Things get more interesting in Week 4 as the Big 12 Conference enters a full slate of games. Most teams will be done with the nonconference cupcakes on their schedule.
Six Big 12 teams remain undefeated, although most of those haven't faced a worthy opponent.
The biggest game of Week 3 featured defending conference champion Texas Tech squeaking by Houston in a battle of nationally ranked foes. The Red Raiders don't look nearly as overpowering as they were a year ago, but they are getting the job done.
Meanwhile, the top team is cementing its place there.
1. BYU (3-0, 1-0)
Last week: 1.
Defeated Colorado State 41-23.
L.J. Martin rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns, including a 56-yard run on the second play of the game as the Cougars cruised. It marks the 20th
time the Cougars have started 3-0, six of those under current coach Kalani Sitake. Martin, the reigning Big 12 offensive player of the year, had 173 of his yards in the first half and carried the ball once in the second half with BYU up big.
Next up: At TCU on Oct. 3.
2. Utah (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: 2.
Defeated Utah State 33-0.
Devon Dampier threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, and Braden Pegan had a season-high 122 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches as the Utes won in lopsided fashion for the third week. Utah amassed 480 yards against its rival and averaged 6.5 yards per play.
Next up: At Iowa State on Sept. 26.
3. Texas Tech (3-0, 1-0)
Last week: 4.
Defeated Houston 28-26.
Texas Tech was challenged for the second straight week, but again came out on the winning side. Will Hammond was 17-of-27 passing for 257 yards and a touchdown for the Red Raiders, who were down 10-0 and had only one offensive snap in 9 1/2 minutes.
Next up: vs. Sam Houston State on Sept. 26.
4. Houston (2-1, 0-1)
Last week: 3.
Lost to Texas Tech 28-26.
Conner Weigman's third TD pass, a 10-yarder to Patrick Overmyer with 49 seconds left, gave the Cougars a chance to tie in the closing minute, but on the two-point conversion attempt, Weigman took off to the left and lunged forward with the ball extended, but his knee came down before the ball broke the plane of the end zone.
Next up: At Georgia Southern on Sept. 26.
5. Oklahoma State (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 5.
Defeated Murray State 59-0.
The Cowboys scored on nine of their first 10 drives, with the only exception coming on a lost fumble by quarterback Drew Mestemaker at the Murray State 21-yard line. That was the only flaw in an efficient outing for the Cowboys quarterback, who completed 20-of-22 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns. Justin Bowick caught two touchdown passes.
Next up: At West Virginia on Sept. 26.
6. Arizona (2-1, 0-1)
Last week: 6.
Defeated Northern Illinois 42-17.
.The Wildcats spotted their foe a 10-0 lead, but the game wasn't competitive after that. Arizona QB Noah Fifita threw for 325 yards to become Arizona's all-time leading passer and accounted for five touchdowns in what ended up a rout. Arizona tallied 441 yards of offense, 100 more than the visitors.
Next up: At Washington State on Sept. 26.
7. Arizona State (2-1, 1-0)
Last week: 7.
Defeated Kansas 24-17.
It was an extra-long road trip with the Sun Devils going from Texas A&M right to London to face the Jayhawks. The offense struggled but was rescued by the performances ot the defense and special teams. The highlight was a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jaren Hamilton, the team's first kick return for a TD since D.J. Taylor ran one back 100 yards against Arizona in 2020.
Next up: vs. Baylor on Oct. 3.
8. West Virginia (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: 9.
Defeated Virginia 38-27.
Michael Hawkins accounted for 313 yards of total offense and five touchdowns as the Mountaineers upset the Cavaliers in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at the Carolina Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium. D.J. Epps caught a 21-yard scoring strike from Hawkins in the closing seconds of the third quarter to snap a 21-21 tie, and West Virginia never looked back.
Next up: vs. Oklahoma State on Sept. 26.
9. Kansas State (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: 8.
Defeated Tulane 31-20.
Senior quarterback Avery Johnson threw for 227 yards on 21-of-28 passing and rushed for 152 yards and two scores as the Wildcats turned back the Green Wave. The Wildcats were 10-for-16 on third down and 1-for-1 on fourth down. Jaron Tibbs had nine catches for 114 yards.
Next up: At Cincinnati on Sept. 26.
10. Cincinnati (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: 11.
Defeated Miami (Ohio) 35-31.
Cole Tabb scored on a 53-yard touchdown run with 1:29 remaining to boost the Bearcats past Miami (Ohio) in the 129th meeting of the “Battle for the Victory Bell." Cincinnati trailed by 21 points at halftime, 28-7. Cincinnati has won 18 of the last 19 meetings in the oldest non-conference rivalry in the country and the fifth-most played in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Next up: vs. Kansas State on Sept. 26.
11. TCU (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 13.
Defeated Arkansas State 31-7.
Quarterback Jaden Craig redeemed himself after a tough first game. He went 21-for-29 for 337 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Horned Frogs to a win. TCU racked up 464 yards and won the time-of-possession battle by more than 9 minutes. A big game is on the horizon.
Next up: vs. BYU on Sept. 26.
12. Central Florida (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 14.
Defeated Georgia State 44-30.
The Knights survived. The contest was tied 27-27 early in the third quarter, but UCF scored the next 10 points on a 4-yard touchdown run by Keyinte Jenkins and a 24-yard field goal by Will Stone. The Knights were 3-for-12 on third down and had 95 fewer yards than their opponent.
Next up: vs. TCU on Sept. 26.
13. Baylor (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 16,
Defeated Louisiana Tech 36-19.
Backup quarterback Nate Bennett subbed for injured D.J. Lagway for the second straight week and threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 21 of 24 passes and ran for another score. Baylor overcame 90 yards in penalties.
Next up: vs. Colorado on Sept. 26.
14. Iowa State (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 15.
Defeated Bowling Green 55-7.
Aiden Flora ran for 179 of his career-high 194 yards in the first half and returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown as the Cyclones coasted. Cameron Pettaway scored on a 100-yard kick return against his old team, which went just 2-for-12 on third down.
Next up: vs. Utah on Sept. 26.
15. Colorado (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: 10.
Lost to Northwestern 41-7.
The host team jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back, handing the Buffs their first loss of the season. Colorado hurt itself with four turnovers and 80 yards in penalties.
Next up: At Baylor on Sept. 26.
16. Kansas (1-2, 0-1)
Last week: 12.
Lost to Arizona State 24-17.
The Jayhawks were victimized by poor special teams more than anything else. They gave up a 100-yard kickoff return, shanked a punt that led to an ASU touchdown in the first half's closing seconds, and missed a field goal. Kansas had a knack for one-score losses a year ago. This was another one of those.
Next up: vs. Middle Tennessee on Oct. 3.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Texas Tech, West Virginia notch big wins to improve standing
