By Skeeter Smith
It’s been a not so warm welcome for the new kids on the block in the BIG 12 as UCF, BYU, Cincinnati, and Houston are still adjusting to life as a Power 5. So far, these teams have collectively struggled in conference play, amassing just one win and eight losses, with the one coming from BYU defeating fellow newbie Cincinnati. As we reach the midway point of the season, let’s review the performances of these four squads.
BYU (4-1 overall, 1-1 in conference)
BYU has had the most promising start among the new additions. As mentioned before they claim the only conference win for the newcomers, although it came at the expense of another newcomer. In another conference clash against Kansas, BYU put up a strong fight and even led at halftime before the Jayhawks pulled away in the second half.
Outside of conference play, the Cougars remain undefeated, with an impressive victory over SEC opponent Arkansas. This smooth transition shouldn’t surprise many, as unlike the other teams, BYU came as an independent program, regularly facing Power 5 competition. They aim to build on their strong conference debut as they face TCU on the road this Saturday.
Cincinnati (2-3 overall, 0-2 in conference)
After an initial 2-0 start to the season, the Bearcats encountered difficulties, suffering three consecutive losses before going into their bye week. Despite their 0-2 conference record, they competed closely in both games, with one of those opponents being the 5th-ranked Oklahoma.
Outside of the conference, their performance has been inconsistent, winning against Pittsburgh on the road but then suffering an upset by Miami (OH) in overtime at home. The bye-week provides a timely opportunity for Cincinnati to regroup and make necessary adjustments before the second half of the season, starting with their matchup against Iowa State this Saturday.
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Houston (2-3 overall, 0-2 in conference)
Houston faced a challenging start to the season with lopsided losses against TCU and Texas Tech in the Big 12. Their performance outside of the conference hasn’t fared much better, narrowly winning against UTSA at home and suffering an overtime upset against Rice on the road.
In the coming weeks, the Cougars have a chance to prove themselves within the conference as they face West Virginia this Saturday, followed by a matchup against Texas the following week.
UCF (3-3 overall, 0-3 in conference)
Before the season, many expected that UCF would be the team to make an immediate impact in the Big 12, but a winless start in conference play suggests they might need another year or two before they can compete effectively. Despite missing starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee for most of conference play, their offense hasn’t been the main issue.
Instead, their struggles lie in their inability to stop opposing teams, with all three conference games seeing them concede over 35 points, including a 26-point fourth-quarter comeback by Baylor. UCF remains undefeated outside of the conference, including a notable win against Boise State. With a bye week ahead, they have two weeks to prepare and get healthy before facing an Oklahoma team who is atop of the conference.
