Ranking Big 12 Football Week Five Games by Competitiveness

The Big 12 Conference will be as close to a full slate of conference-only games as it has been all season when it enters Week 5 of the regular season.

That weekend, which is Sept. 26-27, will feature just one non-conference game, as Houston travels to Oregon State. Only one Big 12 team will be idle — Texas Tech.

What are fans left with? The Big 12 seven conference games, stretching from Morgantown, W.V., to Tempe, Ariz.  

Each week at Heartland College Sports, I am ranking the schedule for each week of the 2025 football season from least competitive to most competitive. So, let’s dig into Week 5.

All games are Saturday, Sept. 27, unless otherwise noted.

8. Houston at Oregon State

It’s a cross-country trip for the Cougars, and they’re facing a Beavers team that went 5-7 last year. But the mix of time zone change after their league opener and a bye week leads me to think it could be a big letdown game for Houston.

7. Utah at West Virginia

Again, it’s a west coast team going east, and the rule of thumb is that if you change two or more time zones, it could be a rough day at the office. WVU is solid at home, and the Mountaineers’ talent level, on paper, looks better than Utah’s.

6. UCF at Kansas State

Scott Frost will need more time at UCF to get things moving in the right direction. Kansas State is terrific at home and had the talent to make this a double-digit victory.

5. Arizona at Iowa State

There isn’t much faith in Arizona going around right now. Iowa State has holes to fill (notably at wide receiver), but is undeniably more talented. The last of the potential double-digit victory margins that week.

4. Baylor at Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State can’t be much worse than a year ago. Baylor seems to struggle in Stillwater. Feels like it could be a single-digit margin of victory.

3. TCU at Arizona State

(Friday, Sept. 26)

TCU is going to go to Tempe with something to prove. Arizona State will get the Horned Frogs’ best shot, take it, and then win by single digits.

2. BYU at Colorado

Elevation won’t be an issue here. The quarterback situation is the biggest difference between these two teams. But this one remains close well into the fourth quarter.

1. Cincinnati at Kansas

Both teams struggled last year. Both teams look better on paper this year. Both teams need this game bad to contend. Expect a final-possession game and the most competitive contest of the week.