Big 12 Football Predictions: Our Insiders Predict Week Two Matchups

SALT LAKE CITY – We’re starting to get into the guts of Big 12 football in 2025.

There are some marquee non-conference matchups in this week’s slate.

Daily podcasts on BYU and Utah football. 📺🏈

🔵: Cougar Tracks | @Mitch_Harper
🟥: The Utah Blockcast | @BartleKSLsports pic.twitter.com/3RSHeSQfZl

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 3, 2025

Here are our weekly insider picks from BYU Insider Mitch Harper and Utah Insider Steve Bartle.

Check out their daily podcasts, Cougar Tracks, and The Utah Blockcast, for the latest on the Cougs and the Utes.

Big 12 Standings Entering Week 2

• Iowa State – 1-0 in the Big 12 (2-0 overall)
• Kansas – 0-0 (2-0)
• Arizona – 0-0 (1-0)
• Arizona State – 0-0 (1-0)
• BYU – 0-0 (1-0)
• UCF – 0-0 (1-0)
• Houston – 0-0 (1-0)
• Oklahoma State – 0-0 (1-0)
• TCU – 0-0 (1-0)
• Texas Tech – 0-0 (1-0)
• Utah – 0-0 (1-0)
• West Virginia – 0-0 (1-0)
• Baylor – 0-0 (0-1)
• Cincinnati – 0-0 (0-1)
• Colorado – 0-0 (0-1)
• Kansas State – 0-1 (1-1 overall)

Season Totals

(Through Week 1)

• Steve Bartle: 16-2
• Mitch Harper: 15-3

Big 12 football teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll entering Week 2

• 12. Arizona State
• 16. Iowa State
• 24. Texas Tech
• 25. Utah

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

No. 16 Iowa State vs. Iowa

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 10 a.m. (MDT)/11 a.m. (CDT)
• TV: FOX

Insider Predictions

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

I believe Iowa State pulls out the victory in the Cy-Hawk rivalry. Rocco Becht has been playing some really good football, and the balance ISU has on offense will be the difference in this one. -Bartle

Iowa State hasn’t defeated Iowa in Ames since 2011. However, the Cyclones have won two of the last three in the series. Like last year, the first one to 20 wins this game. Give me Iowa State. -Harper

Baylor at No. 17 SMU

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 10 a.m. (MDT)/11 a.m. (CDT)
• TV: The CW

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Baylor
• Mitch Harper: SMU

This is an important one for Baylor. If they don’t get this one, does Dave Aranda land on the hot seat again? I think Baylor will win, but it will be tough. Auburn highlighted a major sore spot with its lack of size along the defensive front. -Bartle

The injury to defensive lineman Jackie Marshall feels significant for Baylor. SMU is an offensive juggernaut on the hilltop. The Ponies send Baylor to a 0-2 start on the season. -Harper

No. 24 Texas Tech vs. Kent State

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 10 a.m. (MDT)/11 a.m. (CDT)
• TV: TNT/truTV/HBO Max

Insider Predictions

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

Wreck ‘Em, but it will be interesting to see how the Red Raiders manage without Behren Morton… potentially. -Bartle

Congrats to Kent State for beating Merrimack to end a 21-game losing streak; the good vibes will be short-lived as Tech rolls. Wreck ’em. -Harper

Oklahoma State at No. 6 Oregon

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (MDT)/12:30 p.m. (PDT)
• TV: CBS

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Oregon
• Mitch Harper: Oregon

Hauss Hejny’s injury is a tough blow for the Cowboys, but Oregon is rolling through Gundy’s squad regardless. -Bartle

Why is Mike Gundy complaining about scheduling non-conference opponents based on budgets? It sounds like he is trying to make an excuse in advance for the beatdown Oregon is about to give the Pokes. -Harper

Kansas at Missouri

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (MDT)/2:30 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: ESPN2

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Kansas
• Mitch Harper: Missouri

A big test for Jalon Daniels and the Jayhawks. If they pass this one, it’s officially time to put the Jayhawks in the conversation of contenders. Hopefully, Jayhawks fans will travel on the road to this one. My brain says Missouri, but I’m going to run it with Daniels and the Jayhawks in a wild one. -Bartle

I’m happy to see the Border War is back after a 14-year hiatus. If Kansas wins this one, do we begin to take them more seriously as a Big 12 title contender? Missouri has questions at quarterback with Sam Horn out with an injury. I’m giving an edge to the home team and going with Mizzou, but this one is coming down to the wire. -Harper

Cincinnati vs. Bowling Green

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (MDT)/3:30 p.m. (EDT)
• TV/Stream: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Cincinnati
• Mitch Harper: Cincinnati

Brendan Sorsby couldn’t get it done in the clutch against Nebraska, but he and the Bearcats bounce back this week. -Bartle

Despite the loss last week, Cincy proved they have upgraded the talent significantly this year. Still waiting for the talented receivers to go off; they were missing last week in Kansas City.

