College football season is less than 90 days away, and as soon as it starts you can be assured that the upsets will start as well.
Here’s a look at five possible Big 12 Conference early-season upsets in 2024:
North Dakota State at Colorado (Aug. 29, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN): Colorado’s current coaching staff had little to no say over this season’s schedule — those deals are made years in advance — but you have to think bringing in a team that’s won more six FCS national championships in the last decade. The Bison aren’t as good as they have been in recent years, but Colorado’s ability to play down to the competition in 2023 led to the Buffaloes going 4-8.
South Dakota State at Oklahoma State (Aug. 31, TBD, Big 12/ESPN+): Oklahoma State has been talked about as a team that could make the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024. Those conversations would all come to a screeching halt if the Cowboys lose to the two-time defending FCS national champions in the season opener.
Penn State at West Virginia (Aug. 31, TBD, FOX): West Virginia hasn’t defeated Penn State since 1988, and if the Mountaineers are going to do it, it’s probably going to be in Morgantown — the same place they beat the Nittany Lions 36 years ago. Penn State leads the overall series 49-92 and will be ranked in the Top 10 in preseason polls. West Virginia’s secret weapon could be dynamo QB Garrett Greene.
BYU at SMU (Sept. 6, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2): SMU is playing in its first season in a Power Five Conference after joining the ACC but more important than that, the Mustangs finished 2023 with an 11-3 record and ranked No. 22 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. BYU had an uncharacteristically rough year in 2023, going 5-7 in its first year in the Big 12, and seems like a candidate to pull off the upset because they’ll almost certainly bounce back in 2024.
Colorado at Colorado State (Sept. 14, 7:30 pm. ET, CBS): Yes, Colorado is on this list twice. Colorado beat Colorado State in a thriller in Boulder last year that was one of the best early-season games in 2023. The Rams bring back three players who brought them to the brink of beating the Buffs with safety Henry Blackburn, quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton.
🧵Despite catching 16 balls, this is THE play that will help @CSUFootball WR Tory Horton most from Saturday’s game.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) September 18, 2023
Didn’t quite catch Shilo Sanders but Horton’s sheer effort shows how he’s wired as a competitor. #NFL scouts are always watching what players do after ball is… https://t.co/vliejdjCqU pic.twitter.com/exBWD7ufPR
