Locked On Big 12 | Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast

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LOL: Utah Host Gets DUNKED ON for Claiming BYU, Utes PERFECTLY Ranked by College Football Playoff Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

The latest College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday have confirmed what many in the heartland already suspected: the "brand bias" favoring the SEC and Big Ten has reached a fever pitch, and the Big 12 is the primary victim.

BYU (9-1) sitting at No. 11 is the most glaring indictment of the committee's process. The Cougars possess a Strength of Record (SOR) superior to three teams ranked ahead of them—No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Notre Dame, and No. 10 Alabama. It is statistically indefensible for a one-loss Power 4 team with a top-tier resume to sit behind three two-loss programs. The committee is essentially penalizing BYU for lacking a "traditional power" logo on their helmet, signaling that a 9-1 record in the Big 12 is worth less than an 8-2 record in the SEC.

Then there is Utah (8-2) at No. 12. While it’s a relief to see the Utes inside the cut line, their positioning is precarious and disrespectful. Utah’s losses came against No. 5 Texas Tech and No. 11 BYU—arguably the "best" losses of any two-loss team in the country. Yet, they are ranked below an Alabama team with a loss to a struggling Florida State squad from Week 1.

As Big 12 analyst Drake Toll has repeatedly argued this week, the committee is moving the goalposts. When SEC teams cannibalize each other, it's "depth"; when the Big 12 does it, it's "weakness." If BYU handles business against Cincinnati and Utah survives the weekend, the committee will be forced to reckon with a resume they can no longer ignore. Until then, the Big 12 isn't just playing opponents on the field—they are playing against a narrative designed to keep them out.

Next Step: Would you like a comparison of the "Strength of Record" metrics for BYU versus Alabama and Notre Dame to see exactly where the disparity lies?

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BIG 12 BEST BETS: BYU Upset Alert at Cincinnati? Utah BLOWS OUT Kansas State, Houston Rolls TCU? Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

Week 13 in the Big 12 is shaping up to be a definitive separation Saturday, with College Football Playoff (CFP) implications hanging precariously in the balance. As the 2025 regular season nears its conclusion, the conference is cannibalizing itself in classic fashion, leaving fans and analysts alike glued to the standings.

The headliner this weekend is undoubtedly No. 11 BYU traveling to No. 25 Cincinnati (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX). The Cougars (9-1) control their own destiny for a trip to Arlington, but Nippert Stadium at night is a notoriously difficult environment. Cincinnati (7-3), despite two straight losses, remains a dangerous spoiler with a defense capable of disrupting BYU's rhythm. A win here for BYU likely solidifies a Top-12 seed, while a loss throws the entire conference race into chaos.

Meanwhile, Texas Tech sits comfortably with a bye week, watching from the No. 6 spot. The Red Raiders have arguably been the surprise of the season, and as noted by Big 12 analyst Drake Toll—who has been vocal about the league's depth all season—Tech’s resurgence has fundamentally altered the playoff math for the entire league. Toll’s recent coverage on Locked On Big 12 highlighted that a 10-win Texas Tech team is a nightmare matchup for any potential playoff opponent.

Elsewhere, Arizona State visits Colorado in a battle of teams refusing to fade away. The Sun Devils, fresh off cracking the CFP Top 25, need a win to keep their slim title game hopes alive. With Kansas State also facing Utah in a "loser leaves town" elimination game, the middle of the pack is fighting for survival.

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WEIRD: BYU, Texas Tech BOTH AGREE On One MAJOR Big 12 Football Issue, Clinching Championship Spot Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

🔒 Double Clinch: How BYU and Texas Tech Can Lock Up the Big 12 Title Game

The Big 12 Championship race is reaching its thrilling climax, and there is a very real possibility that both the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the BYU Cougars could clinch their spots this weekend, setting up a highly anticipated rematch in Arlington.

Texas Tech’s Clinch Scenario

The No. 6 Red Raiders (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) are currently on a bye week, but they are still in a prime position to clinch the top seed. For Texas Tech to lock up their spot this weekend, they need the following dominoes to fall in their favor:

Arizona State must lose to Colorado.

Utah must lose to Kansas State.

