Big 12 Notes – BYU Week

—

Big 12 Notes – BYU Week

—

September 27th – Game Day!

… Foe Pause … 

TCU blows 17-0 lead, falls 27-24 to Arizona State

From ESPN … Jesus Gomez kicked a 23-yard field goal with 1:14 left and Arizona State overcame a 17-point deficit to beat No. 24 TCU 27-24 on Friday night.

The Sun Devils (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) were down 17-0 in the second quarter before rallying behind Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson to pull out a second straight late win.

“Every close of the game, it’s incredible our guys find ways to get it done in the big moments,” Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said. “It’s a testament to the character of the guys were have on our team.”

Leavitt threw his second touchdown pass to Tyson, from 4 yards with 1:50 left in regulation, and Prince Dorbuh followed with a strip sack of TCU’s Josh Hoover, setting up Arizona State at TCU’s 15.

Gomez, who missed two earlier field goals, split the uprights after the Sun Devils originally lined up to go for it on fourth-and-inches. Gomez also hit a 43-yard field goal as time expired in Arizona State’s 27-24 victory over Baylor last week. Arizona State’s Martell Hughes sealed it with the second interception of Hoover.

Leavitt threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-38 passing, connecting with Tyson eight times for 126 yards. Raleek Brown ran for 147 yards.

“Down 17-0, things just weren’t going our way,” Leavitt said. “We’re a really tough team and we just compete.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

September 26th

… Foe Pause … 

The story behind Mike Gundy’s demise at Oklahoma State

From ESPN … Back in November of 2015, when his Clemson program was still barreling toward a national title (it would win two of them), Dabo Swinney spoke about the life cycle of a business.

“You’ve got the birth. You’ve got the growth. You’ve got plateau. You’ve got decline. And you’ve got death,” Swinney said. “Those great businesses out there, those great programs, they don’t plateau.

Back in November of 2015, when his Clemson program was still barreling toward a national title (it would win two of them), Dabo Swinney spoke about the life cycle of a business.

“You’ve got the birth. You’ve got the growth. You’ve got plateau. You’ve got decline. And you’ve got death,” Swinney said. “Those great businesses out there, those great programs, they don’t plateau.

Mike Gundy is very much alive; he just is no longer employed at Oklahoma State, where over 21 seasons he became the program’s all-time winningest coach. He and Swinney have much in common.

Both are in their mid-to-late 50s (Swinney 55, Gundy 58). Both built up underperforming programs through their own force of will — a combination of competitive drive, innovative schemes and personal charisma. During the 2010s, few were better.

They have also been among the most vocal critics, and least enthusiastic embracers, of the new era of the sport. It shows.

Dabo’s Tigers, hyped as title contenders in the preseason, are 1-3 with losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse. Gundy, meanwhile, was fired after a 1-2 start that included a humbling loss to Tulsa.

In his final news conference before being dismissed, Gundy bemoaned pretty much everything new.

“It’s like being in an argument with your wife,” Gundy said. “And you know you’re right. It makes zero difference. You’re wrong. You might as well just get over it, give in, and things are going to be much smoother.”

It seems that defeatist attitude and begrudging acceptance of new dynamics bled into Gundy’s program.

Anyone can add a player through the portal. But if you don’t accept and understand the portal, if you aren’t spending time passionately trying to make it work best for you, are you getting the right player? You can’t go in with feet dragging.

Swinney is a traditionalist; often for admirable reasons. He wants to be loyal to players he recruited, preferring to believe in and develop them rather than just transfer in a better talent.

Times change, though. You can lament it. You can pine for the old days. Or you can adapt so you don’t wind up like a typewriter repair shop.

Establishment coaches often rail against transfer culture, painting players who jump around as disloyal or running from a challenge. That might be the case for some, but for many others, the portal is a chance to prove their worth by working up the ladder from smaller to bigger programs.

Big programs recruit based on sophomore and junior years of high school. A lot of guys fall through those cracks. Maybe they hailed from small towns or hadn’t hit growth spurts, or their parents couldn’t afford throwing coaches and nutritionists. Maybe they didn’t get invited to the “Elite 11.”

Yet, once in college, they worked and worked and improved and improved, generally at smaller programs without the fanciest of locker rooms or some unearned sense of greatness based on “tradition.”

Others might have failed at their first school, or got spurned by a previous coach. Now, on their last chance, they are fighting the way they always should have.

As with old-school recruiting, coaches who love the portal are probably going to get the best of those players over coaches who just tolerate the portal. Diamonds are everywhere.

Syracuse and Georgia Tech didn’t have more “talent” — and certainly not higher-ranked recruits — when they beat Clemson. Same with Tulsa and OSU. They didn’t have better facilities or higher-paid assistants.

But they might have had what Dabo and Gundy used to exude in excess — an intense drive to win. High school recruiting rankings don’t matter to the scoreboard.

Gundy couldn’t make it work in the new era. Can the extremely talented Swinney? A lot of coaches can’t. It’s not an age thing, though — Indiana’s Curt Cignetti is 64 and thriving. It’s an attitude thing. It’s about fervently attacking new possibilities.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

September 25th

… Foe Pause … 

BYU coach Kalani Sitake: “It’s not going to be an easy game to go in there and play”

From the Daily Camera … BYU has 11 of 22 starters back from the bowl game (although receiver Jojo Phillips is out with an injury), but has a new quarterback and several new faces on the defensive front.

“Where I don’t think the schemes or the programs have changed that much, I do think the players have drastically,” BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill said.

With a host of new players, especially at quarterback, things will be different. CU senior Kaidon Salter is different from Shedeur Sanders, while BYU true freshman Bear Bachmeier isn’t the same as his predecessor, Jake Retzlaff.

As Hill pointed out, however, the schemes are similar, because both teams have their coordinators back. Hill and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick are back for BYU, while CU’s Robert Livingston (defense) and Pat Shurmur (offense) are back.

Also similar to December, BYU coaches and players praised the amount of talent on CU’s roster, while CU players touted the physicality and discipline of the Cougars.

Ultimately, however, what happened in December in San Antonio won’t matter much on Saturday night. But, both teams are eager for the rematch.

“Every year is different and every week is different,” Sitake said. “We’re a different team than back in the Alamo Bowl and they’re a different team, as well. I see on film that they have tons of talent. We’re at their place now, so it’s going to be a difficult environment.

“It’s not going to be an easy game to go in there and play. I’m sure they remember the bowl game last year, they want some payback. It’s a different year, different mindset.”

… Read full story here …

–

—–

September 23rd

… Foe Pause … 

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy fired; OSU facing $15 million buyout

From ESPN … Mike Gundy, the second-longest-tenured FBS head coach, has been fired by Oklahoma State, effective immediately, it was announced Tuesday.

Gundy, 58, was in his 21st season leading the Cowboys this fall. His exit comes four days after Oklahoma State fell to 1-2 in a 19-12 loss to Tulsa last Friday and less than 24 hours after Gundy publicly stated on Monday his “100 percent” intention to remain with the program beyond the 2025 season.

“I’m under contract, here, for I think 3½ years,” Gundy said Monday. “When I was hired here to take this job, ever since that day, I’ve put my heart and soul into this and I will continue to do that until at some point, if I say I don’t want to do it or if somebody else says we don’t want you to do it.”

Gundy will be owed $15 million by the university.

“This is a decision about what’s best for our football program, our student-athletes and Oklahoma State University and it reflects our unwavering commitment to championship-level football and competing for national success,” university president Jim Hess said in a statement.

“Coach Gundy dedicated decades of his life to OSU, achieving significant success and positively impacting hundreds of young men who wore the OSU uniform. His contributions to our university, both as a player and coach, deserve our profound respect and will not be forgotten. We are grateful for his service and wish him and his family the very best.”

Gundy compiled a record of 170-90 from 2005 to 2025, overseeing a rapid transformation of the Oklahoma State football program across two-plus decades in charge. He led the Cowboys to eight 10-win seasons, including a 2011 Big 12 title campaign that saw Oklahoma State finish No. 3 in the AP Top 25 and a Fiesta Bowl win over Stanford.

Gundy and the Cowboys reached the Big 12 championship game as recently as 2023. But his departure follows in the wake of a downward spiral over recent seasons.

The Cowboys have dropped 11 of their past 12 games dating to the start of the 2024 season, with 11 consecutive defeats against FBS opponents — the longest such streak among Power 4 programs nationally.

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

September 22nd

… Foe Pause … 

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy defiant: “It is still fun for me” 

From ESPN … Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has no interest in this being his final season in charge of the Cowboys, he told reporters in a news conference Monday afternoon.

