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Berry Tramel: OSU-Utah as good a pick as any as the Big 12’s top game
Bill Haisten: A constant figure within Mike Gundy’s inner circle — Clint Eastwood
Big 12 football teams will combine for 118 games before the conference championship game on Dec. 7. Not all are created equal. The Tulsa World has ranked all 118 games, from a Big Noon Kickoff (West Virginia-Penn State) on Labor Day weekend to a transplanted rivalry (Arizona State-Arizona) on Thanksgiving Saturday. The games are rated on the perceived status of both teams, where the games are played, when they’re played and how competitive they project to be. In other words, how important will they be to the Big 12 season?
Oklahoma State wide receiver Braylin Presley and the Cowboys will face Kansas State again in one of this season’s top Big 12 matchups.
1. Utah at Oklahoma State, Sept. 21: Utes’ Kyle Whittingham and Cowboys’ Mike Gundy were hired a couple of weeks apart 19½ years ago, and both have built excellent programs that will collide for early Big 12 supremacy.
2. Kansas at Kansas State, Oct. 26: Sunflower Showdown could easily have been No. 1, and either of these teams could easily be the Big 12’s best.
3. Arizona at Utah, Sept. 28: UofA and Utah have been conference mates 29 years (Western Athletic, 1962-77, and Pac-12, 2011-23). But their biggest showdown ever might come in Year 1 of their Big 12 eras.
The 2024 Big 12 football season embarks as a huge mystery. This is a league in which no one knows who to pick as the 2024 favorite.
4. Oklahoma State at Kansas State, Sept. 28: By October, Cowboys could be well ahead of the pack — or well behind it — with Utah and KSU in the rear-view mirror.
5. Penn State at West Virginia, Aug. 31: The Big 12’s only chance at a non-conference takedown of a blueblood. Fox will televise with its first Big Noon Kickoff telecast of the season.
6. BYU at Utah, Nov. 9: The Holy War comes to the Big 12 stage. Could the Cougars ruin a ballyhooed Ute season?
7. Kansas at West Virginia, Sept. 21: Man, the Big 12 has a bunch of interesting September games.
8. Florida at Central Florida, Oct. 5: Massive game for UCF’s in-state stature, and a big game for Big 12 pride.
9. Kansas State at BYU, Sept. 21: KSU has rough road assignments — Provo, Boulder, Morgantown, Ames. Plus Houston.
10. Iowa State at West Virginia, Oct. 12: Some label WVU a darkhorse candidate to reach Arlington.
TCU and SMU are together in a power conference for the first time since they were Southwest Conference members in the 1990s.
11. Arizona at Central Florida, Nov. 2: Some label UCF a darkhorse candidate to reach Arlington.
12. Texas Tech at Iowa State, Nov. 2: Some label Tech a darkhorse candidate to reach Arlington.
13. Oklahoma State at TCU, Nov. 9: Cowboys have lost three straight games in Fort Worth.
14. Kansas State at Colorado, Oct. 12: Can Deion Sanders’ second Buff team make some noise? Here’s an early chance.
Kansas State and Colorado, shown in a 2002 game, resume their rivalry this season for the first time since 2010.
15. Central Florida at TCU, Sept. 14: The only conference game of the first three weeks; a fringe contender gets an early knockdown.
16. Colorado at Nebraska, Sept. 7: Two prodigal sons, but only CU has come home.
17. Iowa State vs. Kansas in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 9: Cyclones might have the Big 12’s toughest conference schedule.
18. Utah at Central Florida, Nov. 29: On a short week, Utes could be playing for a trip to Arlington.
19. Arizona at Kansas State, Sept. 13: This showdown is not a conference game. It was scheduled as a non-conference game, then retained after ‘Zona jumped to the Big 12. But it could be big for playoff considerations.
During their matchup with Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders and Colorado, Oklahoma State could be playing for a Big 12 title game berth.
20. Oklahoma State at Colorado, Nov. 29: On a short week (and a 10 a.m. Mountain time kickoff), Cowboys could be playing for a trip to Arlington.
21. Texas Tech at Arizona, Oct. 5: Potential trap game for Wildcats, who will be coming off trips to Manhattan and Salt Lake City.
22. TCU vs. Kansas in Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 28: Jayhawks are playing their conference games in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, while Memorial Stadium undergoes massive renovation.
23. Arizona State at Arizona, Nov. 30: Territorial Cup. The newcomers are bringing some great rivalries to the league.
24. Kansas State at West Virginia, Oct. 19: Crazy how the Big 12 has morphed. This passes as a legacy-type matchup.
25. Iowa State at Iowa, Sept. 7: A chance to clock a Big Ten team — Cyclones’ last three wins vs. Hawkeyes have come in Iowa City.
