The Big 12 football season is set to begin later this month and there is no shortage of outstanding games to watch this upcoming season. But as I looked at the schedule, I wanted to find the best games on the calendar. As you will notice, it’s easier to pick early season games as being more important, given we know they will play a role in the league race. It gets harder as the season rolls along.
So with that, here are the Top 10 Big 12 football conference games of 2024.
1. Oklahoma State vs. Utah (Sept. 21)
The winner of this game in Week 4 will be the favorite to win the Big 12 Conference and will define the top of the league in the weeks ahead. It’s the best program in recent memory of the “Old Big 12” vs. the best program in recent memory of the “New Big 12”. It pits two of the longest-tenured coaches in college football against each other in a can’t-miss match up in the Big 12.
2. Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State (Sept. 28)
Next up, Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State is the definition of an old school Big 12 match up. It’s another late September game that when it comes to deciding the early hierarchy in the Big 12, will go a long way to determine how the final two months of the regular season look. Last season’s match up on a Friday night was what helped turn Oklahoma State’s season around after the early season struggles, while giving K-State little room for error the rest of the way.
Related: Top Five Big 12 Non-Conference Games in 2024
3. West Virginia vs. Kansas (Sept. 21)
Here are two teams with Big 12 title aspirations, and the winner will feel like they can make that run to Arlington, and the loser will be well behind the eight-ball. It’s a battle between two of the better quarterbacks in this league, and arguably two of the best running back rooms in the Big 12 as well. West Virginia comes off the much tougher non-conference, but if Neal Brown wants to achieve the goals he’s set out for WVU, this game matters more than the previous three combined.
4. Utah vs. Arizona (Sept. 28)
The reason I stack up the September games at the top of the list is because they obviously help determine what matters as the season progresses. We know Utah has been picked to win the Big 12 Conference, so this game, in an old Pac-12 match up, will help decide whether or not Utah remains the team to beat. And it comes one week after their huge match up in Stillwater. These last two weeks in September will set the stage for the rest of the Big 12 season.
5. Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia (Oct. 5)
As we move into October, here are two teams who have already faced a tough early season schedule. Oklahoma State will have taken on Utah and Kansas State, while WVU will have played Kansas before then having a bye week. No matter the scenario, it could be a do-or-die game for either, or both, teams. If WVU is 0-1, then a loss sinks their chances of being contenders. If OSU is any worse than 2-0, this is more or less a must-win for them. So many scenarios, and each one is fascinating.
6. West Virginia vs. Kansas State (Oct. 19)
Later in October, we move to this game, also in Morgantown, as WVU will have now taken on KU, OSU and Iowa State in league play, while Kansas State will be coming off a road trip to Colorado and playing this game one week before the Sunflower Showdown. But the Cats better not get caught looking ahead, because this WVU team will either be in contention, or be a desperate team in need of a win to stay in the mix for title contention.
7. Kansas State vs. Kansas (Oct. 26)
Speaking of the Sunflower Showdown, here we go. It’s the most-hyped preseason for these two teams combined, with them both coming in ranked in the Preseason Top 25 since 1996. Will they both remain in the Top 25 by late October, that obviously remains to be seen, but no matter what, this game has all the makings of a classic rivalry match up where there could be plenty on the line.
8. Kansas vs. Iowa State (Nov. 9)
Moving into November, this game at Arrowhead could have huge Big 12 implications, and playing in the iconic NFL Stadium should give it a little extra juice. Both teams hope to be in the mix for reaching Arlington, and if nothing else, this could end up being an elimination game for one, or both, of these teams this late in the season.
9. Utah vs. Iowa State (Nov. 23)
Given my belief that Utah is worthy of being the preseason favorite in the Big 12, picking their games to be some of the most meaningful late in the season only makes sense. Could Utah be needing to win this game to lock up a spot in the Big 12 Title Game? Is Iowa State still going to be in the mix at this point? There are so many possibilities here that will play a role in the conference race.
10. UCF vs. Utah (Nov. 29)
And coming in at No. 10, another Utah game, since there are scenarios such as: 1) Utah needing to win and be in Arlington. 2) Maybe they’re already in, but UCF is still in the mix to punch its own ticket to the league title game. In which case, what should Utah do? Rest? Play hard?
Of course, maybe none of those scenarios play out, but I give it the edge over Farmageddon for this spot, given my belief that of the four teams (Utah, Kansas State, Iowa State and UCF), I feel most confident in Utah being in the mix for a Big 12 Championship.
