Big 12 Football: Week 1 Matchups and Predictions

UTSA at Houston may be the closest game featuring Big 12 teams.

Week 1 of the college football season has arrived. It’s the first week of games for the 2023 iteration of the Big 12. This year, the league now includes 14 teams after BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF joined last month.

All 14 teams are in action, all playing nonconference games. Texas Tech and West Virginia are the only two teams this week with road games. West Virginia and TCU both play another Power 5 program. Seven games have the Big 12 team playing a Group of 5 team, and the remaining five games all have the Big 12 team playing an FCS team.

Houston hosts UTSA, with the Roadrunners from San Antonio a 1.5 favorite. This point spread is the tightest of all the games against another FBS team. All other point spreads are in double digits. West Virginia, playing on the road at No. 7 Penn State, is the biggest underdog at +20.5.

Earlier this summer, we wrote a preview article about each team in the Big 12. Links to each piece are provided with each game below.

Big 12 Week 1 Games

All times listed are Central Time.

UCF vs. Kent State

Thursday, 6 p.m., FS1

The Knights play their first game as a member of the Big 12 with a home game against Kent State. UCF is a 36.5-point favorite and should have an easy time over the Golden Flashes.

UCF season preview

Pick: UCF

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Kansas vs. Missouri State

Friday, 7 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

The Jayhawks could very well have another good start to the season. But after September, the road gets harder. Give them a win to start the season and start the chatter.

Kansas season preview

Pick: Kansas

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# 20 Oklahoma vs. Arkansas State

Saturday, 11 a.m., ESPN

Let the second year of the Venables era begin in Norman. Have the Sooners improved over last year? Most likely, yes. But we will have to wait a few weeks to see if that’s true. Give them a win in the scorcher in Norman.

Oklahoma season preview

Pick: Oklahoma

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#17 TCU vs. Colorado

Saturday, 11 a.m., Fox

Let the Coach Prime era begin for Colorado. It’s been a summer of hype and hoopla with the new coach in Boulder. They may have talented individual players but haven’t proven themselves as a team yet. The winner of this game will be the one that can best survive the scorching heat. TCU has been conditioning in this heat for a month. And the team has the depth that Colorado does not. Prime will need to keep looking for that first big-league win.

TCU season preview

Pick: TCU

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Iowa State vs. Northern Iowa

Saturday, 1 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

It’s the first of back-to-back intrastate games for the Cyclones, with the CyHawk game next week. Questions still remain over the ISU program after a gambling investigation rocked the team earlier this month. Matt Campbell has his work cut out for him. I’ll give them this win, but it won’t be pretty, and others will be hard to find down the road.

Iowa State season preview

Pick: Iowa State

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No. 11 Texas vs. Rice

Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Fox

This should not be a trap game for the Longhorns. But they do travel to Tuscaloosa next week for one of the biggest games of the entire year. Surely, Texas doesn’t look too far ahead and gets the job done over one of their former SWC foes.

Texas season preview

Pick: Texas

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Cincinnati vs. Eastern Kentucky

Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

Cincinnati not only has a new league but is the only team in the conference with a new head coach after Luke Fickell bolted for Wisconsin in the off-season. The Bearcats are not the team they were just two seasons ago when they made the CFP. They will take care of business this week but will face some tough competition as they move into conference play.

Cincinnati season preview

Pick: Cincinnati

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#16 Kansas State vs. SE Missouri State

Saturday, 6 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

I’ve been on the K-State bandwagon all summer. I’m not jumping off it yet. Their quest for a 12-0 season begins Saturday.

Kansas State season preview

Pick: Kansas State

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Oklahoma State vs. Central Arkansas

Saturday, 6 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

The Pokes have an interesting year ahead. This is not the team that was the hot team to begin the season last year. Like their Bedlam counterpart, it will take a few weeks to know exactly what this team looks like. In the meantime, give them the win over Central Arkansas.

Oklahoma State season preview

Pick: Oklahoma State

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Baylor vs. Texas State

Saturday, 6 p.m., Big 12 Now on ESPN+

This Texas State team is completely revamped. New head coach G.J. Kinne must hit the road and play a team that won the Big 12 two seasons ago and was on the verge of a CFP invite. In his first game, he brings a team with 71 new players. Yikes. Dave Aranda & Company should not have a problem with this one.

Baylor season preview

Pick: Baylor

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Houston vs. UTSA

Saturday, 6 p.m., FS1

UTSA travels across I-10 for a matchup with Houston. The Roadrunners are a 1.5-point favorite, which is the narrowest point spread of any of the 14 games featuring a Big 12 team. UTSA took one of the open spots in the AAC after Houston left and will look to show the upgrade was the right move. Sorry, Houston, but you may have a problem early in the season.

Houston season preview

Pick: UTSA

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#7 Penn State vs. West Virginia

Saturday, 6:30 p.m., NBC

Ouch! This is a brutal way to start the season. The Mountaineers travel to Happy Valley to start the season versus a Top Ten team. Then, in two weeks, they host the other P5 team from Pennsylvania with the return of the Backyard Brawl to Morgantown. Watch for Neal Brown to be on that hot seat early this season.

West Virginia season preview

Pick: Penn State

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Wyoming vs. Texas Tech

Saturday, 6:30 p.m., CBS

The Red Raiders hit the road to begin the season against what could be a scrappy Wyoming team. Tech, though, could be a dark horse in the Big 12 this year. I don’t think they will have any problem with the Cowboys from Laramie.

Texas Tech season preview

Pick: Texas Tech

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BYU vs. Sam Houston State

Saturday, 9:15 p.m., FS1

Welcome to the Big 12 After Dark! With the addition of BYU to the league, we now get to look forward to these late-night games. This will be Sam Houston’s first game in the FBS and BYU’s first game as a member of the Big 12. Enjoy that view, Bearkats, because that will be the only nice thing you see in Provo. Welcome to the league, BYU.

BYU season preview

Pick: BYU

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So, if you are counting after all that, I have the Big 12 going 12-2 to start the season. Bring on the season. Let the games begin!

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