Houston Cougars On SI

BYU beats Houston in Big 12 football finale: Live updates, score

BYU needs to win to have a chance to play for the Big 12 championship next week

Ben Sherman

Houston Cougars cheerleader
Houston Cougars cheerleader / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
In this story:

The race for the final berth in the Big 12 football championship is coming down to the final game on the final day of the regular season.

As of 8:15 p.m. MST, No. 19 BYU is still alive for a berth in the conference title game. The Cougars need to beat Houston and hope Iowa State loses to Kansas State. If that happens, BYU will play Arizona State in Arlington, Texas, next week. The Sun Devils have already clinched a berth.

BYU enters Saturday night's matchup with Houston as 11.5-point favorites.

Follow our live updates, in-game analysis and big-play highlights from the final game of the regular season in the Big 12:

(Refresh for the latest updates)

Fourth Quarter Live Updates

Final score: BYU 30, Houston 18

BYU's victory means Iowa State will advance to the Big 12 championship game against Arizona State.

Houston fumble: The Cougars turn it over for a fourth time and BYU takes over, leading 30-18. Houston is out of timeouts, which means BYU will be able to run out the clock.

BYU touchdown: That should do it. BYU QB Jake Retzlaff runs for a 7-yard touchdown to put the game away with 2:52 left. Then a fight breaks out in the end zone. There will likely be some ejections. BYU leads 30-18 after the two-point try fails. Iowa State fans can start booking their tickets for Arlington, Texas.

Houston fumble: Zeon Chriss fumbles on 4th-and-7 and nobody can pick it up. BYU's Blake Mangelson eventually falls on the ball after it rolls backward for 20-plus yards. BYU takes over on Houston's 18-yard line with just over 5:20 to play. Iowa State fans are feeling good right now.

Houston touchdown! Zeon Chriss scores on a 1-yard run to cut BYU's lead to 24-18 with 8:34 to play. The two-point conversion is good. Colorado fans have hope.

Third Quarter Live Updates

End of third quarter: BYU 24, Houston 10

BYU field goal: Will Ferrin boots a 22-yard field goal to give BYU a 24-10 lead with 17 seconds left in the third quarter.

BYU muffs punt! BYU is trying to give this game away. Parker Kingston muffs a punt, and Houston recovers on its own 44-yard line. BYU now has three turnovers.

Houston recovers fumble! BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff fumbles the snap at the 4-yard line and Houston recovers. BYU still leads 21-10 with 8:20 left in the third quarter.

BYU interception: Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss throws an ill-advised pass under pressure and BYU's Jack Kelly picks it off. BYU takes over at Houston's 42-yard line.

Houston will start the second half with the ball, trailing 21-10.

Second Quarter Live Updates

Halftime: BYU 21, Houston 10

BYU has been eliminated from Big 12 title contention, but the result of this game will determine who plays Arizona State next week. If BYU wins, Iowa State will play ASU. If Houston wins, Colorado will play ASU.

BYU touchdown: Jake Retzlaff scores on a 13-yard touchdown run just before haltime to give BYU a 21-10 lead. Iowa State fans are rejoicing. Colorado fans, not so much.

BYU touchdown: Sione I Moa scores on a 6-yard touchdown run to give BYU a 14-10 lead with 7:55 left in the second quarter.

BYU eliminated: Iowa State just defeated Kansas State 29-21, which officially eliminates BYU from Big 12 football championship game contention. The result of this game still impacts who gets in, however. If BYU wins, Iowa State will play Arizona State for the championship. If Houston wins, Colorado will play Arizona State next week for the title.

Houston field goal! Jack Martin boots a 26-yard field goal to give Houston a 10-7 lead.

First Quarter Live Updates

BYU touchdown: What just happened. Houston tries an onside kick, BYU's Talan Alfrey scoops it up and runs it back 58 yards for a touchdown. Just like that, it's BYU 7, Houston 7 with 1:40 left in the first quarter.

Houston touchdown! The Cougars stun the BYU crowd with a 10-play, 80-yard drive that culminates in a 3-yard touchdown run by Zeon Chriss. Houston leads BYU 7-0 with 1:47 left in the first quarter. Remember, Houston is the worst-scoring offense in all of Division I college football at 13.6 points per game.

Houston throws interception: Houston gives the ball right back on a trick play turnover of its own. On a reverse pass, Joseph Manjack IV throws the ball right to BYU defensive end Tyler Batty who returns it to the 27-yard line. BYU takes over with 8:57 left in the first quarter and the score still 0-0.

BYU fumbles! On a botched trick play, two BYU players run into each other and the ball pops loose. Houston lineman Carlos Allen recovers the fumble and rumbles (literally) down the right sideline all the way to the BYU 14-yard line.

BYU starts with the ball, knowing they need help to get into the Big 12 championship game. BYU fans will be checking their phones throughout the first quarter, hoping Iowa State loses. The Cyclones are currently leading Kansas State 24-21 at the end of the third quarter.

Pregame Updates

It is an icy 32 degrees in Provo, Utah.

Published |Modified
Ben Sherman
BEN SHERMAN

Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. One of his favorite memories was covering the 1999 Fiesta Bowl - the first BCS National Championship Game - at Sun Devil Stadium.

Home/Football