The college football season is right around the corner, and fans have been eyeing the schedule for months. But there’s always a game that gets overlooked by each fan base that is on the schedule. The game you think should be a win, but if you’re not careful, can catch you off guard as an upset. We call them “trap games”. Here is the biggest trap game for each Big 12 football team in 2026.
Arizona: November 21st vs. Kansas State
This game comes after Arizona plays Utah, and before the Wildcats take on Arizona State. It’s the second-to-last week of the regular season, and it will be the fifth game in a row without a bye week. Arizona needs to not get caught overlooking the Cats.
Arizona State: October 10th vs. Hawaii
The Sun Devils have this late non-conference game sandwiched between two Big 12 games against Baylor and at Texas Tech. If they overlook a Hawaii team that went 9-4 last year and can always put up big offensive numbers, they’ll get caught off guard before going to Lubbock.
Baylor: November 7th vs. Iowa State
Let’s be honest, the Cyclones aren’t expected to be great this season, but I think they’ll catch a team or two off guard. This game for Baylor is at home following two road games vs. Kansas and UCF, and is before they hit the road again to play BYU and host Texas Tech. Plus, Baylor really shouldn’t be overlooking anyone.
BYU: October 24th at UCF
This road trip follows one of the biggest home games in modern BYU history: home vs. Notre Dame. It will have huge hype, and possibly massive expectations, and it comes before BYU takes on Arizona State. UCF is a much better home team than a road team so far in the Big 12. Last year, they went 2-2 in Big 12 play at home, with their two losses by three and seven points.
Cincinnati: September 19th vs. Miami-Ohio
This is the third of three non-conference games to open the season, with Boston College as the season opener, followed by Western Carolina. It’s before the Big 12 opener vs. K-State, so Cincinnati might get caught looking ahead to the league opener. Don’t. Miami-Ohio will be a MAC competitor, and Cinci can’t afford a loss here.
Houston: October 17th vs. Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State might emerge as a surprise team in the Big 12, but it may not be obvious by this point in the season. This game is followed by Houston’s road trip to Manhattan, which is always a tough place to play, and is followed by a trip to Utah. That’s a tough spot.
Iowa State: September 19th vs. Bowling Green
This game follows Cy-Hawk, and comes before the Big 12 opener vs. Utah. Jimmy Rogers can’t afford to look ahead vs. anyone, but if there’s a game that might catch them off guard, it could be this one, as Bowling Green would love to get itself an upset vs. a Power 4 team.
Kansas. November 7th vs. UCF
For the Jayhawks, this home game is between two road trips: One to TCU and one to West Virginia. This is the sixth game in a row for a Kansas team that will also have a trip to London earlier in the season. It’s a long road for KU in 2026, and they can’t overlook a UCF team that might come in more rested, and as an under-the-radar team this fall.
Kansas State: October 31st at Colorado
Kansas State has this game at the tail-end of a tough four-game stretch that features Houston, Kansas and Arizona State, while coming prior to a matchup vs. Oklahoma State. So that’s two possible Big 12 competitors (UH/ASU), and a rivalry in between, before going to Boulder, where they picked up their one win as an upset last year vs. Iowa State.
Oklahoma State: October 10th vs. UCF
The Cowboys need to get off to a hot start with all their new transfer players. It will help them build confidence and be a possible sleeper. It’s a home game between two road games at West Virginia, always a tough and long road trip, and Houston, a likely contender. If they think they can overlook the Knights, they’ll be surprised.
TCU: October 24th vs. West Virginia
This game for the Horned Frogs is preceded by games against UCF, BYU, and their biggest rival, Baylor. If they look at this game and think a home matchup vs. WVU will be a cakewalk, they could get run over.
Texas Tech: September 12th at Oregon State
There isn’t much else on the schedule that screams trap game, but a road trip to Oregon State might be it. Maybe Will Hammond is still knocking off the rust against his best competition in almost a year, while Oregon State, led by new head coach JaMarcus Shepard and Mike McIntyre as his new defensive coordinator, might be looking for that signature victory early in their tenure to turn around the program. Never say never.
UCF: November 7th at Kansas
This game is preceded by two home games against BYU and Baylor. Maybe they end up splitting those two, and if they do, they might look at KU as a game they should win. But going on the road to Lawrence can be sneaky tough in the Lance Leipold era. So don’t overlook it, especially with a home game vs. Arizona State on deck.
Utah: October 17th at Colorado
This game comes after a couple of winnable games against Iowa State and Kansas at home, and it comes right before the Utes take on Houston. If they blast Iowa State and/or Kansas, they might be overconfident going to Boulder and get caught looking ahead to Houston. Don’t fall for it, CU.
West Virginia: October 3rd at Iowa State
Jimmy Rogers will be looking for a signature win in Year 1 at Iowa State. If RichRod’s team isn’t careful, following a winnable home game vs. Oklahoma State, they’ll get picked off themselves. This team can be the surprise of the Big 12, but not if they think Ames will be a cakewalk.
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