Houston must lose to Baylor.

If all three of those two-loss teams fall to three losses, Texas Tech's current 7-1 conference record would be insurmountable for the other contenders, guaranteeing their spot in the championship game, regardless of what happens in their final game against West Virginia.

BYU’s Clinch Scenario

The No. 12 Cougars (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) control their own destiny with two games left. For BYU to clinch their spot this weekend, their path requires a critical win and some help:

BYU must defeat Cincinnati on the road.

They also need the same scenario that benefits Texas Tech: losses by Arizona State, Utah, and Houston this weekend.

A BYU win over Cincinnati would move them to 7-1. If the three main two-loss contenders (ASU, Utah, and Houston) all move to three losses, BYU’s superior head-to-head win over Utah would give them the tiebreaker advantage needed to lock up the second spot alongside Texas Tech.

The Big Picture

If both of these scenarios occur, the Big 12 will avoid a chaotic final week of tiebreakers and confirm the Texas Tech-BYU rematch on the first weekend in December. This would be a massive win for the conference, solidifying its best two teams and ensuring its top contenders stay firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation.

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ROBBED: BYU, Utah PASSED By Notre Dame, Alabama in JOKE College Football Playoff Ranking, SEC Bias? Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

The persistent ranking of traditional "blue blood" programs like Alabama and Notre Dame above teams like BYU and Utah, even when the latter hold comparable or superior records, is rooted in the subjective nature of the College Football Playoff selection process. This disparity stems primarily from three factors: historical prestige, perceived strength of schedule (SOS), and the subjective "eye test."

Alabama and Notre Dame benefit significantly from historical brand equity and poll inertia. The CFP committee and voters often give these established programs a higher "ranking floor," meaning their initial high placement allows them to absorb a loss without plummeting. This bias is reinforced by the assumption that teams consistently recruiting at an elite level (like Alabama in the SEC) are inherently "better" than their peers, regardless of weekly performance. While BYU and Utah, both members of the Big 12, have built strong modern resumes, they lack the multi-decade national cachet that insulates the traditional powers from scrutiny.

Furthermore, the committee tends to favor perceived schedule quality over resume metrics like Strength of Record (SOR). Although BYU’s or Utah's schedule may be statistically challenging, the committee often views the SEC (Alabama’s conference) as the definitive league for weekly strength, creating a qualitative advantage for the Crimson Tide. Notre Dame, as an independent, mitigates this by aggressively scheduling elite opponents. Finally, the highly subjective "eye test" frequently penalizes teams like BYU for close wins, even if those victories come against quality opponents (like Utah), while granting more grace to top-tier brands for similar non-dominant performances. This collection of subjective factors ensures the ranking hierarchy often favors reputation over on-field results.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

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ESPN ANALYST: BYU, Utah DESERVE College Football Playoff Bid With Texas Tech Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

The prospect of the Big 12 landing three teams in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is no longer a fantasy—it’s a tangible goal driven by the stellar performances of Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah. This level of representation would be a colossal, unprecedented success, immediately validating the conference's aggressive expansion and its quality as a powerhouse league.

The current strength of the top three is the foundation of this dream. Texas Tech, as the clear frontrunner and presumptive Big 12 Champion, is tracking for a guaranteed spot and potentially even a first-round bye. Their 10-1 record, bolstered by the dominant win over UCF and a suffocating defense, makes them one of the nation’s elite résumés.

The real excitement lies in the two at-large spots. BYU (9-1), with their single loss coming against the Red Raiders, and Utah (8-2), despite two losses, are both highly ranked by the CFP committee. They are consistently placed ahead of the contenders from other conferences, signaling the committee's respect for their quality and their schedules. For the Big 12 to secure three bids, they need two key outcomes:

A Close Championship Game: If Texas Tech faces BYU or Utah and the game is a tight, high-quality contest, the loser, particularly an 11-2 BYU or 10-3 Utah, will be far more appealing than a two-loss SEC or Big Ten school.

Chaos Elsewhere: Crucially, the Big 12 needs the three at-large spots to be available. As long as the other major conferences don't produce four or five elite, one-loss teams, the Big 12's top three will have a strong case based on their head-to-head success and overall depth of quality wins, making the three-bid Big 12 a powerful reality in 2025.