26. West Virginia at Arizona, Oct 26: The last of a brutal stretch for the Mountaineers, who in addition to opening with Penn State, open conference play with Kansas, OSU, Iowa State, Kansas State and ‘Zona.
27. TCU at Utah, Oct. 19: Mountain West Cinderella reunion.
28. West Virginia at Oklahoma State, Oct. 5: Cowboys generally play well vs. the Mountaineers, but you never know.
29. Baylor at Colorado, Sept. 21: Bears’ best chance to play a relevant conference game.
30. Kansas at BYU, Nov. 16: KU’s relatively easy schedule (Jayhawks don’t play OSU, Utah or Arizona) should keep this game relevant.
31. Central Florida at Iowa State, Oct. 19: Could be an early elimination game for two fringe contenders
32. Oklahoma State at BYU, Oct. 18: The Cougars took OSU to overtime last year in Stillwater.
Iowa State and Kansas State will meet in a regular-season finale Nov. 30.
33. Kansas State at Iowa State, Nov. 30: Farmageddon could be Armageddon if Cyclones overachieve.
34. Utah at Colorado, Nov. 16: The Pac-12 used this game as a Thanksgiving weekend staple, but the Big 12 nixed that.
35. TCU at Southern Methodist, Sept. 21: With SMU joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Iron Skillet rivalry returns to power-conference status for the first time since the breakup of the Southwest Conference.
36. Iowa State at Utah, Nov. 23: Cyclones will not wilt under Salt Lake City’s cold weather.
37. Texas Tech at TCU, Oct. 26: Horned Frogs were a postseason darling in 2022, the Red Raiders a preseason darling in 2023.
38. Arkansas at Oklahoma State, Sept. 7: Once an annual rivalry, the series returns as a prime opportunity for the Big 12 to rough up the SEC.
39. Arizona at BYU, Oct. 12: Border state rivals, but the schools are 730 miles apart.
40. Houston at Cincinnati, Sept. 21: Cougars (and new coach Willie Fritz) make their conference debut, and UC coach Scott Satterfield seeks a much-needed quick start in Year 2.
41. Arizona at TCU, Nov. 23: Only two previous meetings, 1999 and 2003. Each program won on the road.
42. West Virginia at Pittsburgh, Sept. 14: The Backyard Brawl is more historic than competitive.
43. Colorado at Central Florida, Sept. 28: Deion Sanders brings the Buffaloes to his home state.
44. Kansas at Baylor, Nov. 30: These two programs can’t seem to be quality at the same time. The last time both finished with winning records was 1995, before the Big 12 formed.
In this 2018 game, Texas Tech’s Alan Bowman passes against Oklahoma State. This year, Bowman will face Texas Tech for the first time as OSU’s quarterback.
45. Texas Tech at Oklahoma State, Nov. 23: Alan Bowman vs. his first university, which he quarterbacked six years ago.
46. Central Florida at West Virginia, Nov. 23: Not likely either still will be in contention in late November, but you never know.
47. Kansas State at Tulane, Sept. 7: Green Wave won in Manhattan in 2022.
48. West Virginia at Texas Tech, Nov. 30: Lots of Red Raider-Mountaineer connections. Dana Holgorsen. Neal Brown. The Doege quarterback brothers.
49. BYU at Central Florida, Oct. 26: Nothing screams Big 12 like a good old BYU-UCF game. No wonder the Big 12 needs a new name.
50. Utah at Arizona State, Oct. 11: Old-time Utes will remember the Sun Devils’ domination of the Western Athletic Conference.
51. Colorado vs. Kansas in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 23: Deion takes the Buffs to Arrowhead Stadium, where he twice played against the Chiefs, in 1991 with the Falcons and in 1998 with the Cowboys.
52. Baylor at Iowa State, Oct. 5: Chance for the Cyclones to go 2-0 in the Big 12, since ISU opens with Houston.
53. BYU at Arizona State, Nov. 23: ASU’s departure from the WAC in 1978 opened the door for the Cougars to dominate that great old league.
54. Colorado at Texas Tech, Nov. 9: Resumption of a Big 12 series that was played seven times from 1998-2010.
Baylor’s Dave Aranda and Mike Gundy.
55. Oklahoma State at Baylor, Oct. 26: Cowboys’ road schedule is rather light, but Waco hasn’t been easy for OSU.
56. Colorado at Arizona, Oct. 19: In 2023, Deion had all the hype, but the Wildcats had all the production, winning six more games than did the Buffaloes.
57. Texas Tech at Washington State, Sept. 7: WSU has fallen from power-conference status; do the Cougars still have a power-conference roster?
58. Kansas at Arizona State, Oct. 5: KU’s football program started in 1890. The Sun Devils’ started in 1897. This will be their first gridiron meeting.
