The Big 12 remains unpredictable, as Arizona State’s win over Texas Tech shakes up the conference.
There’s a new rushing king in NCAA after a Division III player ran for the most yards ever in a college football game.
Nothing in life is certain − especially in the Big 12.
The conference proved it’s one of the most outrageous ones in the country with another week that completely flipped the script of who are its top contenders.
For much of the season, it looked like Texas Tech was the top dog with a dominant 6-0 start. But last year’s champion Arizona State had something to say about that, and with quarterback Sam Leavitt back, the Sun Devils put themselves back in the picture with a 26-22 win over the Red Raiders.
Just like that, the narrative has changed. Now, it looks like Brigham Young is the top team at 7-0, the only undefeated team left in the conference. But given how crazy this conference is, will the perfect start last long?
Meanwhile, everything we thought we knew heading into the season is making us look like fools. In the preseason USA TODAY Sports Big 12 rankings, BYU was No. 11. Cincinnati − at No. 12 − is 6-1 and joins the Cougars as the only teams at 4-0 in conference play. Houston is also in the running at 6-1.
It’s the wild, wild west in the Big 12, and every week it’s consistently reminding us how beautiful chaos can be, and that’s why it leads the best and worst things from Week 8 in college football.
Best: Little Poppa Pump
It’s hard living up to your dad when they were an athlete, let alone a ‘Genetic Freak,’ but Jacksonville State receiver Brock Rechsteiner is doing a pretty good job of it.
The last name may sound familar, as Rechsteiner’s father is Scott Rechsteiner, better known as Scott Steiner, legendary WWE Hall of Fame wrestler. Steiner was known as ‘Big Poppa Pump’ for his ridiculously sized muscles and his signature flex.
In some midweek football, Rechsteiner paid homage to his dad, hauling in a touchdown and celebrating it with his dad’s trademark flex.
Worst: Wisconsin’s zeros
Scoring is the name of the game, but Wisconsin hasn’t gotten the memo as the Badgers’ horrid 2025 continues. Wisconsin hosted Ohio State and was shut out 34-0. Even worse, it came one week after it lost to Iowa, 37-0.
In summary, Wisconsin has been outscored 71-0 the past two games, shut out in two consecutive contests for the first time since 1977. Fifteen days without scoring is rough, and the count is approaching midnight for Luke Fickell in Madison.
Best: Upset win in first game
With UAB firing Trent Dilfer, offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen was named interim coach of the 2-4 Blazers. The name might sound familiar, as he is the son of late NFL reporter Chris Mortensen, who died in 2024.
Mortensen’s first game came against undefeated Memphis. The Tigers were expected to roll past UAB, but Mortensen had other plans. He led the Blazers to break their three game skid and stun Memphis 31-24, handing it its first loss of the season and completely throwing off the Group of Five race for a College Football Playoff spot.
The interim coach got a proper Gatorade bath afterward, and you can’t help but think dad is proud to see this one.
Worst: Disaster trick plays
Southern California coach Lincoln Riley is known to be an innovative play caller, but there was nothing spectacular about what happened that likely sealed the Trojans’ loss to Notre Dame.
Down with a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, USC tried a reverse play with receiver Makai Lemon trying to make a pass. However, no one was open for Lemon. He still appeared like he was trying to get the ball out, but the Notre Dame defense rushed him. He got hit and fumbled the ball away in a critical mistake.
The risky call backfired, and all Riley could say about it was ‘stupid call, stupid call.’ USC ended up losing 34-24.
Best: A Calgorithm troll of Belichick
The hits continue to keep landing for North Carolina, as the Tar Heels fumbled away their first ACC win of the Bill Belichick era against California.
Rightfully, the Golden Bears had some fun with it, and made sure the North Carolina coach could see it. Inside the stadium, the scoreboard displayed a statement of Cal mascot Oski’s commitment to the program, a great jab at the odd statements from the Tar Heels and Belichick regarding their relationship.
Worst: UMass remains a mess
With Oregon State’s win over Lafayette, only two winless teams remain in FBS: Sam Houston and Massachusetts. UMass had a chance to change that in Week 8, but completely dropped the ball.
Up 21-20 with just over a minute left, the Minutemen intercepted Buffalo and looked like they were about to pick up a W. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for celebrating pushed the offense back, and the Bulls were able to get the ball back after forcing a punt.
Forty seconds after getting what Umass thought was game-sealing interception, Buffalo found the endzone to take the lead and eventually a win.
Make that 357 days since Massachusetts has tasted victory. Hopefully, the pain ends soon.
Best: Oklahoma State vibes
Obviously, things aren’t going well for 1-6 Oklahoma State, but you wouldn’t know based on the parties going on in the stands at Boone-Pickens Stadium.
Last week, fans in one section went viral for being shirtless and waving their shirts in the air. It returned against Cincinnati, but joining in on the fun were a group of bananas. During the game, while shirts were waving in the air in one section, the bananas decided to form one epic conga line.
The Cowboys lost 49-17 for their sixth loss in a row, but when you’re having fun, who cares? Plus, Oklahoma State clearly started something after shirtless fans were seen doing the same thing at Wisconsin and UCLA.
Worst: Phantom flags
Referees always get a hard time for allegedly ‘robbing’ your favorite team, but sometimes calls are made or missed that you can’t help but scratch your head at. That was the case in UCLA vs. Maryland.
The Bruins picked up a big run for a first down, but it was called back after an official threw a flag on receiver Kwazi Gilmer for block in the back. There was just one problem: Gilmer didn’t touch any player.
Best: Scary face paint
We get players like to paint their face as a form of intimidation, but James Madison linebacker Gannon Weathersby took it to the next level. He sported a not just intimidating, but straight up frightening look that could only be described as a somehow, more evil Joker.
Wouldn’t want to run up to this linebacker.
Worst: Penn State’s coaching search
Not only did the Nittany Lions lose to Iowa for their fourth straight loss, but the search for a new coach isn’t off to a great start.
For some reason, there was a belief Penn State would be able to lure Nick Saban out of retirement. It sounds ridiculous, and thankfully, Ms. Terry was on ‘College GameDay’ to shut down that crazy thought.
The other popular pick is Matt Rhule, a former Penn State linebacker. However, after his Nebraska team got beat down by Minnesota, not sure if that’s what Nittany Lion fans are wanting in a coach to take them to the elite level.
Best: Breaking an NCAA record
No matter what level it is, breaking an NCAA record is a remarkable achievement worth of acknowledging. That happened at the Division III level in a stat line you got to see to believe.
Curry College defeated Nichols College 71-27, and the story was the play of running back Montie Quinn. The senior running back ran for an astonishing 522 yards, the most rushing yards in one game in NCAA history, breaking the previous record of 465 yards set in 2013. It’s the first time a player has ran for at least 500 yards in an NCAA game.
That was on top of him scoring seven rushing touchdowns, a school record.
What a fantastic game and a performance Quinn won’t ever forget.
