a touchdown and the two-point conversion, ending the game 35-33.

Next week, Texas Tech welcomes the Oregon Ducks in Lubbock.

West Virginia:

The odds were against West Virginia as they went up against seventh-ranked Penn State, and those odds proved insurmountable in the Nittany Lions’ 38-15 victory over the Mountaineers.

Up ahead, West Virginia has their home opener against the Duquesne Dukes on Saturday.