59. TCU at Baylor, Nov. 2: Ten years ago, these ancient rivals ruled a Big 12 that included OU and Texas. Now, with the Sooners and Longhorns gone to the SEC, the Horned Frogs and Bears are picked to finish in the second division of the new 16-team Big 12.
60. Colorado at Colorado State, Sept. 14: Buffaloes won a double-overtime classic last season.
61. Iowa State at Houston, Sept. 28: Probably the Cougars’ best chance at a conference upset.
62. Central Florida at Arizona State, Nov. 9: In 1996, UCF played its first season of Division I-A and the Sun Devils reached the Rose Bowl. My, how things can change.
63. BYU at Southern Methodist, Sept. 6: These programs staged one of the greatest bowl games ever, BYU’s 46-45 victory in the 1981 Holiday Bowl. Now they meet as power-conference foes.
64. Utah at Houston, Oct. 26: The Utes play in Stillwater, Orlando and Boulder. They might be sleeping in Houston.
65. BYU at Baylor, Sept. 28: Baptists vs. Mormons staged a Big 12 preview with their 2021 and 2022 series.
66. Mississippi State at Arizona State, Sept. 7: Could the Sun Devils pull an upset for Big 12 pride?
67. Kansas State at Houston, Nov. 2: Cougars never have scored on KSU. The Wildcats’ 41-0 thrashing last season was the first series meeting.
68. West Virginia at Cincinnati, Nov. 9: Bearcats have fallen fast in the 18 months since Luke Fickell departed for Wisconsin.
69. Air Force at Baylor, Sept. 14: Can Dave Aranda’s defense solve the Academy option?
70. TCU at Cincinnati, Nov. 30: College Football Playoff Cinderellas from 2021 (Bearcats) and 2022 (Frogs).
71. Baylor at Texas Tech, Oct. 19: Do you realize there are as many old Southwest Conference members in the Big 12 as there are old Big Eight members?
72. Arizona State at Cincinnati, Oct. 19: The loser could be relegated to last place in the Big 12.
UNLV coach Barry Odom guided the Rebels to a 9-4 record last year.
73. Houston at Nevada-Las Vegas, Aug. 31: Big game for Big 12 pride, but Oklahoman Barry Odom’s Rebels were a breakout 9-4 last year, their first winning season in a decade.
74. Arizona State at Texas Tech, Sept. 21: Old Border Conference members, together from 1932-56 — but they never played, until 1999. Leagues are funny.
75. Baylor at Houston, Nov. 23: Could Aranda’s job be on the line?
76. Cincinnati at Kansas State, Nov. 23: Could the ‘Cats be in line to secure a berth in Arlington?
77. Kansas at Illinois, Sept. 7: KU handled the Illini 34-23 last season.
78. Arizona State at Oklahoma State, Nov. 2: OSU coming off a two-game series sweep of the Sun Devils in 2022 (34-17) and 2023 (27-15).
79. Cincinnati at Colorado, Oct. 26: Buffaloes could be reeling, with trips to Manhattan and Tucson preceding this game.
80. Houston at Kansas, Oct. 19: Would make a much better basketball game.
81. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, Sept. 7: Bearcats won 27-21 last season.
82. Houston at BYU, Nov. 30: Brigham Young needs a breather — its conference home opponents before UH are K-State, Arizona, OSU and KU.
83. Cincinnati at Iowa State, Nov. 16: Cyclones could be near the top of the league at this point, since their toughest games (Utah, at Kansas State) might be the final two weeks.
84. Arizona State at Kansas State, Nov. 16: Ouch. The Sun Devils won’t like the Flint Hills weather in mid-November.
85. Baylor at Utah, Sept. 7: Another non-conference game, between Big 12 members. Too bad they didn’t work out something else.
86. Houston at TCU, Oct. 4: Horned Frogs’ early conference schedule is not difficult.
87. Baylor at West Virginia, Nov. 16: We’re a long way from that 70-63 game WVU win back in 2012.
88. Cincinnati at Texas Tech, Sept. 28: Tommy Tuberville coached both programs, though neither very well.
89. TCU at Stanford, Aug. 30: Cardinal had fallen far in the Pac-12 and isn’t expected to rise in the Atlantic Coast Conference, so no reason why Stanford would excel against a Big 12 middleweight.
90. Houston at Arizona, Nov. 15: Easy finishing stretch for the Wildcats — Houston, at TCU, Arizona State.
91. Cincinnati at Central Florida, Oct. 12: In their final four years in the American Conference, UCF never finished ahead of UC. But that changed quickly in the Big 12.
92. Houston at Oklahoma, Sept. 7: The Big 12 wishes a tougher member than the Cougars was invading Owen Field.
93. BYU at Wyoming, Sept. 14: Long-time Western Athletic Conference rivals have played just once since 2010, in the 2015 Poinsettia Bowl.
