The Big 12's 2025 college football season has been nothing short of electric, proving to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable leagues in the country. With the addition of new teams and a new 16-team format, the conference has showcased its depth and parity in a way that has made nearly every game feel important.

The action started with a bang, with several marquee non-conference matchups that captivated fans. TCU's decisive win over North Carolina, spoiling Bill Belichick's college coaching debut, was a huge statement for the conference. Utah's dominant performance on the road against UCLA also provided the Big 12 with a significant quality win against a Big Ten opponent. These wins, coupled with high-scoring victories by teams like Texas Tech and BYU, set a tone of high-level play and offensive firepower.

What makes the Big 12 so "electric" this season is the number of close, competitive games. There have been no easy wins, and the outcomes of many games have been decided by a single play or a last-second field goal. The Cy-Hawk rivalry game between Iowa State and Iowa went down to the wire, with a clutch 54-yard field goal giving the Cyclones a dramatic victory. Similarly, Kansas State's upset loss to Army and Arizona State's close defeat to Mississippi State were hard-fought battles that could have gone either way.

The league's competitiveness is a testament to its coaching and talent. Multiple teams, including BYU, Utah, Iowa State, and Texas Tech, are currently undefeated and ranked, and several others are on the cusp of the top 25. This creates a fascinating and wide-open conference race where a team with a single loss can still be a contender for the championship. The fact that the Big 12 has so many teams that can legitimately compete for a conference title and a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff is what makes this season so compelling and unpredictable. The action on the field has lived up to the hype, making the Big 12 a must-watch every Saturday.

Texas Tech booster and prominent college football figure Cody Campbell recently took to Twitter to call out SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Campbell's criticism came after a leaked email from Sankey to the commissioners of the "Group of Six" conferences was made public.

In the email, Sankey was reportedly dismissive and condescending toward the other commissioners, suggesting that the power conferences (SEC and Big Ten) would handle the future of college sports and that the other conferences should essentially stay out of the way.

Campbell, who has been a vocal proponent for a more balanced and collaborative approach to college sports governance, shared his reaction on Twitter. He wrote, "All I can say is 'Wow!!' Bullying the G6 conference commissioners to prevent them from representing their members and making their voices heard!?" He went on to question if this approach was consistent with the goal of doing what is best for "ALL of college sports—women's sports, Olympic sports, and smaller schools?"

The tweet and the broader controversy highlight the growing tension between the SEC and Big Ten and the rest of college football. Campbell, as a key figure in the Big 12, has been a leading voice in advocating for the "other" conferences, arguing that the two superconferences should not unilaterally make decisions that affect the entire college sports landscape. His public rebuke of Sankey underscores the ongoing power struggle and the deep-seated disagreements over the future of the sport's governance.

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The Big 12 conference is currently showing itself to be as deep and competitive as advertised. With 16 teams, the league is a true "superconference" with no clear-cut favorite and a surprising amount of parity. The early season results have only reinforced this notion.

While some of the pre-season favorites have stumbled—Kansas State's upset loss to Army and Arizona State's defeat at the hands of Mississippi State are prime examples—other teams have emerged as potential contenders. Iowa State, for example, is off to a 3-0 start, including a dramatic win over rival Iowa, and has climbed into the top spot of some Big 12 power rankings.

The new additions have made a significant impact as well. Both Utah and BYU are undefeated and have looked dominant in their early games. Utah's convincing road win against a Big Ten opponent, UCLA, and BYU's explosive offensive performance in its first few games signal that these teams are ready to compete at the top of the conference. Other teams like Texas Tech and UCF have also started the season strong, further complicating the championship race.

The unpredictable nature of the conference makes for an exciting viewing experience. There is no easy week on the schedule, and any team, even one with an early-season loss, could still make a run for the conference title in December. The wide-open nature of the Big 12 championship race, with multiple teams having a realistic chance to win, proves just how deep and competitive the conference is in 2025.

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In a classic, hard-fought Cy-Hawk rivalry game, Iowa State defeated Iowa 16-13 on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The win marks the first time since 2011 that the Cyclones have beaten the Hawkeyes at home, and their second consecutive victory in the series.

The game lived up to its reputation as a defensive battle. Iowa State's defense was dominant for long stretches, holding Iowa to just 39 yards of total offense in the first half. The Cyclones were able to capitalize on an early interception, leading to a touchdown pass from quarterback Rocco Becht to tight end Benjamin Brahmer to go up 13-3.

However, the Hawkeyes fought back. They put together a long, 17-play, 73-yard drive at the end of the first half, capped by a touchdown run from quarterback Mark Gronowski, to cut the lead to 13-10. The game was tied at 13-13 after a lengthy Iowa drive in the second half that resulted in a field goal.

With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy, who set a school record with a 63-yard field goal last week, was the hero. He connected on a clutch 54-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining to give the Cyclones the 16-13 lead. Iowa's last-ditch effort was stifled by the Iowa State defense, as Gronowski was sacked twice, and the Hawkeyes turned the ball over on downs. The Cyclones then kneeled to secure the victory.

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Texas falls to 7 in the AP poll. Michigan and Oklahoma take center stage in week 2. Should Arizona State be on upset alert? And Iowa vs Iowa State face off in a huge rivalry showdown.

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Today'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)

Week one of college football brought some interesting results to the Big 12 and their squads. The Baylor Bears fell to the Auburn Tigers and the Colorado Buffaloes fell to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Meanwhile, the Iowa State Cyclones continued their winning ways and the TCU Horned Frogs made a statement against Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels.