BYU’s Greatest Athletic Victory Against Each Big 12 School
Jul 25, 2023, 11:18 AM
BYU athletics greatest wins over Big 12 programs over the years. (Graphic created by KSL Sports)
(Graphic created by KSL Sports)
PROVO, Utah – Joining the Big 12 Conference allows BYU athletics to potentially form rivalries against schools they haven’t faced often.
You look through the Big 12 schools, and there are not many meetings all-time in any sport against BYU. That’s going to ratchet up beginning this fall.
Before all of the competition between BYU and its new league foes take place, let’s look back at the greatest wins BYU athletics has pulled off against each of the current Big 12 athletic departments.
For this, I factored in every sport and combed through the archives.
Baylor
Football: No. 21 BYU 26, No. 9 Baylor 20 (2OT)
September 10, 2022
LaVell Edwards Stadium
#BYU upsets 9th ranked #Baylor in 2OT 26-20.#BYUFootball l #BUvsBYU l @kslsports pic.twitter.com/n4QVKKwIkO
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) September 11, 2022
Easy pick here. There was some consideration for the 1984 football win over the Bears, but last year’s victory held much significance for BYU. It was a Top 25 clash with Big 12 administrators on hand to see the potential of BYU football as a Big 12 member.
Then you add in the drama of the game by going to double overtime, injuries to wide receivers, a kicker crying, and then a triumph. BYU/Baylor last season had a little bit of everything.
UCF
Football: BYU 24, UCF 17
September 23, 2011
LaVell Edwards Stadium
The first year of BYU’s Independence perhaps provided a way-too-early look at how BYU/UCF games will go in the Big 12, weeknight action on ESPN. BYU won by a touchdown in a game that wasn’t much to write home about other than Cody Hoffman taking a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. This game also provided an early look at UCF star QB Blake Bortles, who came off the bench.
Cincinnati
Football: BYU 38, Cincinnati 24
October 16, 2015
LaVell Edwards Stadium
There wasn’t much in the archives between BYU and Cincinnati, surprisingly. I considered the 2016 football game at Cincinnati solely for ex-Bearcats coach and now current Senator Tommy Tuberville’s “Get a job” tirade on a Cincinnati fan.
But instead, I went with the 2015 game—another Friday night tilt against a future Big 12 foe.
@davenoriega @gregwrubell I thought I would make sure the world knows that I love #MtDew! @KaiNacua_23 does as well pic.twitter.com/14HhIBWaef
— coachkellypoppinga (@Coach_Popp) October 19, 2015
BYU’s defense was on point against Cincinnati. Think about this, BYU had eight sacks in this game. The BYU defense was suffocating, leading to a Cincinnati receiver saying, “I got knocked out by a 25 year old virgin who has never tasted Mountain Dew.” That alleged 25-year-old was Kai Nacua, who later played in the NFL.
Houston
Men’s Basketball: BYU 111, Houston 82
December 4, 1965
Smith Fieldhouse
BYU has put together some memorable victories over the University of Houston. The 2013 football win at NRG Stadium put Taysom Hill in the record books; the 2020 win was a massive breakthrough for that 11-win team. Then there was the game-winner from Tyler Haws against Houston in Mark Pope’s first season.
Instead, I went way back to the archives.
BYU men’s basketball beat down a Houston Cougars team with Elvin Hayes and Joe Hamood by nearly 30 points. Hayes was a sophomore and scored 24 in the game. But Stan Watt’s crew, led by Dick Nemelka, got a big win that showed how good the 1965-66 squad would become.
BYU went on to win the 1966 NIT Championship that season.
Iowa State
Women’s Basketball: 2002 NCAA Tournament 2nd Round – No. 11 BYU 75, No. 3 Iowa State 69
March 18, 2002
Hilton Coliseum (Ames, Iowa)
BYU women’s basketball’s first trip to the Sweet 16 came courtesy of an upset victory over Iowa State on the Cyclones home floor. Standouts Erin Thorn and Jennifer Leitner combined for 33 points to send BYU to the second weekend.
The 2002 squad was Jeff Judkins’ first year as BYU’s head coach and they set a standard for what BYU women’s basketball could become.
Kansas
Women’s Soccer: No. 7 BYU 2, No. 14 Kansas 0
September 19, 2019
Rock Chalk Park (Lawrence, Kansas)
That's another.. TOP 15 team DEFEATED🙌#BYUwSOC #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/HxOLa73GUd
— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) September 20, 2019
BYU athletics haven’t had many matchups against Kansas. The highlight win comes from the soccer pitch. Four years ago, a nationally-ranked BYU traveled to take on No. 14 Kansas and the Cougars came out with a 2-0 win.
