BYU football is riding high this week, as they have been during every week of their second straight 7-0 start to the season. These are unprecedented times for the football team historically, and a stamp on the nation that this team is a legitimate contender for not only the Big 12 title, but the College Football Playoff as a whole.
A Holy War win against rival Utah sure feels good, doesn't it?
But not so fast, my friend! Last season opened with a 9-0 record, and all indicators were that they were on a fast track to the 12-team bracket and a date with destiny at the highest stage. But following their win at Utah, Kalani's Cougars suffered a heavy Holy War hangover and dropped the next two games on their schedule to Kansas and Arizona State.
There is no way BYU will be overlooking any opponent on the remainder of their schedule -- in a hectic Big 12 Conference, no one can afford to (sorry, Texas Tech). Up next on the schedule is a starred, circled, and highlighted clash with the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames. On the road, the Cyclones are a force to be reckoned with, and this is the same Matt Campbell squad that breached the conference title game in Arlington last season.
The following week? A battle with Texas Tech in a game that could well determine the fate of both teams' standing in the Big 12 overall.
This has been a critical point in the season since the schedule was first released. It's a critical point now, despite Iowa State's losses to Cincy and Colorado. If the Cougars want national respect, they need to win the big games on their schedule. Now the highest-ranked team in the Big 12 -- sitting in the 11 spot -- BYU football has a massive target on its back, and five more games to tackle before the postseason. With all due respect to Utah, the toughest games of the year are coming in the back-to-back weeks ahead. They aren't out of the woods yet. In fact, the Cyclones are favored in this one.
So tune in, won't you?
How to watch BYU vs Iowa State:
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM MT
Location: Ames, Iowa
Channel: FOX
Odds: ISU -2.5