Colorado vs. Delaware

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (MDT)
• TV: FOX

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Colorado
• Mitch Harper: Colorado

Just when I buy into the Buffs, they let me down. Colorado only managing to score one touchdown on three 1^st quarter takeaways is alarming. They should handle the Fightin’ Blue Hens, though. -Bartle

Colorado is a lot tougher on defense this year than they were in Coach Prime’s first two years. This team will surprise in the Big 12 this year, and they will cruise through the newest FBS member, Delaware, this weekend. -Harper

West Virginia vs. Ohio

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 2 p.m. (MDT)/4 p.m. (EDT)
• TV: ESPNU

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Ohio
• Mitch Harper: West Virginia

After getting the win at home, I’m a little worried for the Mountaineers on the road this week, especially with the Backyard Brawl on the horizon. Ohio played Rutgers pretty tight on the road last week. Parker Navarro is a veteran quarterback, and I think he leads the Bobcats to a win. -Bartle

Iowa State from two years ago can speak to the tricky nature of playing in Athens, Ohio. Which always begs the question, why are Big 12 teams still playing at MAC programs? There’s no upside. Still, I’m rolling with Rich Rod’s squad and I’ll call for Jaheim White to have a big game on the ground. -Harper

No. 25 Utah vs. Cal Poly

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 4 p.m. (MDT)
• TV/Stream: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Utah
• Mitch Harper: Utah

Utes roll. -Bartle

I’ll be surprised if we see any Utah starters in the second half. -Harper

Kansas State vs. Army

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

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: K-State
• Mitch Harper: K-State

Kansas State what is you doin’? This should be a comfortable win for the Wildcats, but I thought last week would be that too. The vibes are off in Manhattan; there needs to be a reset of some sort this week. -Bartle

If K-State lost this game to an Army squad that dropped a game against an FCS opponent last week, I can only imagine the knee-jerk reactions Wildcat fans will have towards Chris Klieman. They don’t have to worry, I’ll call for K-State’s defense to have a bounce-back performance and Avery Johnson to continue playing at a high level despite the criticisms. -Harper

Houston vs. Rice

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

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Houston
• Mitch Harper: Houston

This is one that Houston should win comfortably. -Bartle

The battle for the Bayou Bucket goes to the Coogs. -Harper

UCF vs. North Carolina A&T

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 5 p.m. (MDT)/7 p.m. (EDT)
• TV/Stream: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: UCF
• Mitch Harper: UCF

Maybe a slightly better showing in week two for Scott Frost’s squad? But maybe not?  Last week played out exactly how I felt it would; I just don’t know about Frost at the helm. This week should be better, though. -Bartle

Starting quarterback Cam Fancher suffered an injury in week one, leading to Tayven Jackson pulling off a week one win. Just grind out wins; they will do that again this week. -Harper

No. 12 Arizona State vs. Mississippi State

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (MDT)/6:30 p.m. (CDT)
• TV: ESPN2

Insider Predictions

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

Despite the struggles last week, I think the Sun Devils come out sharp against the Bulldogs. This will be a tough test on the road, but Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson are clearly synced up. -Bartle

Arizona State rolls past Mississippi State. The Sun Devils flex their toughness in SEC Country. -Harper

Arizona vs. Weber State

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 8 p.m. (MDT)/7 p.m. (MST)
• TV/Stream: ESPN+

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: Arizona
• Mitch Harper: Arizona

The Wildcats take care of business this weekend…. Arizona, that is. -Bartle

I liked what I saw from Seth Doege’s offense last week. I’d expect to see more this week against Weber State. -Harper

BYU vs. Stanford

• Saturday, September 6
• Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. (MDT)
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)

Insider Predictions

• Steve Bartle: BYU
• Mitch Harper: BYU

Cougs roll. -Bartle

BYU wins this one. Two keys for BYU here are getting off the field on third down. The Cardinal lacks explosive playmaking ability through the air. Stop the run and get off the field. Then, on offense, protect former Stanford quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Stanford has nothing to lose in this game. They are going to bring some new wrinkles after a bye week. But this BYU team is tough, and Provo will overwhelm Stanford. BYU, big. -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.

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