“100 percent,” Gundy said when asked if he intended to remain at Oklahoma State beyond the 2025 season.

Gundy addressed what he called “fair questions” over his future with the Cowboys on Monday, three days after Oklahoma State fell to 1-2 in a 19-12 defeat to Tulsa on Friday night, which marked the program’s first home loss to the Golden Hurricane since 1951. The Cowboys have now dropped 11 of their past 12 games dating to the start of the 2024 season with 11 consecutive defeats against FBS opponents, the longest such streak among Power 4 programs nationally.

Speaking after the game, Gundy praised the home crowd of 48,842 for its support and emphasized his commitment to improving his team moving forward. On the 17th anniversary of his infamous “I’m a man, I’m 40” rant, Gundy reiterated that sentiment Monday ahead of a Week 5 visit from Baylor (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN 2) to open Big 12 play on Saturday.

“I’m under contract, here, for I think 3½ years,” Gundy said. “When I was hired here to take this job, ever since that day, I’ve put my heart and soul into this and I will continue to do that until at some point, if I say I don’t want to do it or if somebody else says we don’t want you to do it.”

… Continue reading story here …

–

—–

September 21st

… Foe Pause … 

AP Poll: CU’s Next Two Opponents enter Poll – BYU and TCU now ranked

From ESPN … Miami jumped LSU and Penn State into the No. 2 spot behind Ohio State in the Associated Press college football poll Sunday, while Oklahoma climbed into the top 10 for the first time in two years.

Indiana and Texas Tech also made big moves after lopsided wins over Top 25 opponents.

The Hurricanes have beaten two ranked opponents, and they turned in another complete performance in a 19-point home win over Florida to earn their highest ranking since 2017.

Indiana had played one of the softest schedules in the country through three games before raising eyebrows with its 63-7 hammering of then-No. 9 Illinois. The Hoosiers made the biggest move up, climbing eight spots to No. 11.

Illinois’ 56-point loss was the most lopsided in coach Bret Bielema’s five seasons and caused the Illini to tumble from No. 9 to No. 23.

Texas Tech got a five-rung promotion to No. 12 for its 24-point win at Utah. The Red Raiders won easily despite playing backup quarterback Will Hammond most of the second half in place of an injured Behren Morton.

It is the Red Raiders’ highest ranking since Kliff Kingsbury’s first team was No. 10 following a 7-0 start in 2013.

No. 24 TCU beat SMU to go 3-0 and earn its first regular-season ranking since it was a fixture in the top 10 the second half of the 2022 season. The Horned Frogs, beaten 65-7 by Georgia in the national title game that season, were No. 17 in the 2023 preseason poll and hadn’t been back since.

No. 25 BYU, which finished last season No. 13, picked up a road win at East Carolina and is ranked for the first time this season.

Others receiving votes: Auburn 122, Mississippi State 102, South Florida 77, Utah 45, Arizona State 30, Memphis 23, Louisville 23, Maryland 6, UNLV 3, UCF 3, North Texas 2

–

—

Big 12 Week Four Betting Lines: CU opens as a 6.5-point home underdog to No. 25 BYU

From DraftKings ..

The Big 12 …

Friday, September 26th

• No. 24 TCU at Arizona State … 7:00 p.m., MT, Fox … Arizona State is a 2.5-point home favorite …
• Houston at Oregon State … 8:30 p.m., MT, ESPN … Houston is a 13.5-point road favorite …

Saturday, September 27th

• Cincinnati at Kansas … 10:00 a.m., MT, TNT … Kansas is a 6.0-point home favorite …
• UCF at Kansas State … 10:00 a.m., MT, FS1 … Kansas State is a 5.5-point home favorite …
• Baylor at Oklahoma State … 1:30 p.m., MT, ESPN2 … Oklahoma State is a 20.5-point home underdog …
• Utah at West Virginia … 1:30 p.m., MT, Fox … West Virginia is a 10.5-point home underdog …
• Arizona at No. 14 Iowa State … 5:00 p.m., MT, ESPN … Iowa State is a 6.5-point home favorite …
• No. 25 BYU at Colorado … 8:15 p.m., MT, SPN … Colorado is a 6.5-point home underdog …
• Idle … Texas Tech …

–

—–

This post, about the BYU game, from the 2025 Season, is filed under Article.
You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment.