Utah visits Oklahoma State, K-State at BYU in Big 12 openers

This weekend marks the opening of the Big 12 Conference with two matchups featuring undefeated teams. No. 12 Utah, a newcomer to the league, will face No. 14 Oklahoma State on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both teams are currently 3-0 and are led by experienced head coaches, Kyle Whittingham and Mike Gundy, who are in their 20th seasons at their respective schools. This game is significant as it was scheduled before Utah joined the Big 12, meaning it won't count in the conference standings. Oklahoma State's running back, Ollie Gordon II, who was the nation's leading rusher last season, has had a slow start this year, ranking ninth in the Big 12 with 216 rushing yards. In contrast, Kansas State, ranked No. 13, will play at BYU late Saturday night. Kansas State has shown strong performance in rushing, averaging 244.3 yards per game, and their quarterback has not thrown an interception in 119 attempts, the best in the country. The last meeting between Kansas State and Utah was in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day 1997, where Utah emerged victorious. This weekend's games are crucial for establishing early standings in the Big 12, especially for the newcomers like Utah and Arizona State, who are also playing their first league games. The Sun Devils will face Texas Tech, while Colorado hosts Baylor, marking their return to the Big 12 after 13 seasons in the Pac-12. These matchups are pivotal for the teams as they seek to make a strong impression in their new conference.