Friday Night Lights: Big 12 Edition

The Big 12 title race is officially heating up. While the Fightin' Cody Campbells of Texas Tech aren't dominating like last year, No. 8 BYU (4-0) is stepping up with main character energy. The Cougars are hosting Iowa State tonight, and it’s a huge test for their maturity. BYU is currently a 10.5-point favorite, but they’re dealing with a massive L: running back LJ Martin is out 4–6 weeks with a lower-body injury. Plus, they might be lowkey distracted by next week’s massive clash against No. 3 Notre Dame.

Iowa State (3-2) isn't coming to play, though. Running back Aiden Flora just snagged AP National Player of the Week honors after a wild 45-42 win against West Virginia. If you're betting, keep an eye on the over 46.5.

More Friday Action

  • Florida State vs. Louisville (7 p.m. ET): After FSU finally snapped into gear with a 38-7 win last week, they're looking to keep that momentum going against a Louisville rush defense that has been struggling. Expert pick: Florida State +6.

  • Iowa vs. Washington (9 p.m. ET): The Hawkeyes are in a sticky situation with starting QB Hank Brown out. Junior Jeremy Hecklinski is getting his first-ever college start. It’s giving classic Iowa grit—low scores and high stakes.

  • NHL Spotlight: The Seattle Kraken face off against the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. ET. Detroit’s offense has been struggling to find the net, averaging only 2.33 goals per game. Experts are eyeing the under 6.5.

Why it matters

With BYU chasing a repeat conference title bid, tonight’s performance dictates if they can handle the pressure of being a ranked favorite before facing Notre Dame. Meanwhile, struggling teams like FSU and Iowa are fighting to salvage their seasons in must-win matchups.