Big 12

Teams still alive: No. 10 Iowa State (7-0, 4-0); No. 11 BYU (7-0, 4-0); No. 16 Kansas State (6-1, 3-1); Colorado (5-2, 3-1); Cincinnati (5-2, 3-1); Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1)

None of the leagues have a more perfect scenario than what the Big 12 has in play right now. Iowa State and BYU are not scheduled to meet this season. But both face a few potential roadblocks between now and the Big 12 title game, which is what brings in the other four teams.

The Cyclones play three active Big 12 contenders (Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Kansas State), but all three are held at Jack Trice Stadium. The finale against Kansas State, which has beaten Colorado and lost to BYU, could develop into a win-and-in scenario for the longtime Farmageddon rivals. The Wildcats also host Cincinnati one week before their trip to Ames.

BYU’s schedule is more manageable, although a cross-country trip to 3-4 UCF this week could have some peril. Run-heavy UCF led Iowa State by two touchdowns in Ames before the Cyclones rallied for a three-point win. While there isn’t a Big 12 contender over their final five games, the Cougars reignite their Holy War rivalry at Utah on Nov. 9.

If two of the three teams stumble, Colorado and Deion Sanders are in the next-best spot. The Buffaloes are one win from bowl eligibility and don’t face either BYU or Iowa State. However, that might become a detriment when trying to climb into the Big 12 race. Cincinnati boasts the most challenging schedule of the group with games at Colorado, K-State and Iowa State. Texas Tech is coming off a loss to Baylor, which earned its first Big 12 victory in the process.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Colorado and Deion Sanders are winning in a way few saw coming — quietly

Scenario to watch: Iowa State stumbles to Texas Tech but wins out to join Colorado in a second-place tie. In this case, both teams’ conference loss would have come to a squad that beat the other. The apt tiebreaker comes down to the teams’ record against the next highest-placed conference opponent in the standings. That means how Texas Tech and Kansas State perform in the other games will have a bearing on whether Colorado or Iowa State would face presumed first-place BYU.

Key games before first CFP rankings: BYU at UCF, Oct. 26; Cincinnati at Colorado, Oct. 26; Texas Tech at Iowa State, Nov. 2.