Deion Sanders and Colorado football (9-3, 7-2 Big 12) knew heading into Week 14 they did not control their destiny to make the Big 12 championship game.
And, despite doing what they could to keep their conference title game hopes alive — the Buffs manhandled Oklahoma State 52-0 on Friday — Colorado will not play in the Big 12 championship game in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Several Big 12 tiebreaker scenarios were at play in Week 14, and Colorado had more than one way to make it to Arlington. A win by Texas Tech over West Virginia kept alive Colorado’s chances of making the Big 12 title game, even as No. 15 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State beat Arizona and Kansas State, respectively.
REQUIRED READING:Deion Sanders’ Colorado finished off a stellar regular season. And the fun may not be over
An upset by Houston over No. 20 BYU in the final Big 12 game of the season would have allowed Colorado to make the title game. Unfortunately for the Buffaloes, BYU outlasted Houston 30-18 to finalize the Big 12 championship — without Colorado in it.
Here’s what to know:
Who’s playing in Big 12 championship game?
No. 15 Arizona State (10-2, 7-2) will play No. 17 Iowa State (10-2, 7-2) in the Big 12 title game. The Sun Devils needed only to beat Arizona — which they did, 49-7 — to clinch their title game berth. But Iowa State, even after its 29-21 win over Kansas State, needed help with a BYU win to make the title game.
The Cyclones reached the game as part of a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 standings.
Had BYU lost on Saturday, Colorado would have made the Big 12 title game following a Cougars loss to Houston, plus a Texas Tech win over West Virginia and Cincinnati loss to TCU.
REQUIRED READING:Deion Sanders’ Colorado finished off a stellar regular season. And the fun may not be over
Big 12 standings
Teams’ Big 12 records listed
- T-1. Arizona State (7-2) *
- T-1. Iowa State (7-2) *
- T-1. Colorado (7-2)
- T-1. BYU (7-2)
- T-5. Baylor (6-3)
- T-5. TCU (6-3)
- T-5. Texas Tech (6-3)
- T-8. Kansas State (5-4)
- T-8. West Virginia (5-4)
- 10. Kansas (4-5)
- T-11. Cincinnati (3-6)
- T-11. Houston (3-6)
- T-13. Utah (2-7)
- T-13. Arizona (2-7)
- T-13. Central Florida (2-7)
- 16. Oklahoma State (0-9)
* Will play for Big 12 championship
