Big 12 has big challenges, but how will No. 15 BYU and No. 20 Utah fare Saturday?

· Yahoo Sports

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake watches his team before an NCAA college football game against Utah Tech Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Provo, Utah. | Alex Goodlett, Associated Press

This is a week the Big 12 will face some big truths in nonconference play. No. 20 Utah should beat Arkansas, and No. 15 BYU will take care of Arizona at home on Saturday.

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Three Big 12 teams will lose to superior opponents from the Big Ten and SEC as Kansas is an underdog to Missouri, Oklahoma State will be further exposed against Oregon, and Iowa should beat a reorganized Iowa State team in a key rivalry game in cornfield country.

The BYU-Arizona game features a huge battle between the Big 12’s top returning passer in senior Noah Fifita and BYU’s up-and-coming sophomore Bear Bachmeier.

Bachmeier is a far superior QB to the one who faced Arizona in Tucson last year in a double-overtime BYU win. He’s improved his arm strength and accuracy, reads coverages better, and is slimmer and faster.

Arizona coach Brent Brennan claims Fifita is the best story in college football. He’s a leader who has returned to lead his teammates, and although undersized, has tremendous arm strength.

The winner will be the one who is less defended.

This may give the Cougars the edge because Kelly Poppinga’s defense returns two of the best corners in the country, Evan Johnson and Tre Alexander, and an NFL-caliber safety in Faletau Satuala.

Arizona must replace five defensive backs who were summoned to play in the NFL from last year’s outstanding Wildcat defense under Danny Gonzales.

Don’t underestimate Gonzales, because he led the biggest defensive turnaround in FBS last season with what he called the best secondary in the nation. His 3-3-5 defense is designed to confuse QBs with coverages. BYU can overcome that by attacking with an effective run game and ball control.

“They had one of the best defenses in the country last year,” BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick told reporters this week. “I don’t see a great drop-off with their defense this year. They are really well coached and play hard.”

Gonzales returns All-Big 12 corner Jay’vion Cole and brought in eight transfers from the portal to shore up his schemes.

If BYU can win the time of possession battle and keep Fifita on the sideline, it will go a long way toward securing the program’s first Big 12 win of the season.

This will put the onus on returning Big 12 offensive player of the year LJ Martin, who will be without his primary backup, Sione Moa, whose knee injury in the opener against Utah Tech will keep him out for the season.

Moa’s injury opens the door for Preston Rex, Devaughn Eka and Journee Tonga on Saturday.

Defensively, BYU has the front seven to pressure Fifita, led by Isaiah Glasker, Cade Uluave, Siale Esera, Keanu Tanuvasa, Justin Kirkland, Bodie Schoonover, Tausili Akana and Hunter Clegg.

In this rematch of last year’s thriller, BYU has far more depth to tag-team, chasing Fifita with pressure.

Utah vs. SEC

Utah Utes head coach Morgan Scalley coaches during an NCAA football game against the Idaho Vandals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Morgan Scalley has lit a fire under Utah’s fanbase. His tenure kicked off with an expected win over Idaho a week ago where the versatility of his offensive sets was on full display. They were placed there to force defensive coordinators to deal with all of it.

Arkansas hasn’t won a road game in 680 days. Bringing a struggling offense to Salt Lake City, one that can’t control the game with the run, is a recipe for disaster against Utah’s explosive offense led by QB Devon Dampier.

Arkansas has SEC size and athleticism and a defense that can compete if it forces turnovers or stops the run early. A clean, low-mistake performance plus improved rushing could keep the score closer than the spread suggests. Still, the combination of Utah’s offensive explosiveness, defensive reliability, and the hostile night environment in Salt Lake City makes a Utes win all but guaranteed.

If a Big 12 team has to play an SEC team, Arkansas at home is your Huckleberry.

This week’s picks

  • Pitt 24, UCF 21
  • Missouri 31, Kansas 27
  • Oregon 38, Oklahoma State 10
  • Texas A&M 33, Arizona State 24
  • Oklahoma 28, Michigan 10
  • Penn State 37, Temple 9
  • Alabama 34, Kentucky 21
  • Tennessee 37, Georgia Tech 27
  • Houston 41, Southern 10
  • Texas 34, Ohio State 31
  • Texas Tech 37, Oregon State 13
  • Iowa 31, Iowa State 24
  • Utah 38, Arkansas 24
  • Washington 42, Utah State 9
  • BYU 37, Arizona 21
  • Last week 15-1 (.875)

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