Bad Day for the Big 12: How bad losses by Texas Tech, BYU hurt conference's CFP outlook

Bad Day for the Big 12: How bad losses by Texas Tech, BYU hurt conference's CFP outlook originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Big 12 had a terrible, no good, very bad day of football. In the afternoon slate, we saw two Big 12 teams go down to unranked conference opponents. Texas Tech lost to unranked Cincinnati on the road 37-24.

Then came the big one. BYU, fresh off a huge home win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame, went on the road to unranked UCF and lost in double overtime in a completely wild game that saw multiple penalties late in the game that kept the Knights alive.

Both teams were favored and were considered one of the conference's best chances to make both the Big 12 title game and CFP.

here's a look at where things stand for both teams with their respective losses.

MORE:Why Pat McAfee saidhe hopes to never see Utah fans ever again

Bad Day for the Big 12

It wasn't the best day for the conference, which saw two of its top teams in Texas Tech and BYU go down to teams they shouldn't have lost to.

BYU loses to unranked UCF

BYU entered Saturday's game expected to take care of a UCF team that was 3-3 on the season and 1-2 in Big 12 play.

But UCF pulled off a huge upset, beating BYU in double overtime 39-31. The game was tight throughout, as the Knights led 17-14 at halftime, and 24-21 entering the fourth quarter. BYU kicker Matthias Dunn made a 47-yard field goal to even the score at 24 which held until the end of the fourth.

Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime to take the game to a second overtime.

In the next OT, UCF was going to settle for a field goal on the first possession of the period. But thanks to a questionable roughing the kicker call, the Knights got a fresh set of downs.

UCF kicks the field goal but BYU was called for a roughing the kicker penalty!
UCF will have it 1st and Goal pic.twitter.com/Yqmq9uw8O4

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 24, 2026

UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins hit Grayson Brousseau in the end zone capped off with a successful two-point try to give the Knights a 39-31 lead.

On BYU's ensuing possession, Bear Bachmeir failed connect with his receiver Walker Lyons in the end zone, sealing a Knights upset victory.

BEAR BACHMEIER CANT CONNECT WITH WALKER LYONS
UCF UPSETS #2 BYU pic.twitter.com/eK9jkEAGQL

— wok (@wokdior) October 24, 2026

MORE:Why does BYU QB Bear Bachmeier wear No. 47?

Texas Tech blown out by unranked Cincinnati

Earlier in the day, the Red Raiders went on the road to play a 4-2 Cincinnati team, entering as 10.5-point favorites. But in an abysmal offensive performance, Texas Tech lost 37-24. The Red Raiders had to settle for four field goals, and the Bearcats led 24-6 at halftime.

In the second half, Texas Tech opened the third quarter with 10 points, thanks to a field goal and a pick-six returned for a touchdown. The Red Raiders even intercepted Bearcat quarterback JC French IV a second time. But Texas Tech kicker Stone Harrington missed a 38-yard field goal, and Cincy scored a touchdown on the next drive to make it 31-15 Bearcats.

Cincinnati's defense gave up 10 more points in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats scored an insurance touchdown to win comfortably 37-24.

CFP odds for notable Big 12 teams

Per DraftKings, BYU still has odds inside the top-12 teams, sitting at +110, which is the 11-best in the nation. Texas Tech is outside the Top-10, at +340.

Utah, which kicks off later Saturday at home against Houston, has the best of the conference with -115.

According to ESPN's FPI, Texas Tech entered Saturday with a 67.9% chance to make the CFP. BYU, meanwhile, was at 71.3%, so the Cougars might be OK thanks to the big win over Notre Dame on their resume.

But with remaining games against Arizona State, Utah on the road, Baylor, Kansas in Manhattan and a home game against Cincinnati, another loss would diminish BYU's chances for the CFP significantly.
Here's a look at the curent odds for various Big 12 teams to make the CFP according to DraftKings.

• Utah +115
• BYU +110
• Texas Tech +340
• Houston +425
• Oklahoma State +1425
• Arizona +1500

MORE:Malachi Toney's massive game vs, Pitt puts him in mix with other elite wideouts