BYU stars Elise Flake and Mikayla Colohan were the two who scored goals.
Kansas State
Football: 1997 Cotton Bowl Classic – No. 5 BYU 19, No. 14 Kansas State 15
January 1, 1997
Cotton Bowl
25 years ago today, #BYU experienced the morning skies at the Cotton Bowl.https://t.co/K3boaAN6Nq#BYUFootball #GoCougs
pic.twitter.com/LULbp8quRy— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 1, 2022
Pretty easy pick here. BYU’s first and only New Year’s Day bowl game came against a legacy member of the Big 12 Conference. The Cougars defeated Kansas State 19-15 in front of a sea of purple at the historic Cotton Bowl.
BYU cornerback Omarr “The Blanket” Morgan came with the game-winning interception to cap off a 15-game season and a No. 5 ranking.
Oklahoma
Football: No. 20 BYU 14, No. 3 Oklahoma 13
September 6, 2009
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
September 5, 2009
–@mxrd15 finds @dennispitta on 4th down for a 23-yard gain. A few plays later, Hall hits McKay Jacobson for the game-winning 7-yard touchdown as #20 BYU beat #3 Oklahoma 14-13.
–#byufootball #byuthrowbacks #gocougs #Big12 pic.twitter.com/UoVVk7CUuq— BYU Throwbacks (@BYUThrowbacks) July 12, 2023
One of the great upsets in BYU football history. BYU opened Jerry’s World with a win over a loaded Oklahoma squad featuring QB Sam Bradford, TE Jermaine Gresham, and DL Gerald McCoy.
BYU was down 13-7 in the fourth quarter before Max Hall completed a touchdown pass to McKay Jacobson to secure the victory over the Sooners.
Oklahoma State
Men’s Basketball: BYU 76, No. 25 Oklahoma State 71
December 6, 2003
Delta Center (Salt Lake City)
This game had a little bit of everything. BYU took down an Oklahoma State team that later went on to play in the Final Four. They faced a former teammate Daniel Bobik who received endless boos from the Delta Center crowd.
Then Rafael Araujo had a memorable 32 points, 17 rebounds performance to lift BYU to a 76-71 victory.
TCU
Football: BYU 31, No. 17 TCU 17
September 28, 2006
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
BYU football from 2002-2005 was mired in mediocrity. To begin the 2006 season, it appeared to be much of the same after a 1-2 start. Then a breakthrough happened as BYU took down nationally-ranked TCU in Fort Worth.
QB John Beck had 321 passing yards and three touchdowns to lift the Cougars to a huge victory.
Texas
Football: BYU 41, Texas 7
September 7, 2014
DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
Hill's 3 TD runs lead BYU romp over Texas 41-7 http://t.co/LONOSC7ige pic.twitter.com/P7tp3cEVqX
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 7, 2014
Texas was humiliated by BYU in 2013 in Provo. The Longhorns gave up 550 rushing yards to BYU in a 40-21 loss, effectively ending the Mack Brown era in Austin.
There was no way BYU could do it again, right? Texas hired Charlie Strong as their new coach to “bring the ‘T’ back in Texas.” It didn’t work. Taysom Hill passed for 181 and rushed for 99 yards to lead BYU to another blowout victory over the Horns.
Texas Tech
Women’s Basketball: Cougar Holiday Classic – BYU 76, Texas 74
December 30, 1988
Marriott Center
BYU took down the Lady Red Raiders to claim the Cougar Holiday Classic in ’88 with a two-point victory.
West Virginia
Women’s Basketball: St. Pete Showcase – BYU 58, No. 22 West Virginia 57
November 27, 2021
McArthur Center (St. Petersburg, Florida)
FINAL
West Virginia falls to BYU, 58-57, in the final game of the 2021 St. Pete Showcase#HailWV #PhysicalFor40 pic.twitter.com/Lz0A3yE31h
— WVU Women's Basketball (@WVUWBB) November 27, 2021
BYU stormed back from a 13-point deficit to remain undefeated and completed a pair of victories against ranked teams. Shaylee Gonzales scored 20 and Paisley Harding dropped 13 to give BYU a victory over a ranked Mountaineers squad.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on Twitter and Threads: @Mitch_Harper.
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