Big 12 Madness: No. 14 BYU and no. 16 Colorado loses both to create four-way tie for first time

We have a four-way tie atop the Big 12 heading into the final week of the regular season.

no. 16 Colorado lost 37-21 at Kansas on Saturday, while no. 14 BYU lost 28-23 in the no. 21 at Arizona State in an absolutely chaotic finish.

The Buffaloes’ defense was crushed by Kansas RB Devin Neal. The senior, who grew up not far from the University of Kansas campus, totaled 287 yards and four touchdowns as Colorado’s defense gave up big play after big play.

BYU scored 20 points in the second half, but its comeback attempt was thwarted with 1:04 left when Jake Retzlaff’s tipped pass was intercepted by Javan Robinson. The defensive back returned the ball 64 yards before being tackled inside the BYU 10-yard line to close the game. Or so we thought.

Instead of trying to score the TD and get a two-score lead, Arizona State inexplicably tried to run out the clock. Sam Leavitt’s pass to try to end the game landed in the stands with one second left. That gave BYU a Hail Mary attempt from its own 44 yard line because Leavitt ran backwards on second down to burn time.

The final play was delayed over 10 minutes due to a replay review and because the field had to be cleared of the students rushing in thinking the game was over.

And BYU almost pulled off the miracle win when the field was clear. Chase Roberts appeared to catch Retzlaff’s pass, but he was tackled short of the end zone (the play was officially ruled incomplete, though it probably would have been overturned if it mattered).

Colorado and BYU entered Week 13 atop the Big 12 at 6-1 in the conference, while Arizona State and Iowa State were at 5-2. After the Cyclones held on to beat Utah in Salt Lake City, all four teams are now tied at 6-2 heading into the final week of the regular season.

Kansas makes history

The Jayhawks improved to 5-6 overall (3-5 Big 12) with the win and set an FBS first. Thanks to wins over Iowa State and BYU over the previous two weeks, Kansas is the first school ever to beat three consecutive ranked teams while posting a losing record.

Neal had 37 carries for 207 yards as Kansas rushed the ball 57 times for 331 yards. Colorado can be vulnerable to opposing running games, and the Buffs can’t run the ball themselves. Colorado rushed 13 times for 42 yards.

Kansas’ running game allowed it to control the ball against the Buffaloes. Kansas had the ball for over 40 minutes as Colorado ran just 42 plays to Kansas’ 58.

Travis Hunter did nothing to ruin his great Heisman chances in the loss. Hunter had eight catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns while also playing on defense.

Who has the edge to make the Big 12 title game?

Arizona State has the best chance of anyone to get to the Big 12 title game. The Sun Devils are coming off a win over Arizona in Week 14.

If all four teams finish tied atop the conference, the first tiebreaker would be against their common opponents from UCF, Kansas, Kansas State and Utah. Colorado is prepared in that tiebreaker with losses to the Jayhawks and Wildcats. ASU is 4-0 against those teams, and Iowa State and BYU would be 3-1.

After that tiebreaker, it would go to the winning percentage of conference opponents. In that tiebreaker, Iowa State currently holds the advantage.