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BONUS: Big 12 NEEDS BYU to Beat Texas Tech In League Title for College Football Playoff Standings Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

The Big 12 delivered an absolutely thrilling and consequentially good weekend of football, successfully mixing dominant performances from its top contenders with the kind of unpredictable upsets that define the conference's wild spirit. On one hand, the playoff hopefuls delivered massive, statement wins. The Texas Tech Red Raiders solidified their championship credentials with a crushing 48-9 victory over UCF, securing their tenth win and demonstrating they are fully deserving of their high ranking. The Utah Utes put together a phenomenal road performance, beating Baylor 55-28 and showing off an elite rushing attack that keeps them in the thick of the CFP at-large conversation. The BYU Cougars bounced back from last week's loss with a 44-13 demolition of TCU, proving their resilience and high ceiling. These decisive victories are critical for the conference's national perception, ensuring the Big 12 looks like a league of contenders, not just chaos. On the other hand, the competitive balance created the drama we crave. The Arizona Wildcats pulled off an impressive 30-24 road upset of the previously-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats, completely shaking up the middle tier of the standings and underscoring the parity of the new 16-team league. Meanwhile, a tense defensive struggle saw Kansas State grind out a tough 14-6 win over Oklahoma State to secure bowl eligibility. This combination of top-tier dominance and mid-table volatility made the weekend exceptional. The conference now heads into the final stretch with multiple elite teams fighting for the title game, while the rest of the league proves that every single game is a potential trap. It was truly a weekend where the Big 12 showcased its best qualities: excitement, depth, and playoff relevance. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBig12?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drakectoll Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOBig12

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BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS: BYU Surges, Utah Soars, Texas Tech Leads, West Virginia Holds, Baylor, TCU? Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Saturday, November 15, 2025, delivered a chaotic and captivating slate of Big 12 football that simultaneously clarified the title race while serving up a major upset.

The day was headlined by three dominant statement victories that solidified the conference's College Football Playoff aspirations. The No. 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders put on a masterclass, routing UCF 48-9 to secure their tenth win and cement their lead in the conference standings. Similarly, the No. 13 Utah Utes rebounded from recent struggles with a massive 55-28 road victory over Baylor, demonstrating elite rushing power with three separate long touchdown runs. The BYU Cougars also poured on the offense in a 44-13 dismantling of TCU, proving their resilience following last week's loss.

However, the "wild" factor came in the form of a significant upset in Cincinnati. The Arizona Wildcats pulled off an impressive road win, defeating the No. 25 Cincinnati Bearcats 30-24. This result immediately knocked the Bearcats out of serious contention for the Big 12 Championship Game and propelled the Wildcats up the standings, showcasing the new Big 12's unpredictable depth. Arizona's victory was perhaps the most crucial for the overall conference narrative, preventing the top four teams from running away with the national spotlight and ensuring every final week matchup holds significant weight.

The other key result saw Kansas State edge out a tough, low-scoring 14-6 win over Oklahoma State, keeping the Wildcats bowl-eligible. Between the decisive blowouts at the top and the crucial upsets and tight contests lower down, the weekend underscored the competitive balance and high-stakes drama that defines the new Big 12.

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HUGE WEEK: BYU is ELITE Again, Texas Tech SHINES, Utah Proves College Football Playoff Hope, SEC Bad Nov 16, 2025

Show notes

The latest week of college football was an unqualified success for the Big 12, as its top-tier contenders—Texas Tech, Utah, and BYU—delivered massive, confidence-boosting victories on Saturday, November 15, 2025, that drastically improved the conference's position in the national landscape.

The marquee performance came from the No. 6 Texas Tech Red Raiders, who completely dismantled UCF in a 48-9 rout. This win was critical: it proved the Red Raiders could handle success and the pressure of a potential CFP run immediately following their huge victory over BYU last week. They suffocated the UCF offense and moved to a 10-1 record, keeping them firmly in the driver's seat for the Big 12 title game.

