NCAAF · 1 year ago

Ranking the Big 12’s Top 5 Non-Conference Showdowns in 2024

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

5. Arkansas at Oklahoma State - September 7
Pickings are a bit slim for high-quality non-conference Big 12 games, so the final selection goes to the Oklahoma State Cowboys hosting the Arkansas Razorbacks in a match this league cannot afford to see the Cowboys lose. OK State is one of the favorites to win the league, while Arkansas is among the expected cellar-dwellers in the SEC. A loss for the Cowboys would be devastating for the league's perception as they attempt to secure multiple bids to the College Football Playoff. Ideally, for the Cowboys and the Big 12, Oklahoma State handles the Razorbacks with ease and looks the part of a title contender in a power conference and not like a mediocre team in a lesser league.

Oklahoma State CFP Odds: +700
1. Penn State at West Virginia - August 31
There are not a lot of great non-conference games featuring Big 12 teams, but the week one matchup between Penn State and West Virginia in Morgantown is exempt from that criticism. This is a legitimately exciting clash. The two played last season in Happy Valley, and the Nittany Lions won. Still, it was not an exceptionally comfortable contest, and West Virginia put together a season more than good enough to remove head coach Neal Brown from the hot seat. Penn State is a preseason top-ten team and is favored going to Morgantown, but the Mountaineers have a shot in this one, and the atmosphere should be terrific. The Big 12 could undoubtedly use some marquee wins, and they don’t have many chances to grab one, so this game has gigantic ramifications for the league.

Penn State (-10.5) at West Virginia
2. Iowa State at Iowa - September 7
The annual CyHawk Trophy series is renewed on September 7 as the Iowa State Cyclones make the short trip to Iowa City to play the Iowa Hawkeyes. This is a crucial game for Iowa State as they have lost seven of the past eight meetings. Matt Campbell’s crew won their last trip to Iowa with a 10-7 victory in 2022. Iowa is a sleeper playoff candidate, mainly if they can figure out anything on the offensive side of the ball. Iowa State has a potential path to the playoff via the automatic bid in the Big 12. The Cyclones return a lot of production, and their young potential stars at quarterback and running back now have a year of experience. The Big 12 has few chances to get a scalp from the “Big Two” leagues, so they must take advantage of every opportunity.

Iowa State (+2.5) at Iowa
3. Colorado at Nebraska - September 7
Nebraska and Colorado do not like each other. The two are old rivals from the Big 12, and while neither are at the height of their powers, both feel like 2024 could be a significant season. Shedeur Sanders is a star likely beginning his final collegiate football season before going to the NFL. The Buffaloes have again raided the transfer portal, desperate to build a roster good enough to compete immediately. They should be 1-0 heading to Lincoln, and it will be the first test for hyped freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Big Red faithful will be fired up as they host Deion Sanders under the lights at Memorial Stadium on September 7 on NBC. Nebraska has a strong defense and an incredibly manageable schedule. Failing to reach a bowl game would be a disaster, and they need this game to build on the off-season momentum. Colorado's development into a solid bowl team would help solidify the Big 12, and earning a big road win would be an excellent early-season momentum builder for the Buffaloes and the league.

Colorado (+6.5) at Nebraska
4. UCF at Florida - October 4
The UCF Knights are a very dangerous team, thanks to the arrival of running back Peny Boone and quarterback KJ Jefferson. Those two, combined with the system run by Gus Malzahn and the returning running back duo of Johnny Richardson and RJ Harvey, and a solid offensive line, will make the Knights’ attack a real issue. While not at all favorites to win the league, the Knights can go on a run and get to the Big 12 Championship Game. On October 4, they get a shot against SEC foe and in-state rival Florida. This is a massive deal for UCF. They try to compete with the Gators for recruits, and a victory at The Swamp over Florida would be a gigantic statement for the present and the future of Malzahn’s program. It would also be a nice feather in the cap for the Big 12.

UCF Odds to Make CFP: +700
5. Arkansas at Oklahoma State - September 7
Pickings are a bit slim for high-quality non-conference Big 12 games, so the final selection goes to the Oklahoma State Cowboys hosting the Arkansas Razorbacks in a match this league cannot afford to see the Cowboys lose. OK State is one of the favorites to win the league, while Arkansas is among the expected cellar-dwellers in the SEC. A loss for the Cowboys would be devastating for the league's perception as they attempt to secure multiple bids to the College Football Playoff. Ideally, for the Cowboys and the Big 12, Oklahoma State handles the Razorbacks with ease and looks the part of a title contender in a power conference and not like a mediocre team in a lesser league.

Oklahoma State CFP Odds: +700
1. Penn State at West Virginia - August 31
There are not a lot of great non-conference games featuring Big 12 teams, but the week one matchup between Penn State and West Virginia in Morgantown is exempt from that criticism. This is a legitimately exciting clash. The two played last season in Happy Valley, and the Nittany Lions won. Still, it was not an exceptionally comfortable contest, and West Virginia put together a season more than good enough to remove head coach Neal Brown from the hot seat. Penn State is a preseason top-ten team and is favored going to Morgantown, but the Mountaineers have a shot in this one, and the atmosphere should be terrific. The Big 12 could undoubtedly use some marquee wins, and they don’t have many chances to grab one, so this game has gigantic ramifications for the league.

Penn State (-10.5) at West Virginia

Ranking the Big 12’s Top 5 Non-Conference Showdowns in 2024

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