Big 12 Football Predictions: Our Insiders Predict Week One Matchups

SALT LAKE CITY – We got a fun, crazy Big 12 football appetizer in Ireland last week.

But now, it’s time to sit back and enjoy a full slate of Big 12 football in week one.

Big 12 Standings Entering Week 1

• Iowa State – 1-0 in the Big 12 (1-0 overall)
• Kansas – 0-0 (1-0)
• Arizona – 0-0
• Arizona State – 0-0
• Baylor – 0-0
• BYU – 0-0
• UCF – 0-0
• Cincinnati – 0-0
• Colorado – 0-0
• Houston – 0-0
• Oklahoma State – 0-0
• TCU – 0-0
• Texas Tech – 0-0
• Utah – 0-0
• West Virginia – 0-0
• Kansas State – 0-1 (0-1 overall)

Season Totals

(Through Week 0)

• Steve Bartle: 1-1
• Mitch Harper: 1-1

Big 12 football predictions throughout the 2025 season

Week 0 | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14

UCF vs. Jacksonville State

• Thursday, August 28
• Kickoff: 5 p.m. (MDT)/7 p.m. (EDT)
• TV: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: UCF
• Mitch Harper: UCF

The first game in Scott Frost’s return isn’t the prettiest, but the Knights ultimately take care of business. -Bartle

Cam Fancher gets the start at quarterback to kick off Scott Frost era 2.0 in Orlando. This could be a tricky spot, but UCF takes it. -Harper

Oklahoma State vs. UT Martin

• Thursday, August 28
• Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (MDT)/6:30 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Oklahoma State
• Mitch Harper: Oklahoma State

I’m interested to see Hauss Hejny at the helm for the Cowboys. He was a solid prospect out of high school and flirted with Utah for a time. He’ll be key to turning things around in Stillwater. -Bartle

I’m unsure about what to think of Oklahoma State this year. Everything is new from the roster and the coaching staff. It’s an important year for Mike Gundy. -Harper

Houston vs. Stephen F. Austin

• Thursday, August 28
• Kickoff: 6 p.m. (MDT)/7 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Houston
• Mitch Harper: Houston

Year two under Willie Fritz gets off to a strong start. Connor Weigman is looking to elevate the Coogs’ from pesky to competitive and he gets off to a solid start in the opener. -Bartle

Houston is going to be one of the toughest outs in the Big 12 this year. -Harper

Cincinnati vs. Nebraska (Kansas City)

• Thursday, August 28
• Kickoff: 7 p.m. (MDT)/8 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: ESPN

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Nebraska
• Mitch Harper: Nebraska

Dylan Raiola and Nebraska are taking the Patrick Mahomes comp way too far by playing this one in Arrowhead. The Cornhuskers have more talent and should take care of business. However, this is a special opportunity for Cincy QB Brendan Sorsby, who would need to have a special performance for the Bearcats to pull off the upset. He’s got the ability, but I don’t see it happening.

Cincinnati has overhauled its wide receiver unit to give Sorsby some real threats to get downfield. The Bearcats are going to be improved this year, they will keep this close, but the Cornhuskers escape Arrowhead with a win. -Harper

Kansas vs. Wagner

• Friday, August 29
• Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (MDT)/6:30 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Kansas
• Mitch Harper: Kansas

Jalon Daniels and the Jayhawks keep it rolling in week one. -Bartle

Impressive start to the season for KU. -Harper

Baylor vs. Auburn

• Friday, August 29
• Kickoff: 6 p.m. (MDT)/7 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: FOX

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Auburn
• Mitch Harper: Baylor

The fact that this game is in Waco is significant. The home crowd could play a big role for Dave Aranda’s squad. However, the Bears have experienced some injuries on both sides of the ball that could be significant. Auburn hopes Jackson Arnold is the answer at quarterback because Cam Coleman, one of the most talented pass catchers in the country, could be tough to stop. For the Bears, Sawyer Robertson has to be sharp and maximize his own receivers to knock off the Tigers. I think this will be a competitive, physical game. -Bartle

Two teams that could be good enough to reach the College Football Playoff this year, or they don’t make a bowl. Huge tone-setter opportunity for both, I’ll go with Sawyer Robertson and Baylor to pull out a big Friday night victory on the banks of the Brazos. -Harper

Colorado vs. Georgia Tech

• Friday, August 29
• Kickoff: 6 p.m. (MDT)
• TV: ESPN

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Colorado
• Mitch Harper: Colorado

As Coach Prime enters a new era in Boulder, there are a lot of questions about the Buffs this season. Most notably at the quarterback position and how Kaidon Salter will do at the helm. Georgia Tech is a disciplined, tough program and will be well prepared for the contest. Haynes King has established himself as a quality quarterback and will put this revamped Colorado secondary to the test. This game will come down to the improvements made by Jordan Seaton and the Colorado offensive line since last season. -Bartle

I’m buying in on the improvements that Colorado has made in the trenches. Give me the Buffs. -Harper

