The Dream Big 12 College Football 2024 Road Trip

West Virginia vs. Penn State could be one of the games that defines the Big 12 this season. The Big 12 is going to have a chip on its shoulder without any traditional “blue bloods”, and knocking off a Top 10 Penn State team to start the season would be an incredible shot in the arm for the conference in a post-Texas and post-Oklahoma world. The atmosphere is going to be electric in Morgantown and I can’t think of a better way to start the season.

Week 2: Cincinnati vs. Pitt

First off, if I’m already coming from Morgantown, this is an easy trip. But also, while Week 2 is loaded for the Big 12, many of the better games are on the road (Iowa State, Texas Tech, Houston), so let’s hit Cincinnati early in the season, when there’s still likely to be some excitement around the Bearcats and see if they can get a solid win an ACC opponent, which would give this program some much-needed confidence.

Week 3: UCF at TCU

It’s the first official game of Big 12 play and it will go a long way for both teams who are hoping to be the “surprise” team in the Big 12 this season. UCF is loaded with talent and wants to take a step in Year 2, while TCU is desperately wanting to bounce-back after a subpar 2023, which was a follow up to a run to a National Championship. The loser is going to sit back and wonder if another season of mediocrity is on the horizon, while the winner will have a little pep in their step and look at the wide-open Big 12 and say, “Why not us?”

Week 4: Oklahoma State vs. Utah

This is one of the best conference games in the Big 12 this season. It’s the program that’s been the most consistent for the last 15 years in the “old” Big 12 against the most consistent for the last 15 years in the “new” Big 12. It’s two of the longest-tenured coaches in college football in Mike Gundy vs. Kyle Whittingham. Plus, the winner will be in the driver’s seat of the Big 12 Championship race. This is one I would never miss.

Week 5: Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State

I’m following the Cowboys up to Manhattan because it’s another game that will go a long way in determining who ends up playing for a Big 12 Championship this season. Also, in a day where half the conference is filled with new teams the last two years, it’s an old-school Big 12 match up that will have big implications in the title race.

Week 6: Arizona State vs. Kansas

Here’s a chance to get an early-season visit to Tempe as the Sun Devils come to the Big 12, and I wanted to make sure this road trip included stops at each of the Four Corners schools. Arizona State might be a team that has some early season surprises, while Kansas is expected to be in Big 12 contention as the season rolls along.

Week 7: Colorado vs. Kansas State

Next up, it’s an old Big 12 North match up as Colorado comes back to the Big 12 after more than a decade in the Pac-12. Old school Big 12 fans will feel like it’s the early 2000’s all over again! And it features two of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 in Shedeur Sanders and Avery Johnson. The potential for this game is great.

Week 8: BYU vs. Oklahoma State

Now, I travel to Provo, Utah for a Friday night game with the Oklahoma State Cowboys. If I’m going to Provo, a night game against the Cowboys feels like as good of an environment as one can ask for. And with some predicting BYU being a surprise team in the Big 12, maybe this becomes a surprise game in the conference schedule as well.

Week 9: Baylor vs. Oklahoma State

This is our last Oklahoma State game of the season. But that’s just how it’s playing out when you are trying to balance the schedule and only visiting each stadium once, while also trying to find the best games you can within those parameters. Waco and McLane Stadium are both underrated and worthy of a visit. Plus, if Dave Aranda is trying to get off the hot seat, this could be a make-or-break game for him in the 2024 college football season.

Week 10: UCF vs. Arizona

As we flip to November, now it’s time to warm up in Central Florida in a game that will have implications in the Big 12 race. Both teams could be in the mix, and I could see this being an elimination game of sorts as we start the final month of conference play. Plus, I’ll get in a round of golf around Orlando.

Week 11: Utah vs. BYU

I knew, based on the rules, I was going to be going to Utah for the Holy War. And it’s not just any Holy War, it’s the Holy War as a conference game, with potential Big 12 Title Game implications. This is college football at its best. And I wouldn’t miss it.

Week 12: Arizona vs. Houston

At this point in the season, most of the home teams I’ve been to, so I picked a Friday night to go to Arizona for the first time in what could be a sneaky game vs. Houston. Willie Fritz could be looking for that staple win in his first season, and I could see the Cougars catching the Wildcats off guard, if they aren’t fully focused against a hungry team looking to make its mark.

Week 13: Kansas vs. Colorado

It gets harder as the season goes on, because as I have in my rules, I can’t go to a Big 12 stadium more than once. The home teams in Week 13 are many cities I’ve already been to on this road trip, so for this week, while I don’t know if it’ll be a huge game with Big 12 implications for both teams, it’s more about a Kansas team that could very well be in the mix, plus the game is at Arrowhead Stadium. Getting a college game in a legendary NFL stadium is well worth the visit.

Week 14: Iowa State vs. Kansas State

Farmageddon. I still can’t believe this was not a protected rivalry by the Big 12, but I will save this for another day. In the meantime, it’s become one of the best rivalries in the Big 12 and could very well be a game with Big 12 Championship Game implications. But even if that’s not the case, it will be a game that you never want to miss!