Iowa State Athletics
Week 2 gave us plenty of clarity in the Big 12. Iowa State proved it can grind out wins in close games, Baylor showed off its offensive firepower in a thriller, and Texas Tech looks like a scoring machine. At the same time, a few teams are still searching for answers after early stumbles.
Iowa State: The Cyclones keep finding ways to win. A 16–13 rivalry victory over Iowa showed off their defense, which looks every bit as stingy as advertised. Rocco Becht extended his touchdown pass streak to 21 straight games—the longest active mark in the FBS.
Baylor: The Bears survived a double-overtime slugfest with SMU, winning 48–45. Sawyer Robertson’s 859 passing yards lead the Big 12 and rank second nationally. He looks comfortable as the centerpiece of a wide-open Baylor offense that can put up points on anyone.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders have been nothing short of explosive. They dropped 62 on Kent State and already have 129 points through two weeks—their most since 2005. Behren Morton is operating at an elite level, boasting a top-three quarterback rating nationally.
Utah: The Utes rolled over Cal Poly 63–9, and Devon Dampier quietly leads the nation in completion percentage. They look balanced on both sides of the ball and are quietly building toward their first Big 12 title push.
Kansas: The Jayhawks’ offense is clicking behind Jalon Daniels, who has already accounted for 10 total touchdowns. But the defense couldn’t keep Missouri in check during a 42–31 loss. Daniels will have to keep carrying the load if KU wants to stay in the race.
West Virginia: A 17–10 loss at Ohio raised questions about the Mountaineers’ consistency. Jahiem White is still a bright spot at running back, but West Virginia’s offensive rhythm hasn’t shown up yet against tougher competition.
As we move into Week 3, the Big 12 looks both deep and unpredictable. Iowa State has the early look of a contender, Texas Tech’s offense is terrifying, and Baylor might just be more dangerous than expected. With league play starting, the margin for error is about to shrink fast.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
