Forgive Kalani Sitake for maybe, just possibly, not being 100 percent locked in on General Conference last weekend.
There was a full slate of Big 12 games on over the weekend, and Sitake wanted to see how BYU stacked up.
“Maybe [I’ll watch both] at the same time, we’ll see,” Sitake joked after BYU’s 35-27 win over Cincinnati.
Even if Sitake only snuck in bits and pieces of football, one thing is for sure: He saw a classic Big 12 weekend.
Baylor stormed back from a 28-point deficit on the road to beat UCF. National runner-up TCU lost to West Virginia — a team thought to be a bottom-dweller but is now a winner of four straight. Texas Tech, without its starting quarterback, dropped 48 points on Houston.
The moral of the story: The Big 12′s chaos and parity are back this season. And like most years, it might be wide open (well, Texas seems to be a lock for one of the spots) for making a run to the conference title game.
“Looking at the games, they are battles,” Sitake said on Monday. “It has been that way even before we got into the conference. There is parity in the conference. Different teams playing for the championship. Everybody playing like they have a chance to get to the championship because they do.”
Which brings us to where BYU sits. It is 4-1 heading into October and 1-1 in Big 12 play. It is right in the mix. As punter Ryan Rehkow said, “If you would have told us this is where our team would be at this point, I think we would’ve been surprised but absolutely happy.”
October will be a challenge for the Cougars. Trips to TCU and Texas await. A home game against Texas Tech won’t be easy, either.
But in the Big 12, crazier things have happened than BYU hanging around the conference championship game hunt into November. After all, this is a league that hasn’t seen Texas in the conference title game since 2018. It’s had six different teams play for a title in the last three years.
(Rick Bowmer | AP) BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis (10) throws during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in Provo.
That is with Texas and Oklahoma out-recruiting the rest of the league by a wide margin. So BYU, even for its talent gap with some of the top teams, can still think it has a shot to keep it interesting past October.
“Everyone controls their own destiny right now,” Sitake said. “It is a really competitive conference.”
After the Red River Rivalry this weekend, the Big 12 will only have one 3-0 team. Everyone else will have at most two wins. So when BYU heads to TCU, it will be right in the middle of a conference without a clear No. 2.
It will be difficult. Sitake knows that. But, for now, the Cougars are right in the heart of it.
“Everybody has a chance. I just want to make sure we have a chance too,” Sitake finished. “That is my job. To play to that standard and elevate our play so hopefully get us playing at a very high level.”
Quick Hits
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) celebrates after a reception as Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard looks on, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
• Former BYU WR Puka Nacua is making history in the NFL.
• An afternoon game for BYU-TCU, what does that mean for the Cougars?
Around the Big 12
Baylor — A historic comeback just momentarily cooled the hot seat for Dave Aranda.
UCF — Was the moment too much for UCF, and it is Power Five ready?
Cincinnati — Is a one-touchdown loss on the road a good thing for the Bearcats?
Houston — A bye week brings questions for the current Big 12 bottom dwellers.
Iowa State — Is Oklahoma that good, or was last week a step back?
Kansas — What is happening with Jalon Daniels?
FILE - Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, center, joins his team for the school song following their win over Baylor in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian was asked Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at his weekly news conference about Yormark's recent comment telling Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire that his team “better take care of business” when the Red Raiders play Texas the day after Thanksgiving.(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Kansas State — Head coach Chris Klieman says he won’t consider Michigan State gig.
Oklahoma — Get ready for a historic Red River game.
Oklahoma State — AD is standing behind Gundy.
TCU — The shine of a magical 2022 season is starting to wear off after second loss of the season.
Texas — Are the Longhorns the best team in the country? Don’t rule it out before going to Dallas this weekend.
Texas Tech — The offense comes alive without the starting QB.
West Virginia — The Mountaineers are shooting up the conference, but did suffer two devastating injuries.