PETERSON: Texas oil money aside, Texas Tech is (right now) the Big 12’s best

Sep 20, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Brenden Jordan (7) reacts to a play against the Utah Utes during the fourth quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images (Not to be confused with our Rob Gray)

OKOBOJI, Iowa — It’s no stretch, right now, that Texas Tech is the best Big 12 football team. Maybe by far. It’s no major leap to believe that Iowa State and Utah and BYU, right now, anyway, are the next-best.

For now, at least, that’s not overreaction to the first four weeks, it’s the reality of the situation.

The Big 12 looks to have one very good team, a few contenders – and a handful of others who think they’re good.

Top-heavy. So-so in the middle. Weak bottom.

That’s Big 12 football – until prove otherwise, and yes, there’s plenty of time to upset this early-season narrative.

Texas Tech’s impressive 34-10 win against Utah Saturday at one of college football’s loudest stadiums, proves that money (reportedly a $25 million roster) can indeed buy a good team.

The Red Raiders dominated a Utes offensive line that everyone says included two first-round NFL draft choices. The backup quarterback was better off the bench than some P4 teams’ starter.

That’s no overreaction. That’s reality . . .

Texas Tech. Iowa State, Utah and BYU (in no specific order). The Big 12’s 1-2-3-4.

For now.

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The Big 12 needs unbeatens to play in the conference championship game. It’s the only way that league will get two teams in the College Football Playoffs, and then that’s not even a lock.

Only two P4 teams with two losses – BYU and Miami of Florida – didn’t make the playoffs last season.

Thus, the Big 12 needs as many teams winning as many regular-season games as possible. That’s a fact of life.

So with that in mind, here is a refresher of who the conference’s top teams do not play during the conference season:

Texas Tech: Arizona, Baylor, Cincinnati, Colorado, Iowa State, TCU.
Iowa State: Baylor, UCF, Houston, Texas Tech, Utah, West Virginia.
Utah: Arizona, UCF, Houston, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, TCU.
BYU: Arizona State, Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State.
TCU: Arizona, UCF, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Utah.
Arizona State: BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State.
Kansas: Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Colorado, Houston, TCU.
Baylor: BYU, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech, West Virginia.

**

Is it reality or overreaction that the Big 12 has one-bid CFP league written all over it? Probably a little of both – with a lean toward reality.

Arizona State was the lone Big 12 playoff team last season after beating Iowa State in the conference championship game. The Sun Devils also were the only Big 12 team among the CFP’s 2024 final Top 12 rankings.

There’s still a lot of games remaining. We’re just one or two games into the B12 schedule.

Stay tuned.

**

Let’s say a week off treated Kyle Konrardy’s sore kicking leg well. Let’s say he’s healthy enough to kick against against Arizona on Sept. 27 at Jack Trice Stadium.

Let’s also say it’s reality that might not happen – that Konrardy will be sidelined for at least a few games, and that Chase Smith assumes the role.

Let’s also assume that when Konrardy returns, that his days kicking off are over.

That’s a lot of wear and tear on a kicking leg that’s already sore. He’s more valuable making long field goals, than kicking long kickoffs.

Right?

(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at [email protected] or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)