Big 12 Championship Game scenarios after Week 12: BYU, Colorado to fight each other for conference title
The college football season is in the final stretch as things shift to Week 13, with the Big 12 playing strong football over the first 12 weeks of the season. The 16 teams have a combined 91-69 record, including a solid 33-11 mark in non-conference games.
There are four Big 12 teams ranked in the latest rendition of the AP Top 25 Poll, with one other program among the others receiving votes. It means that five of the conference's 16 teams received some recognition from voters.
While the more important College Football Playoff rankings had three Big 12 teams ranked entering the week, they will not be updated until Tuesday. There are multiple teams who still have an opportunity to reach the Big 12 Championship Game.
Two teams - the No. 14-ranked BYU Cougars and No. 16-ranked Colorado Buffaloes - have just one conference loss, while two others have two conference losses. Take a look at the conference championship game scenarios for each of those programs below.
Big 12 Championship Game scenarios after Week 12
#1 BYU Cougars
The No. 14-ranked BYU Cougars control their own path to the Big 12 Championship Game. They are 9-1, and 6-1 in conference play, with their lone loss coming to the Kansas Jayhawks. If they beat the Arizona State Sun Devils and Houston Cougars over their final two games, they will play for the conference title.
#2 Colorado Buffaloes
The No. 16-ranked Colorado Buffaloes also control their own path to the conference title. They are 8-2, and 6-1 in conference play, with their lone conference loss against the Kansas State Wildcats. They will reach the Big 12 Championship Game if they beat the Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma State Cowboys over the final two weeks.
#3 Arizona State Sun Devils
The No. 21-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils are almost in control of their own destiny. They are 8-2, and 5-2 in conference play, with their losses coming to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Cincinnati Bearcats. Arizona State will face the BYU Cougars and Arizona Wildcats over the final two weeks. If they hand the Cougars their second consecutive loss, there is only one scenario in which they would miss the postseason.
#4: Iowa State Cyclones
The No. 22-ranked Iowa State Cyclones are 8-2, and 5-2 in Big 12 play, with their losses coming to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Kansas Jayhawks. They will face the Utah Utes and Kansas State Wildcats over the final two weeks. Iowa State must win out and have Colorado and BYU lose at least one of their final two games.