Standings:
1.) Schweinfurth 33-10 (0-10 upset)
2.) Hoying 31-12 (1-9 upset)
3.) Draper 28-15 (1-9 upset)
4.) Seeberg 27-16 (2-8 upset)
The nation's last four undefeated teams all hit the road this weekend, and somehow, the least consequential is at the home of the preseason #2 (yes, yes, I know, but this is Let's Go Bucks! after all). We'll soon have a better sense of who really runs the Big 12 this season (no, Cincinnati, not you), as well as whether Texas A&M can continue their hottest start since they were banned from TV back in 1994.
Brigham Young Cougars @ Texas Tech Red Raiders
Draper: This game holds a lot of intrigue and playoff implications. A BYU win would likely cement them into the Big 12 championship game, but a loss opens the floodgates for all contenders. Bear Bachmeier is a solid QB that has been playing well all year. They continue to fall behind then mount comebacks week in and week out. Tech is at a do or die moment. Crapping the bed against ASU was their one mulligan and they can ill afford another. The NIL money is flowing like wine, but they need to cash here. In Lubbock, the Red Raiders are currently listed as a whopping 10.5 point favorite. That seems a tad rich to me, but I do think they pull off the win to knock the Cougs from the ranks of the unbeaten. BYU: 20--TT: 27
Hoying: Good for BYU. A year after a surprising 9-0 start and getting hosed out of the inaugural Playoff Dozen in favor of the SMU team they beat in Dallas, the Cougs are right back in it this season as the only remining unbeaten team outside the Power 2. That isn't enough for a top 6 ranking in the eyes of the Committee, and they're probably right about that, since BYU hasn't done a whole heck of a lot except put a resurgent Ute squad in their place a couple of weeks ago. But opportunity presents itself this week: TTech remains one of the hottest teams nationwide outside of a strange hiccup in the desert against Arizona State. That was the only game that the Red Raiders didn't hit at least 34 points, and it was the only game which their star QB Behren Morton didn't start. I don't want to sell BYU short; their own QB Bear Bachmeier has been a force for them (see, Michigan, freshman QBs don't have to be mid), but Tech is going to make him miserable with perhaps the best D-Line that money can buy. This is the biggest game in Lubbock since Michael Crabtree silenced the Horns and, while I don't think this one is going to have quite such an exciting finish, I expect another favorable result for the home crowd. TTU cruises toward their first Playoff berth in the first year they've cracked the top 25 in the Playoff rankings! BYU: 17--TTU: 34
Hoying: Good for BYU. A year after a surprising 9-0 start and getting hosed out of the inaugural Playoff Dozen in favor of the SMU team they beat in Dallas, the Cougs are right back in it this season as the only remining unbeaten team outside the Power 2. That isn't enough for a top 6 ranking in the eyes of the Committee, and they're probably right about that, since BYU hasn't done a whole heck of a lot except put a resurgent Ute squad in their place a couple of weeks ago. But opportunity presents itself this week: TTech remains one of the hottest teams nationwide outside of a strange hiccup in the desert against Arizona State. That was the only game that the Red Raiders didn't hit at least 34 points, and it was the only game which their star QB Behren Morton didn't start. I don't want to sell BYU short; their own QB Bear Bachmeier has been a force for them (see, Michigan, freshman QBs don't have to be mid), but Tech is going to make him miserable with perhaps the best D-Line that money can buy. This is the biggest game in Lubbock since Michael Crabtree silenced the Horns and, while I don't think this one is going to have quite such an exciting finish, I expect another favorable result for the home crowd. TTU cruises toward their first Playoff berth in the first year they've cracked the top 25 in the Playoff rankings! BYU: 17--TTU: 34
Schweinfurth: Texas Tech has it all going for them. Good defense, high ranking, confident offense. BYU is that annoying kid that just won’t go away. The seems like a no brainer. Texas Tech is looking like the Big-12 rep right now. BYU: 14–-TTU: 38