Former TU quarterback G.J. Kinne is in his second year with Texas State in San Marcos.
94. Arizona State at Texas State, Sept. 12: Bobcats were a solid 8-5 in former Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne’s first year as the Texas State coach.
95. Nevada-Las Vegas vs. Kansas in Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 13: KU is playing its non-conference home games at the Sporting KC soccer stadium in suburban Kansas City.
96. Wyoming at Arizona State, Aug. 31: Cowboys were the more accomplished team last season.
97. North Texas at Texas Tech, Sept. 14: This series, which hasn’t been played since 2001, is tied 4-4.
98. Utah at Utah State, Sept. 14: The Battle of the Brothers has been played 112 times, but not since 2015.
99. Cincinnati at Miami-Ohio, Sept. 14: Age-old rivalry resulted in a Miami upset last season.
With TU’s Tyon Davis defending, Oklahoma State’s Bryson Green catches a touchdown pass during the 2021 game, the last time the two teams played.
100. Oklahoma State at Tulsa, Sept. 14: Cowboys have won nine straight in the series, going back to 1998.
101. North Dakota State at Colorado, Aug. 29: Be careful, Deion. The Bison have won nine Division I-AA national titles in the last 13 years.
102. South Dakota State at Oklahoma State, Aug. 31: Be careful, OSU. The Jackrabbits have won two straight I-AA national titles.
103. Arkansas State at Iowa State, Sept. 21: Red Wolves upset Kansas State in 2020.
104. Rice at Houston, Sept. 14: Owls pulled the upset over Houston last season.
105. Sam Houston at Central Florida, Sept. 7: Bearkats lost 38-7 at Houston last season.
106. New Mexico at Arizona, Aug. 31: Seven straight losing seasons for the Lobos.
107. North Dakota at Iowa State, Aug. 31: UND is not a power, but the word “Dakota” has to give you pause.
108. Tarleton State at Baylor, Aug. 31: Baylor’s struggles make you watch.
109. Southern Illinois at BYU, Aug. 31: BYU doesn’t blow out most overmatched opponents.
110. Tennessee-Martin at Kansas State, Aug. 31: Skyhawks lost tailback Sam Franklin to OU.
111. Albany at West Virginia, Sept. 7: Albany went 11-4 last season in I-AA.
112. Abilene Christian at Texas Tech, Aug. 31: ACU ought to become a I-AA power.
113. Towson at Cincinnati, Aug. 31: I-AA programs in the Northeast typically aren’t strong.
114. Southern Utah at Utah, Aug. 29: Southern has been a I-AA program for 30 years. Who knew?
115. New Hampshire at Central Florida, Aug. 29: At least New Hampshire produced Chip Kelly and Ryan Day.
116. Northern Arizona at Arizona, Sept. 7: At least the Wildcats are keeping the money in-state.
117. Long Island at TCU, Sept. 7: West Virginia beat the Sharks 66-0 last season.
118. Lindenwood vs. Kansas in Kansas City, Kan,, Aug. 29: Lindenwood played an NAIA schedule as recently as 2010 and reached Division I-AA just two years ago.
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A variety of OU games are among the SEC’s best showdowns, but the Sooners’ role could be as spoilers.
Big 12 no longer is 12 and is struggling to remain big, so a rebranding seems like a good idea.
berry.tramel@tulsaworld.com
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Sports Columnist
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Tim Pernetti becomes AAC commissioner at an exciting, but also challenging, time.
Tulsa World Sports Extra Show: Juwan Lee, Barry Lewis, Bill Haisten and Berry Tramel discuss Union quarterback Shaker Reisig’s decision to dec…
Oklahoma State wide receiver Braylin Presley and the Cowboys will face Kansas State again in one of this season’s top Big 12 matchups.
TCU and SMU are together in a power conference for the first time since they were Southwest Conference members in the 1990s.
In this 2018 game, Texas Tech’s Alan Bowman passes against Oklahoma State. This year, Bowman will face Texas Tech for the first time as OSU’s quarterback.
Kansas State and Colorado, shown in a 2002 game, resume their rivalry this season for the first time since 2010.
Iowa State and Kansas State will meet in a regular-season finale Nov. 30.
During their matchup with Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders and Colorado, Oklahoma State could be playing for a Big 12 title game berth.
Baylor’s Dave Aranda and Mike Gundy.
UNLV coach Barry Odom guided the Rebels to a 9-4 record last year.
Former TU quarterback G.J. Kinne is in his second year with Texas State in San Marcos.
With TU’s Tyon Davis defending, Oklahoma State’s Bryson Green catches a touchdown pass during the 2021 game, the last time the two teams played.
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