Equally impressive was the Utah Utes' 55-28 destruction of Baylor on the road. The Utes bounced back from a prior loss with a dominant showing of offensive firepower and a strong defensive effort, which is essential for impressing the College Football Playoff committee. Their high-margin win ensures their overall resume remains strong for a potential at-large bid in the expanded 12-team playoff, despite having two conference losses.

Finally, the BYU Cougars showed their resilience by putting on a clinic in a 44-13 dismantling of TCU. The Cougars were under pressure following their loss to Texas Tech, but their overwhelming response demonstrated the mental fortitude and depth necessary to remain a top-15 team.

These huge wins send a unified message: the Big 12 is a deep, elite conference with multiple programs capable of playing at a championship level. For the conference's Commissioner, the dominant margins earned by Texas Tech, Utah, and BYU are priceless, significantly strengthening the argument for the Big 12 to secure multiple bids to the College Football Playoff this season.

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REACTION: BYU BLOWS OUT TCU, Utah Cooks Baylor, BOTH Help College Football Playoff Hops, SEC Slips? Nov 16, 2025

Show notes

Big 12 Momentum: BYU and Utah's Key Wins

The 2025 college football season has seen both BYU and Utah secure defining victories, reinforcing their status as formidable contenders in the reshaped Big 12 Conference. For the BYU Cougars, the pivotal moment arrived on October 18th in the emotionally charged Holy War matchup against their in-state rivals. Their narrow 24-21 victory over the Utes, sealed by a crucial fourth-down stop, was not just a win for the season—it was a seismic, statement victory that validated BYU’s early success and provided immense momentum. The game showcased the clutch gene of quarterback Bear Bachmeier and the relentless rushing of LJ Martin, proving the Cougars can win tough, grinding games when the pressure is highest. This rivalry win was essential in establishing their early undefeated record and setting a high bar for the program’s Big 12 aspirations.

While BYU’s key victory was highly emotional, Utah’s defining win against Baylor, a dominant 55-28 performance on the road on November 15th, demonstrated sheer physical superiority. After a mid-season slump, the Utes showcased the league’s top rushing attack, racking up 380 yards on the ground. True freshman Byrd Ficklin emerged as a catalytic force, breaking long touchdown runs of 67 and 74 yards. This resounding road victory was critical for the No. 15 Utes, re-establishing their identity as a ground-and-pound power. The margin of victory and the efficiency of the offense and defense ensured Utah remained firmly in contention for the Big 12 Championship race, proving they can bounce back decisively from adversity and control a game through the line of scrimmage.

Ultimately, these two wins served different but equally vital purposes. BYU’s victory provided the emotional lift and rivalry bragging rights needed to power their momentum, while Utah’s win provided the decisive, dominant conference victory necessary to sustain their championship hopes.

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BIG 12 BEST BETS: BYU HAMMERS TCU, Utah Rolls Baylor, West Virginia Covers AND Bonus ESPN Radio Hit! Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

The Big 12 Conference slate this weekend is exceptionally strong, marked by several high-stakes matchups that directly impact the race for the December 6th Championship Game in Arlington. With the conference standings bottlenecked at the top—featuring No. 6 Texas Tech (9-1) followed closely by No. 12 BYU (8-1) and No. 25 Cincinnati (7-2)—every game involving a contender is essentially an elimination game.

The most anticipated Big 12 showdown features No. 12 BYU hosting TCU. For the Cougars, coming off their first loss of the season, this is a must-win to maintain control of their destiny and set up a potential winner-take-all game against Cincinnati next week. TCU, while sitting mid-pack, desperately needs a victory to play spoiler and keep their outside bowl hopes alive.

Further shaping the standings are No. 13 Utah at Baylor and No. 6 Texas Tech hosting UCF. Utah needs to win to keep pace with the one-loss teams ahead of them, while Texas Tech must handle an unpredictable UCF squad to maintain their firm lead as the current favorite for the title game. With the Big 12 aiming to get multiple teams into the expanded CFP field, the conference's strength isn't just in top-ten teams, but in the sheer depth of dangerous opponents forcing contenders to play high-leverage football every single week. This concentration of competitive teams makes the Week 12 schedule one of the strongest in the nation.

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