Seeberg: BYU wanders in to Lubbock with their magic underwear and undefeated record. Gotta love 11 AM local kicks for top 10 matchups! Regardless, the Red Raiders would likely also still be blemish-free were it not for an injury to the salt man Behren Morton. Also, not only is BYU’s qb a freshman, but he wears #47? It’s like Devin Brown all over again, and we know how well that worked out for him, losing his qb battle to another true freshman. Regardless, the Raiders will re-establish themselves as the team to beat in the Big 12…whatever that’s worth. BYU: 17—TTU: 31
Seeberg: BYU wanders in to Lubbock with their magic underwear and undefeated record. Gotta love 11 AM local kicks for top 10 matchups! Regardless, the Red Raiders would likely also still be blemish-free were it not for an injury to the salt man Behren Morton. Also, not only is BYU’s qb a freshman, but he wears #47? It’s like Devin Brown all over again, and we know how well that worked out for him, losing his qb battle to another true freshman. Regardless, the Raiders will re-establish themselves as the team to beat in the Big 12…whatever that’s worth. BYU: 17—TTU: 31
Texas A&M Aggies @ Missouri Tigers
Draper: Hey! It's Missouri again. You'll never guess, but I still don't believe. A&M is prime for a standard faceplant, and if Mizzou had their QB1, I might pull the trigger, but no Pribula spells trouble. The Aggies have a legit claim to number 1 right now with a hot QB, a tough defense, and confidence. Marcel Reed has another nice (not spectacular) performance and the Aggies continue unblemished. TAMU: 24--Mizzou: 17
Hoying: Guys, I really really wanted to pick Missouri in this one. They've been much better at home and A&M has been begging to get tagged with lackluster performances against Auburn and Arkansas. But. Penn State transfer QB Beau Pribula injured his ankle (not his fibula) in the Tigers' loss at Vanderbilt, which means now they have to rely on Screaming Yellow Zollers at QB to deliver a win against a top 3 opponent. And to add injury to injury, star Tiger TE Brett Norfleet isn't playing either. Now, Missouri has been a rush-first team this season, but Pribula was a key variable in that formula too, and A&M hasn't been too vulnerable on the ground this year. Look for the Fightin' Texas Aggies to dial up some pressure on the freshman QB and mix in a healthy dose of exotic run fits as well. The eyes of Texas are upon you, UT, to make sure A&M doesn't finish the season unblemished. TAMU: 24--Mizzou: 20
Hoying: Guys, I really really wanted to pick Missouri in this one. They've been much better at home and A&M has been begging to get tagged with lackluster performances against Auburn and Arkansas. But. Penn State transfer QB Beau Pribula injured his ankle (not his fibula) in the Tigers' loss at Vanderbilt, which means now they have to rely on Screaming Yellow Zollers at QB to deliver a win against a top 3 opponent. And to add injury to injury, star Tiger TE Brett Norfleet isn't playing either. Now, Missouri has been a rush-first team this season, but Pribula was a key variable in that formula too, and A&M hasn't been too vulnerable on the ground this year. Look for the Fightin' Texas Aggies to dial up some pressure on the freshman QB and mix in a healthy dose of exotic run fits as well. The eyes of Texas are upon you, UT, to make sure A&M doesn't finish the season unblemished. TAMU: 24--Mizzou: 20
Schweinfurth: Oh man. Two SEC teams. Great. These are at least toward the top of the conference? I think? Look, I have never taken Mizzou seriously, and I’m not sure I can this year either. TAMU: 28—Mizzou: 13
Seeberg: Here we are again, Mizzou’s biggest home game in years, part 2. Part 1 ended poorly with Bama escaping town with a 3-point W. Mizzou has beaten absolutely nobody of note; they’re Tennessee with a slightly better defense. Somehow, the Aggies have also beaten nobody of note in the vaunted SEC, but their drubbing of the golden domers looks better each week. Until this iteration of the Tigers proves me wrong, I’m taking the Aggies in hopes of getting another SEC team out of the rankings. TAMU: 27—Mizzou: 17
Seeberg: Here we are again, Mizzou’s biggest home game in years, part 2. Part 1 ended poorly with Bama escaping town with a 3-point W. Mizzou has beaten absolutely nobody of note; they’re Tennessee with a slightly better defense. Somehow, the Aggies have also beaten nobody of note in the vaunted SEC, but their drubbing of the golden domers looks better each week. Until this iteration of the Tigers proves me wrong, I’m taking the Aggies in hopes of getting another SEC team out of the rankings. TAMU: 27—Mizzou: 17
Oregon Ducks @ Iowa Hawkeyes
