A Thrilling Saturday: Big 12 Delivers Instant Classics and Major Upsets

October 4, 2025, will go down as an all-time great day for Big 12 football, featuring everything fans crave: dramatic upsets, last-second heroics, and the continued ascent of new conference powers.

The most captivating finish took place in Waco, where the Baylor Bears pulled off a sensational 35-34 victory over Kansas State. Trailing late, the Bears were sparked by a go-ahead pick-six, only for the Wildcats to reclaim the lead with a field goal. But with ice in his veins, Baylor kicker Connor Hawkins drilled a 53-yard field goal with 31 seconds left to seal the dramatic comeback, perfectly encapsulating the league’s unpredictability.

Meanwhile, the newest members of the Big 12 continued to shake up the standings. The Cincinnati Bearcats secured a massive statement win at home, defeating No. 14 Iowa State 38-30. The victory keeps the Bearcats undefeated in conference play and announced their arrival as a true force in the league. Across the country, the Arizona Wildcats delivered an emphatic performance, soundly defeating Oklahoma State 41-13 in a result that will surely turn heads and shuffle the next Top 25 poll.

The undefeated No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders also proved their mettle on the road, dominating Houston 35-11, highlighting their status as a legitimate Big 12 title contender. With Kansas gutting out a hard-fought 27-20 win over UCF and TCU beating Colorado 35-21, nearly every contest was packed with meaning and high-stakes drama.

This Saturday wasn't just a slate of games; it was a festival of upsets and thrilling competition, reaffirming the Big 12’s reputation as the most competitive and exciting conference in college football.

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