Big 12 Championship Scenarios: What Colorado, Arizona State, BYU, and Iowa State Need to Secure a Spot

The final week of the Big 12 regular season is pivotal for several teams vying for a spot in the Big 12 Championship game. Colorado, Arizona State, BYU, and Iowa State are all in contention, each with specific scenarios that must unfold for them to secure a place in the championship game.

Colorado enters the week with a critical game against Oklahoma State on Friday, November 29, at noon ET on ABC. For the Buffaloes to advance, they need to win and have either two of Arizona State, BYU, or Iowa State lose, or have BYU lose combined with a Texas Tech victory. A win would also mark Colorado’s first non-divisional regular season conference championship since 1991, a significant milestone for the program.

Iowa State controls its destiny and can secure a spot in the championship game with a win over Kansas State on Saturday, November 30. This game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX. If Iowa State wins, they will be one of the participants in the Big 12 Championship game.

Arizona State’s path to the championship game involves several tiebreaker scenarios. If Arizona State wins and certain other teams lose, they could find themselves in the championship game. For example, if Arizona State wins and Iowa State loses, Arizona State would face BYU in the championship game. The Sun Devils play Arizona on Saturday, November 30, at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

BYU’s chances hinge on the outcomes of multiple games. If BYU loses and Texas Tech wins, along with specific outcomes from other games, Colorado could face either Arizona State or Iowa State in the championship game. BYU plays Houston on Saturday, November 30, at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The tiebreaker scenarios are complex, with multiple team outcomes influencing the final participants. In a three-team tie scenario, the teams involved and their opponents in the championship game would depend on which teams lose. For instance, if Colorado loses, Arizona State would face Iowa State. If Arizona State loses, Iowa State would face BYU. In a four-team tie scenario, Arizona State would face Iowa State in the championship game.

Individually, Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are having standout seasons, with Hunter being a finalist for several prestigious awards and Sanders breaking school records for passing touchdowns. These individual performances are key to Colorado’s success as they aim for a championship spot.