Draper: Weird stuff happens in Iowa City. Also, do we really know Oregon is any good? Their best win to date is likely...Northwestern? Yeah, Dan Lanning, blah blah, blah, but Iowa was much closer to knocking off the Hoosiers (this is still weird to type). I don't think Ferentz and company have quite enough of the magic dust left to pull this one out, but I won't be absolutely shocked in a weird 2017 Iowa voodoo happens (that game is still baffling). Regardless, Oregon continues plowing ahead hoping for a loss of the big 2. Ore: 31--Iowa: 17
Hoying: Bonasera...what has Oregon ever done to make you treat them so disrespectfully? I feel like the country has sort of collectively forgotten about the Ducks after the Indiana loss and the collapse of Penn State. It's not their fault the other two OSUs have been horrible this year, and the Ducks curbstomped both of them the way you'd expect an elite team to. Sure, they fell to Indiana, but so did Iowa, both teams fading down the stretch in the fourth quarter against the Hoosier juggernaut (what a time to be alive). Iowa hasn't changed a lick: sure they only have two losses so far but that's what you get when you've been blessed to play a Big Ten West level schedule so far. Too bad they're facing the Big Ten Way Out West one-two combo this week and next. Teams that don't throw the ball don't beat Oregon, and lo and behold, the Hawks have quite possibly the worst passing game in the nation, led by a quarterback who makes Bryce Underwood on his worst days look like Julian Sayin. Yeah, nobody wants to go play at Kinnick, but there are only so many recipes for beating Oregon under Dan Lanning and Iowa is still serving up 12 helpings of pork tenderloin sandwich every season. Ducks take down Hawks (next up, Team Iceland). Ore: 27--Iowa: 17
Hoying: Bonasera...what has Oregon ever done to make you treat them so disrespectfully? I feel like the country has sort of collectively forgotten about the Ducks after the Indiana loss and the collapse of Penn State. It's not their fault the other two OSUs have been horrible this year, and the Ducks curbstomped both of them the way you'd expect an elite team to. Sure, they fell to Indiana, but so did Iowa, both teams fading down the stretch in the fourth quarter against the Hoosier juggernaut (what a time to be alive). Iowa hasn't changed a lick: sure they only have two losses so far but that's what you get when you've been blessed to play a Big Ten West level schedule so far. Too bad they're facing the Big Ten Way Out West one-two combo this week and next. Teams that don't throw the ball don't beat Oregon, and lo and behold, the Hawks have quite possibly the worst passing game in the nation, led by a quarterback who makes Bryce Underwood on his worst days look like Julian Sayin. Yeah, nobody wants to go play at Kinnick, but there are only so many recipes for beating Oregon under Dan Lanning and Iowa is still serving up 12 helpings of pork tenderloin sandwich every season. Ducks take down Hawks (next up, Team Iceland). Ore: 27--Iowa: 17
Schweinfurth: Not sure I can really give this much thought. Iowa is still Iowa. Okay to good defense, not much offense. Sorry, but you have to score to beat the Ducks. Ore: 35—Iowa: 13
Seeberg: I am, quite frankly, astounded at the amount of attention this game is getting as a potential upset. Barring D/ST scores or multiple short fields I just can’t envision the Hawkeyes scoring enough points to win this one, though they did largely throttle the Hoosiers when they came to Iowa City. I would expect the Ducks to create a turnover or two of their own, however, and Iowa can’t afford mistakes with their razor thin margins. Ducks late. Ore: 23—Iowa: 13
Seeberg: I am, quite frankly, astounded at the amount of attention this game is getting as a potential upset. Barring D/ST scores or multiple short fields I just can’t envision the Hawkeyes scoring enough points to win this one, though they did largely throttle the Hoosiers when they came to Iowa City. I would expect the Ducks to create a turnover or two of their own, however, and Iowa can’t afford mistakes with their razor thin margins. Ducks late. Ore: 23—Iowa: 13
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Purdue Boilermakers