West Virginia vs. Robert Morris

• Saturday, August 30
• Kickoff: Noon (MDT)/2 p.m. (EDT)
• TV: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: West Virginia
• Mitch Harper: West Virginia

Rich Rod gets the first dub in Morgantown. -Bartle

I’m looking forward to seeing the Pat White/Steve Slaton era helmets back in Morgantown, with Rich Rod roaming the sidelines. -Harper

No. 22 Iowa State vs. South Dakota

• Saturday, August 30
• Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (MDT)/2:30 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: FOX

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Iowa State
• Mitch Harper: Iowa State

Matt Campbell and the Cyclones improve to 2-0 after week one of the 2025 season. -Bartle

Two pro receivers are gone, but it doesn’t matter; the Cyclones keep their success rolling. -Harper

No. 17 Kansas State vs. North Dakota

• Saturday, August 30
• Kickoff: 5 p.m. (MDT)/6 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Kansas State
• Mitch Harper: Kansas State

The Wildcats bounce back and get to .500 after week one of the 2025 season. -Bartle

Will there be an Ireland hangover for K-State? Doubt it this week. But running back Dylan Edwards needs to return soon.

No. 23 Texas Tech vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

• Saturday, August 30
• Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (MDT)/6:30 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Texas Tech
• Mitch Harper: Texas Tech

Wreck em’ gets going with an easy win. -Bartle

I’m fascinated to see this big-money roster in action. The non-conference schedule is light for Tech; we won’t learn much about them until Big 12 play. -Harper

BYU vs. Portland State

Here’s how you can tune in.

• Saturday, August 30
• Kickoff: 6 p.m. (MDT)
• TV: ESPN+
• Radio: KSL NewsRadio (Coverage begins at Noon)

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: BYU
• Mitch Harper: BYU

Despite playing in Week Zero, a 42-0 loss to Tarleton State, and the expected improvement from that typically comes from Game One to Game Two, BYU handles business and cruises to a victory. -Bartle

Bear Bachmeier shines in his debut as BYU’s starting quarterback. Kalani Sitake will never be classless in a game against an FCS team; however, this is a week where extra game snaps for Bear and running the offense wouldn’t be the worst thing. -Harper

No. 11 Arizona State vs. Northern Arizona

• Saturday, August 30
• Kickoff: 8 p.m. (MDT)/7 p.m. (MST)
• TV: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Arizona State
• Mitch Harper: Arizona State

Sam Leavitt and the Sun Devils get off to a strong start in 2025 and take care of the Lumberjacks. -Bartle

The Arizona State defense brings back nearly everyone from last year’s Big 12 Championship team. But who will capture the spirit of this program like Cam Skattebo did? -Harper

Arizona vs. Hawaii

• Saturday, August 30
• Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. (MDT)/7:30 p.m. (MST)
• TV: TNT/HBO Max

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Arizona
• Mitch Harper: Arizona

Arizona is a heavy favorite in this one but I could see this game being more competitive. The Rainbow Warriors got the win over Stanford, which has more shock value on paper than in actuality. Still, the confidence boost that will provide the Hawaii squad could be interesting. Noah Fifita will need to be sharp in this one. -Bartle

Fifita puts up big numbers in week one. -Harper

Utah at UCLA 

Here’s how you can tune in.

• Saturday, August 30
• Kickoff: 9 p.m. (MDT)/8 p.m. (PDT)
• TV: FOX

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Utah
• Mitch Harper: Utah

This is going to be a very competitive contest. Both programs are looking to turn things around after a poor 2024 season and will be desperate for a win. The Utes offensive line has to set the tone in this one against a revamped UCLA defense, which was one of the stingiest against the run last season. Devon Dampier has to be solid and the pass catchers have to be involved in order to preserve the offensive balance the Utes need. -Bartle

The guarded walls from training camp come down for both of these teams as they gear up for much-anticipated debuts with Dampier and Nico Iamaleava at UCLA. Along with the debuts of both quarterbacks, I’m interested to see Utah’s young defensive line in action. UCLA’s roster is better in year two under Foster, but I’ll call for Utah to get a sound victory in week one. -Harper

TCU at North Carolina

• Monday, September 1
• Kickoff: 6 p.m. (MDT)/8 p.m. (EDT)
• TV: ESPN/ESPNU

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: TCU
• Mitch Harper: TCU

The Bill Belichick/Jordon Hudson era is underway.  Will Hudson have a headset on? Will she be calling plays? Who will be making the decisions? These are the big questions I have for this game. However, in actual football talk, the Horned Frogs have been bitten by the injury bug during camp, but seem to be trending positively as the game approaches. Josh Hoover will look to cement himself among the top quarterbacks in the country in this one. He and the experienced defense will get the job done. -Bartle

Everyone is going into the game focusing on Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson, but the TCU QB with the JH initials will end up being the show stealer as Josh Hoover goes off for a big game to give the Horned Frogs a strong Labor Day night victory. -Harper

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

Take us with you, wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.