Big 12 Notes

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Big 12 Notes – Baylor Week

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September 20th

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CBS 1-134: Big 12 volatility – seven teams move at least ten places

From CBS Sports … For the first time in the 2024 season, we have a real debate for No. 1 team in the country in the college football rankings. After spending the first three weeks of the season on top, Georgia has been bounced from No. 1.

Texas has taken over at No. 1 in the CBS Sports 134, our comprehensive ranking of every FBS team compiled by experts from CBS Sports and 247Sports, but the Longhorns’ ascension to the top was far from unanimous. The average ranking across all ballots for Texas was 1.7, while the average ranking for Georgia was 2.4. So, there are definitely voters not ready to tab Texas as No. 1 but also some who think No. 2 is too high for the Bulldogs.

The Georgia doubt comes in the wake of a 13-12 win at Kentucky in a game where the Bulldogs were four-score favorites at kickoff. The game was in primetime on a big stage, and the entire country was dialed in to see if No. 1 would lose outright. Because Georgia survived, there is less of a headline, but for voters tasked with sorting out the top teams in the country, notes were certainly taken from the result.

Another factor in the debate — one that seems overlooked at the moment — is Ohio State. The Buckeyes were off in Week 3 and have yet to play a power conference opponent, but the team has done nothing to change the sky-high expectations for 2024 in two wins that featured a combined scoring margin of 108-6.

From the Big 12 … 

• No. 12 … Utah … down one spot from last week
• No. 13 … Kansas State  … up two spots
• No. 15 … Oklahoma State … down two spots
• No. 16 … Iowa State … same as last week
• No. 19 … Nebraska … up two spots
• No. 30 … UCF … up five spots
• No. 35 … Arizona … down 13 spots
• No. 39 … Arizona State … up 17 spots
• No. 44 … BYU … up 20 spots
• No. 46 … TCU … up nine spots
• No. 56 … Kansas … down 25 spots
• No. 60 … West Virginia … down 15 spots
• No. 62 … Texas Tech … up 11 spots
• No. 63 … Baylor … up 11 spots
• No. 69 … Colorado … up six spots
• No. 80 … Houston … up three spots
• No. 85 … Cincinnati … up six spots
• No. 104 … Colorado State … down nine spots 

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September 19th

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Dennis Dodd: Travis Hunter second-best (to Barry Sanders) on his list of all-time players

From Dennis Dodd (who, it should be noted, has not been a fan of CU or Coach Prime) at CBS Sports … It makes all the difference in the world to actually be at games.

I’ve been to approximately 250 games during my time at CBS Sports alone. It hit me again Saturday night, watching Colorado’s fantastic Travis Hunter. You have to see this guy in person to fully appreciate his talents. He goes both ways, including special teams, routinely playing 100-plus snaps.

The dude never slows down. That makes him not only a Heisman candidate but a marvel of modern science. When you’re actually at the game, you see things like Hunter taking himself out of the game. All it took was Hunter running down a Colorado State player from behind after a 62-yard run.

“I got mad at him for getting out of the game, too,” quarterback Shedeur Sanders said jokingly. “I said, ‘Bro, don’t ever do that again.'”

As the Colorado State game wound down Saturday, I tried to find Hunter on the CU bench. I couldn’t. He was still in the game, catching passes from Shedeur Sanders in the final minute.

All of it got me thinking: Who are the best players I’ve seen in person? Not the best of all time or even the best in a season. The best I’ve seen. Hunter is on my top-10 list after sifting through the cobwebs of my mind. Yes, he’s only been at Colorado for less than two years, but Hunter truly is a unicorn.

He is joined on this list by some obvious choices (Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush). There is one player on the list (Kellen Winslow) who played in the 1970s. OK, make all your old-guy jokes. I live to serve.

Here’s my list of the top 10 players I’ve seen in person.

1. Barry Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State

2. Travis Hunter, WR/DB, Colorado

On the road Saturday at altitude at Colorado State, Hunter played 123 of 138 snaps. Before Hunter’s arrival in 2023, the CU record for most snaps in a game was 114, set by four different players (all offense) against UCLA in 2015. Saturday also qualified as a career game, positioning Hunter squarely in the Heisman race. His 13 receptions tied a career high. Hunter scored twice, adding an interception and five tackles. In 12 career games, Hunter has averaged more than 124 plays per game. Hunter is second nationally in catches (30) and tied for second in touchdown catches (five).

In his Colorado debut last season against TCU, he was on the field for 146 snaps, contributing with 11 receptions and an interception. We are witnessing history. If he holds up, this will be Hunter’s first full season. He missed four games in 2022 at Jackson State and a few at Colorado last season after suffering a lacerated liver against Colorado State.

“There’s no question he can be even better,” coach Deion Sanders said. “There’s no ceiling.”

… Continue reading story here …

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September 18th

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Week Three TV ratings: CU/CSU draws an audience of 3.25 million

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September 17th

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CSU ranked No. 15 in CBS Sports Bottom 25

From CBS Sports … While the 2024 season has brought a resurgence for long-dormant giants like Nebraska and Tennessee, Florida State is heading in an entirely different direction. The Seminoles are stuck in a seemingly endless loop of futility and, as such, are the only Power Four representative in this week’s Bottom 25.

The question at this point isn’t whether or not Florida State can drag itself out of the muck, this Seminoles team is entirely checked out. No, the concern at this point is just how low Mike Norvell’s bunch might sink.

The ACC slate certainly won’t be kind. Florida State already claims sole possession of 17th place in the conference standings after losses to Boston College and Georgia Tech, which looks more like a permanent fixture with each passing week. Charleston Southern is the only game left you can point at as a win with any sort of confidence.

One may accuse Florida State of tanking at this point. That would be if there was any benefit to doing so. But enough about the ‘Noles — there’s 24 other teams that earned a spot of dishonor in this week’s Bottom 25, including a whopping six newcomers.

No. 23 – San Diego State … San Diego State has taken a journey through the Pac-12’s past, present and future over the last couple weeks. It started with a 21-0 loss to Oregon State, which was followed by a 31-10 loss to Cal (now in the ACC). All this amid the news that SDSU will be joining the Pac-12 in 2026. If these early results are any indication, good luck Aztecs. (NR)

No. 21 – Florida State … Not sure if a team completely quitting on a season has ever been more apparent than it is with the 2024 Florida State Seminoles. Mike Norvell’s crew isn’t even trying to do it quietly. It’s hard to find any positives after the latest loss to Memphis. Credit to FSU for pushing the envelope weekly on how low things can really go. (25)

No. 15 – Colorado State … One would think that Colorado State would be able to get up for a game against its biggest rival, in front of an energized Fort Collins crowd that hadn’t seen the Rocky Mountain Showdown at home since 1996, in a primetime television slot. But, uh, definitely not. The Rams looked thoroughly overwhelmed in every phase of the game while letting Colorado stomp all over them. (15)

No. 12 – Air Force … Air Force has scored a combined 10 points in its two games against FBS competition. Predictably, those were the Falcons’ two losses. It’s been a precipitous fall for Troy Calhoun’s team since it started the 2023 season 8-0. (24)

No. 2 – Wyoming (a CU 2025 opponent) … Insert sad cowboy emoji. Wyoming might need to pop on some Hank Williams and do some serious soul searching amid a disastrous start. The loss to Idaho was one thing, but the Cowboys haven’t even been competitive against the likes of BYU and Arizona State. (2)

… Continue reading story here …

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September 16th 

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Air Force may leave Mountain West Conference for the AAC

From ESPN … Air Force has emerged as a serious target to be added to the American Athletic Conference, sources told ESPN on Monday.

Air Force had been referenced in conversations as a potential AAC add in recent months, prior to the Pac-12 taking four Mountain West Conference schools last week.

The AAC released a statement Monday night saying the league “is a pioneering brand, firmly grounded in grit and hard work, with powerful and prestigious member institutions. In the past five months, we have prioritized seizing every opportunity that enhances value for our member institutions and student-athletes.”

“Whether through private capital, naming rights, innovative partnerships, or realignment, we have proactively assessed each opportunity, and are prepared to collaboratively take action-steps, to be at the forefront of success and sustainability,” the statement read.

The AAC has 14 football schools this season, including Army and Navy. The league does not have any programs in this week’s AP Top 25, but 3-0 Memphis, which defeated Florida State on Saturday, received the most votes (77) of all unranked teams.

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Big 12 Notes: Shedeur Sanders fourth in the nation in passing

Press release from the Big 12 

• The Big 12’s 8-1 non-conference performance on Saturday was the highest winning percentage of Power 4 conferences at 88.9%.
• Big 12 programs are 12-2 this season when ranked in the Top 25.
• The Big 12 is 13-2 versus Group of 5 opponents entering week four.
• Seven of the top 20 passers in FBS football are from Big 12 schools; Josh Hoover (TCU), Shedeur Sanders (CU), Behren Morton (TTU), Alan Bowman (OSU), Brendan Sorsby (UC), Noah Fifita (ARIZ) and Jake Retzlaff (BYU). Hoover, Sanders, Morton and Bowman rank third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
• The Conference was home to the top two passers in Power 4 football in week three with TCU’s Josh Hoover (402 yards) and OSU’s Alan Bowman (396 yards).
• Of the 13 FBS quarterbacks to throw four or more touchdowns in week three, four were Big 12 quarterbacks.
• The Big 12 led all FBS conferences with nine 100+ yard receiving performances in week three, including TCU’s Jack Bech and OSU’s De’Zhaun Stribling who led all Power 4 receivers with 200 yards and 174 yards respectively.
• Four teams were ranked in the AP Top 25 in Sunday’s poll with all four voted in the top 20.

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September 15th

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Big 12 lines: CU opens as a 1.0-point home favorite over Baylor (6:00 p.m., MT, Fox) 

From DraftKings.com …

• Houston at Cincinnati … 10:00 a.m., MT, Fox … Cincinnati is a 5.5-point home favorite …
• Kansas at West Virginia … 10:00 a.m., MT, ESPN2 … West Virginia is a 2.5-point home favorite …
• Arkansas State at No. 20 Iowa State … 10:00 a.m., MT, ESPN+ … Iowa State is a 20.5-point home favorite …
• Arizona State at Texas Tech … 1:30 p.m., MT, FS1 … Texas Tech is a 3.0-point home favorite …
• No. 12 Utah at No. 13 Oklahoma State … 2:00 p.m., MT, Fox … no line (waiting on Cam Rising availability news) …
• TCU at SMU … 3:00 p.m., MT, CW Networks … TCU is a 2.5-point road favorite …
• Baylor at Colorado … 6:00 p.m., MT, Fox … Colorado is a 1.0-point home favorite … 
• No. 13 Kansas State at BYU … 8:30 p.m., MT, ESPN … Kansas State is a 7.5-point road favorite …

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Texas jumps Georgia for No. 1 in latest AP poll; Arizona drops out

From ESPN … Texas is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll for the first time in 16 years, replacing Georgia on Sunday after the Bulldogs struggled to remain unbeaten.

The Longhorns moved up a spot from No. 2 and received 35 first-place votes and 1,540 points. The Bulldogs, who have been No. 1 since the preseason poll, received 23 first-place votes and 1,518 points.

Ohio State received five first-place votes and stayed at No. 3 during an off week. No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Ole Miss held their places, and Tennessee moved up a spot to No. 6, flip-flopping with SEC rival Missouri.

The last time the Longhorns were No. 1 was the middle of the 2008 season, when they spent three weeks at the top of the polls before losing a memorable game at Texas Tech in early November. The Longhorns are likely to settle into the top spot for at least another week with a home game against UL Monroe up next, possibly with Arch Manning as the starting quarterback.

Others receiving votes: Memphis 77, Syracuse 62, Boise State 62, UNLV 54, Boston College 47, Washington State 30, Iowa 15, Arizona 15, Indiana 13, California 11, Liberty 10, Toledo 9, UCF 6, South Carolina 3, North Carolina 3, Arizona State 3, BYU 2, Pittsburgh 1

This post, about the Baylor game, from the 2024 Season, is filed under Article.
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