By Mark Pszonak
Most of the attention has been given to the top early season out-of-conference games, but there are plenty of conference games that will be vital in determining the playoff chase in 2025. Here are the top five games to watch in the Big 12 this season.
1. Texas Tech at Arizona State (Saturday, October 18th)
The skinny: Two teams with plenty of expectations meet in mid-October, in what should be the biggest game of the season if projections become reality. The Red Raiders are an amazing test case for this new NIL world. They have aggressively splashed cash and now have to show the results on the field, while Arizona State is hoping to prove that their immense success from the 2024 season wasn’t just a one season anomaly.
2. Arizona State at Iowa State (Saturday, November 1st)
The skinny: If the Sun Devils are able to navigate the game against Texas Tech, their next huge test will come in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones aren’t getting the buzz as some of the other Big 12 teams, but once again are considered a serious threat to win the conference.
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3. BYU at Colorado (Saturday, September 27th)
The skinny: One of the biggest questions of the 2025 season lies in Boulder, where many wonder how the first post Shedeur Sanders/Travis Hunter season goes. A home game against BYU in late September will go a long way in showing everyone where the Buffaloes stand.
4. Texas Tech at Utah (Saturday, September 20th)
The skinny: After an unexpected down season in 2024, the Utes are sliding a bit under-the-radar tin 2025. But they will have an early season opportunity to prove that they are once again a team to be reckoned with. This is also an important early season road test for a Texas Tech team with tons of expectations.
5. Texas Tech at Kansas State (Saturday, November 1st)
The skinny: Kansas State may not be a hot topic during the off-season, but they will play a huge role in determining who will win the Big 12 Championship. And this early November game will show which of these two teams are on the right path. Overall, November 1st will be a huge day in the Big 12 with Arizona State also visiting Iowa State (see above).
