By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
It’s unofficially Playoff season within the Large 12.
With BYU and Utah vying for one of many last spots within the postseason, every remaining recreation is successfully an elimination matchup.
The Cougars go on the street to face Cincinnati, whereas Utah travels to Manhattan to play Kansas State.
I preview these two video games right here, together with Arizona’s showdown in opposition to Baylor and Arizona State’s contest in opposition to Colorado.
And on the backside, I give a “look in” on the different video games within the Large 12 this week.
Baylor at Arizona
Saturday, November 22
10:00 a.m. PT, TNT
It’s Senior Day in Tucson. And the Wildcats are cooking.
It’s not typically that Arizona’s soccer program is hitting on all cylinders. However once they get rolling, they change into a drive.
The momentum feels similar to the 10-win season in 2023.
Dealing with a Baylor offense that depends totally on the move, defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales should be salivating. However Sawyer Robertson could be a succesful runner, regardless of what his stats say this season, and he should be contained.
Permitting chunk runs to the quarterback could possibly be game-changing. On prime of that, the Bears come into the sport with the No. 1 passing offense within the Large 12.
Nonetheless, the Arizona secondary is arguably one of the best within the league and contains a scheme that frustrates opposing offenses. Using pre-snap motion, variable appears to be like, and aggressive playcalling, the UA protection might shine in opposition to the Bears.
Plus, Robertson just isn’t working like he was final season and is barely averaging 0.3 yards per rush in 2025.
On the opposite aspect of the ball, Noah Fifita is crushing it. The redshirt junior has change into Arizona’s all-time chief in passing touchdowns, and he’s nowhere close to completed.
Mixed with a number of weapons at working again and a crew of receivers that make performs, this Wildcat workforce is for actual.
Search for the Cats to make a press release in opposition to Baylor.
No. 13 Utah at Kansas State
Saturday, November 22
1:00 p.m. PT, ESPN2
Run it up.
That must be the mindset for Utah of their recreation in opposition to Kansas State. But, regardless of their horrible season, the Ok-State fanbase goes to show up for this one. It’s private.
These are blue-collar farm boys who take deep satisfaction in the place they’re from and what they characterize. The disrespect that the loudest parts of Utah’s on-line fanbase confirmed the Large 12 over these previous couple of years issues to them.
If this isn’t a rivalry, will probably be by the tip of the sport.
And it’s not going to be a cakewalk. It doesn’t matter how a lot the Wildcats have struggled this 12 months or what the Vegas oddsmakers assume.
That is Manhattan, Kansas. The house followers are going to let the Utes know what a street recreation within the Large 12 actually seems like.
As for the precise X’s and O’s on the sector, containing Avery Johnson is essential. He can gash opposing defenses when he runs, which opens up their complete offense.
The Ok-State offensive line is sufficient, however not nice. If Utah can set up itself within the trenches, it ought to preserve the KSU “O” in verify.
As for Utah’s offense, a few early photographs downfield is perhaps wanted. Kansas State will seemingly promote out to defend the run, and some deep throws might loosen them up.
Don’t even take a look at the unfold on this one as a result of it doesn’t matter. It’s going to be a warfare.
No. 12 BYU at Cincinnati
Saturday, November 22
5:00 p.m. PT, FOX
This is a Playoff recreation. Lose, and BYU is out.
Cincinnati was destroyed by Utah and simply misplaced to Arizona at residence. Overlook what the analytics or the stats say. The Cougars shouldn’t lose this recreation.
The secret is to drive interceptions. In each single one of many Bearcats’ wins, Brendan Sorbsy has taken care of the ball. In every of their three losses, he’s thrown an interception.
Bringing strain is one technique to do it. However the corners should be aggressive, and the safeties or linebackers must be prepared for tipped passes.
All of it comes all the way down to the battle alongside the strains. The Utes and Wildcats received the physicality matchup. Can BYU do the identical?
On offense, establishing the run is vital. The remainder of the faculty soccer world nonetheless hasn’t forgotten how the Cougars seemed in opposition to Texas Tech. The disparity alongside the road was surprising.
This matchup presents a possibility to alter perceptions.
Win the battle up entrance on offense, and the Cougars ought to get the “W.” Lose, and admittedly, the workforce doesn’t need to make the Playoff.
No. 25 Arizona State at Colorado
Saturday, November 22
5:00 p.m. PT, ESPN2
The Solar Devils head to Boulder for a recreation in opposition to a struggling Colorado workforce.
The honeymoon is over for Deion Sanders, and actuality is setting in. No one is coming by means of that door. At the very least not this season.
The Buffs had a bye week to organize, which might present considerably of a bonus. However CU simply doesn’t have the offensive weapons to threaten ASU’s protection.
The Colorado receivers are stable. However the run recreation is nonexistent, and the quarterback points are an issue.
The scoring offense is second-worst within the Large 12, averaging simply 22.0 factors per recreation.
Making issues worse, CU’s run protection is the worst within the Convention. They’re giving up 210.9 yards speeding per contest and face an Arizona State speeding assault that’s No. 5 within the league.
The analytics simply don’t pan out nicely. That’s with out even contemplating the blowout losses to Utah and Arizona that Coach Prime has suffered over the previous couple of weeks.
Something can occur. But, a transparent Arizona State victory appears extra seemingly than not.
The Remainder of the Large 12
Houston is again within the Prime 25 of the Playoff Rankings and will get a nationwide tv highlight on FOX in opposition to TCU.
The Vegas oddsmakers expect a really tight recreation, which feels about proper.
The Horned Frogs are a fairly robust workforce and will pull off the upset.
But it surely’s a house recreation for the Cougars and a rivalry matchup besides. It’s a contest Houston shouldn’t lose.
Iowa State hosts Kansas in an under-the-radar recreation.
The Cyclones are coming off a bye after beating TCU on the street whereas Kansas used its bye week to mentally get better from the loss to Arizona.
The Jayhawks want the win to succeed in bowl eligibility.
It might not draw the eye of anybody exterior the Convention. However this recreation issues to each applications and needs to be shut.
UCF hosts Oklahoma State on the Bounce Home in Orlando.
The Knights have but to take the following step within the Large 12 since becoming a member of in 2023. After making a bowl recreation of their inaugural season, it seemed like Central Florida was an rising risk.
However after going 4-8 final 12 months and on the point of one other shedding season, this system is prone to being a perennial backside feeder.
A blowout win over the Cowboys might assist spark a resurgence.
Miller covers School Basketball and School Soccer in addition to Formulation 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
