Texas' Sept. 7 date with LSU is one of the must-see games of the entire season
The Big 12's round-robin schedule doesn't give its members much room to maneuver in setting up non-conference games. Most programs try to ensure they have one game against another opponent from a major conference and two matchups with teams from the FCS level and Group of 5 conferences. Generally, figuring out which teams play the toughest non-conference schedule comes down to the marquee name on the slate.
One Big 12 team has a heavyweight fight on its hands against an opponent from the SEC. Another is ducking major challengers to fatten up before the conference schedule kicks up. Otherwise, little separates most of the Big 12 programs' non-conference schedules in 2019.
1. Texas
Aug. 31 vs. Louisiana Tech
Sept. 7 vs. LSU
Sept. 14 vs. Rice (Houston)
The Longhorns' clash in the second week of the season against the LSU Tigers will command the attention of the college football world. A week later, UT gets a laugher at NRG Stadium against the Owls. Word to the wise: The Horns shouldn't sleep on the Bulldogs in their season opener.
2. West Virginia
Aug. 31 vs. James Madison
Sept. 7 at Missouri
Sept. 14 vs. NC State
Bummer of a way to start your tenure as head coach at WVU, Neal Brown. JMU is one of the top FCS programs around. After that, the Mountaineers have to travel to Mizzou and then host the always frisky NC State Wolfpack. No one in Morgantown wants to hear this, but an 0-3 start is potentially on the table.
3. Kansas State
Aug. 31 vs. Nicholls
Sept. 7 vs. Bowling Green
Sept. 14 at Mississippi State
After Mississippi State rolled KSU in Manhattan in 2018, the Bulldogs get a chance to pummel KSU in the friendly confines of their own stadium this season. Chris Klieman shouldn’t let his team coast through the Bowling Green game.
4. Iowa State
Aug. 31 vs. Northern Iowa
Sept. 14 vs. Iowa
Sept. 21 vs. ULM
The Cyclones' annual in-state rivalry game is the primary draw here. It's easy to forget ULM went 6-6 a year ago, however. And don't think FCS foe UNI won't be itching to shock the world and upset one of the power players in the state.
5. Oklahoma
Sept. 1 vs. Houston
Sept. 7 vs. South Dakota
Sept. 14 at UCLA
The Sooners have one of the sneakier non-conference games of the season in the Big 12 in week three when they travel to the Rose Bowl to take on UCLA. Coach Chip Kelly had the Bruins on an upswing to end his first season, and they look to be one of the most improved teams in the country this year. FCS opponent South Dakota is a walkover, but Houston could give OU trouble in Dana Holgorsen's first game as head coach of the Cougars.
6. TCU
Aug. 31 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Sept. 14 at Purdue
Sept. 21 vs. SMU
The Horned Frogs start off with a laugher, but their second game of the year is at Purdue, a program thought to be on the rise under head coach Jeff Brohm. TCU has an odd off week before the road trip to West Lafayette, however, which gives head coach Gary Patterson and his staff extra time to prepare for the Boilermakers. The crosstown rivalry with SMU picks up in week four.
7. Texas Tech
Aug. 31 vs. Montana State
Sept. 7 vs. UTEP
Sept. 14 at Arizona
Not a bad way for first-year head coach Matt Wells to ease into his tenure. The Red Raiders start with a layup against FCS opponent Montana State and a home game versus UTEP, one of the worst teams in the nation last season. Tech kicks it up a notch with a date at Arizona, but don't be shocked if the boys from Lubbock pull off an upset.
8. Oklahoma State
Aug. 30 at Oregon State
Sept. 7 vs. McNeese
Sept. 14 at Tulsa
The Cowboys enjoy the distinction of being the only Big 12 conference member to play two away games outside of the league this season. Athletic director Mike Holder may want to give more thought to his scheduling philosophy. Of course, playing at Tulsa is almost an OSU home game. Given how poor Oregon State has been in recent years, this looks like an easy slate of games for the Pokes.
9. Kansas
Aug. 31 vs. Indiana State
Sept. 7 vs. Coastal Carolina
Sept. 13 at Boston College
Kansas-Boston College doesn't rank very highly in terms of non-conference sex appeal — for good reason. KU is KU, and BC slogged through an unremarkable 7-5 season in 2018. New KU head coach Les Miles does have a decent shot at winning his first game with the Jayhawks against FCS foe Indiana State.
10. Baylor
Aug. 31 vs. Stephen F. Austin
Sept. 7 vs. UTSA
Sept. 21 at Rice
This looks like the Baylor of old: An FCS team and two mid-major teams that went a combined 5-20 a year ago. The Bears don't even have to leave the state of Texas in September. Art Briles couldn't be prouder of what the Baylor athletic department put together for 2019.
— Written by Allen Kenney, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Kenney is founder and editor of BlatantHomerism.com and host of the Blatant Homerism Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @BlatantHomerism.
