College football in the Big 12 is basically a weekly heart attack. You’ve got teams like BYU and Texas Tech seemingly coming out of nowhere to dominate, while the usual powerhouses are constantly looking over their shoulders. It's chaotic. It's loud. And honestly, the Big 12 football players of the week are the only reason some of these teams are still breathing in the playoff hunt.
We aren't just talking about a few good catches or a lucky interception. The guys winning these awards are putting up numbers that look like they belong in a video game. I mean, look at Joe Jackson. The K-State running back didn’t just have a "good game" against Utah in late November; he tore the record book to shreds with 293 rushing yards. That isn't normal.
The Offensive Fireworks You Probably Missed
The Big 12 isn't just about "defense is optional" anymore, but the offense is still the main attraction. BYU has found a legitimate star in Bear Bachmeier. The freshman quarterback has been a regular on the weekly honors list, snagging Freshman of the Week honors seven times throughout the 2025 season.
By mid-November, Bachmeier was already breaking school records that had stood since the days of Steve Young and Taysom Hill. He hit 11 rushing touchdowns on the season, a new BYU high for a signal-caller. In a pivotal Week 12 win over TCU, he threw for nearly 300 yards and ran for another score. It’s rare to see a true freshman handle the pressure of a conference title race with that much chill.
Then there is Jeff Sims at Arizona State. He’s been a bit of a journeyman, but he’s finally found a home in Tempe. In Week 10, Sims did something nobody in the Big 12 has done since Vince Young back in 2006. He threw for over 175 yards and rushed for over 200 in a single game. His 88-yard touchdown run against Iowa State was the kind of play that stays on highlight reels for a decade.
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Notable Offensive Standouts (Fall 2025)
- Joe Jackson (K-State): 293 rushing yards vs. Utah. A school record.
- LJ Martin (BYU): A beast in the backfield. He put up 222 yards against Cincinnati to seal a 26-14 win.
- Byrd Ficklin (Utah): The Utes' dual-threat weapon. He broke his own rushing record for a Utah QB with 166 yards against Baylor.
- Conner Weigman (Houston): Became the first Big 12 QB this season to rush for 100+ yards in back-to-back games.
Defense Still Wins Games (Sometimes)
While the QBs get the headlines, the defensive Big 12 football players of the week have been essentially saving seasons. Houston’s Will James is a name you need to know. He joined an exclusive club this year as one of only three FBS players to record two interceptions and a forced fumble in the same game. That happened during Week 13, helping the Cougars stay relevant in a crowded middle-of-the-pack.
Arizona’s Dalton Johnson has been another tackling machine. In late November, he racked up 18 tackles in a single game against Baylor. That is the most by a Wildcat in over ten years. If you’re a running back seeing number 43 coming at you, you're probably having a bad day.
Texas Tech has their own defensive superstar in Jacob Rodriguez. The guy is a Heisman dark horse for a reason. By November, he led the entire nation in forced fumbles. In a blowout win over UCF, he tallied nine tackles and a pick while—get this—also rushing for a touchdown on the other side of the ball. He’s the first player in decades to post five forced fumbles, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in one season.
The Trench Warriors
You can’t talk about the weekly awards without mentioning the big guys. The "Offensive Line of the Week" isn't a glamorous award, but Utah’s unit has been dominant. They helped the Utes put up 380 rushing yards against Baylor. On the defensive side, BYU's line has been a brick wall, winning the "Defensive Line of the Week" multiple times late in the season, notably holding Cincinnati to a season-low 14 points.
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The Special Teams Saviors
We've all seen a game ruined by a bad snap or a missed 30-yarder. That’s why the special teams awards in this conference are actually a big deal.
Iowa State’s Kyle Konrardy is basically a legend in Ames at this point. He’s won Special Teams Player of the Week four times in his career, including a Week 13 performance where he nailed a 55-yarder.
Then you have the game-winners. Noe Ruelas from UCF saved Senior Night with a 34-yard walk-off against Oklahoma State. And Arizona State’s Jesus Gomez? He’s tied the Big 12 record for most game-winning field goals in a single season. The dude has ice water in his veins.
- Mana Carvalho (Utah): Returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown against BYU.
- J’Koby Williams (Texas Tech): Took the opening kickoff 99 yards to the house against Oklahoma State.
- Will Ferrin (BYU): He’s hit 110 consecutive extra points. Consistency is an understatement.
Why This List Matters for the Standings
These weekly honors aren't just participation trophies. They reflect the shift in power. Texas Tech and BYU have stayed at the top of the standings because their best players—Rodriguez, Bachmeier, and Martin—are winning these awards almost every other week.
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When you see a team like Houston or Arizona State suddenly start sweeping the weekly awards, it usually precedes a jump in the rankings. It’s a momentum indicator. If your quarterback is the Offensive Player of the Week, you probably just won a game you weren't supposed to.
How to Follow the Awards
If you want to keep up with who is actually dominating the conference, the Big 12 officially announces these winners every Monday morning.
- Check the Big 12 Official Site: They post the full breakdown with stats by 10 AM CST.
- Watch the Monday Pressers: Coaches usually spend the first five minutes bragging about their winners.
- Follow the Beat Writers: Local guys for Texas Tech or BYU usually leak the news a few minutes early.
The race for the 2025 Big 12 Championship is coming down to which of these weekly stars can keep the lights on for one more Saturday. Whether it's Bear Bachmeier's legs or Jacob Rodriguez's ability to strip the ball, the conference is currently being defined by individual brilliance in high-pressure moments.
To get the most out of your Big 12 viewing experience, pay close attention to the turnover margin for the weekly defensive winners. Usually, the player of the week is the one who created at least two takeaways, which is the magic number for an upset in this league. You should also track the "Freshman of the Week" winners to identify which teams are built for a long-term run versus those just riding a senior-heavy roster.