Draper: Someone said that it must be terrible being an OSU fan right now because you simply crush everyone in your path. Honestly, I'm loving it! However, each game always starts with the pit in your stomach of 'is today the day?' The nice thing about the 2025 edition of the Buckeyes is that those weird worries are usually quashed very quickly. I expect the same here. Yeah, the Boilers played TTUN reasonably close last week, but I think that speaks more to the maize and blue than it does to the old gold. Ryan Day and Co. always come out of the gate slow on the road (except in Madison?) so I don't know if we'll get fireworks, but it's going to be hard to prevent them with Tate and Smith terrorizing the secondary. I was wrong in Madison, but this seems like an opportunity to work on the running game and try to get something going up front. Stop the rotation and cement Bo as the starter. Once again, get in, get the dub, stay healthy, Go Bucks! OSU: 45--Pur: 13
Hoying: If you're a fan of Parker Fleming (no, not THAT Parker Fleming, wait, why is he still listed as Ohio State's current special teams coordinator?) and his statistical modeling at CFB Graphs, you won't be surprised to know that this is one of those "lots of blue numbers against lots of red numbers" games. Apparently, the only things that Purdue isn't horrible at is success rate on passing plays, offensive success on late downs, and minimizing points given up on opponents' potential scoring drives. That's...not a lot to go on, especially since Ohio State leads the nation in getting teams off the field on 3rd down and stuffing them on 4th. You could be forgiven for thinking that Ohio State might not be putting in quite the effort or energy for this game as they did for Jim Knowles's unhappy homecoming last week. But if you've watched Ryan Day closely this season, you'll see that he's taken his usual positivity coach speak demeanor and laced it with a healthy(?) dose of elite coach psychopath. It's like the Buckeyes are in permanent cruise control this season, but set at 75 MPH on the open road while everyone else is in a go-kart. Anyone pulls up close, and the Bucks hit the nitro. Not this week though. OSU: 38--Pur: 6
Hoying: If you're a fan of Parker Fleming (no, not THAT Parker Fleming, wait, why is he still listed as Ohio State's current special teams coordinator?) and his statistical modeling at CFB Graphs, you won't be surprised to know that this is one of those "lots of blue numbers against lots of red numbers" games. Apparently, the only things that Purdue isn't horrible at is success rate on passing plays, offensive success on late downs, and minimizing points given up on opponents' potential scoring drives. That's...not a lot to go on, especially since Ohio State leads the nation in getting teams off the field on 3rd down and stuffing them on 4th. You could be forgiven for thinking that Ohio State might not be putting in quite the effort or energy for this game as they did for Jim Knowles's unhappy homecoming last week. But if you've watched Ryan Day closely this season, you'll see that he's taken his usual positivity coach speak demeanor and laced it with a healthy(?) dose of elite coach psychopath. It's like the Buckeyes are in permanent cruise control this season, but set at 75 MPH on the open road while everyone else is in a go-kart. Anyone pulls up close, and the Bucks hit the nitro. Not this week though. OSU: 38--Pur: 6
Schweinfurth: Number 1 Ohio State comes rumbling into Purdue. I’ve heard this before. It ended…not good. Good news, this Purdue team is not great. Ryan Day has shown that this team will turn up the pressure and tempo if he has to. It wont be needed here. Bucks should win pretty handily. OSU: 42—Pur: 6
Seeberg: *The 2018 Boilermakers can’t hurt you* I say to myself while slowly rocking back and forth in a dark corner somewhere. Thankfully, this statement is accurate as we actually have their best offensive weapon from last season, and their best weapon this season is on the shelf in starting RB in Devin Mockobee. Lots of short possessions for their offense should provide lots of opportunities for ours. The weather looks mediocre so deep shots may be impacted, but I expect Sayin to remain precise on short and intermediate throws. Perhaps the run game can get right too? Maybe a pick 6 or punt return TD? It all feels in play. Boring wins are good wins, and if this one is in doubt in the second half, something has gone apocalyptically wrong. HAMMER that Max Klare anytime TD prop if you can get it people! OSU: 38—Pur: 3
Upset Special
Draper: Penn State over Indiana
Hoying: Mississippi State over Georgia
Hoying: Mississippi State over Georgia
Schweinfurth: Auburn over Vandy
Seeberg: Cal over Louisville
Seeberg: Cal over Louisville
