Utah has wins over Southern Utah, Baylor and Utah State. Baylor ranks No. 1 in defense in the Big 12 heading into this week’s games. Utah is No. 2, Kansas State is No. 4 and BYU follows closely at No. 5 ahead of Kansas, Houston and UCF.

Utah remained No. 1 for the third consecutive week, receiving eight of a possible 16 first-place votes from a panel of media that regularly covers the Big 12. Kansas State, one of the league’s seven unbeaten teams, moved up to No. 2 with six first-place votes and 242 points.

Schade: “I just try and honestly keep myself calm if I get my nerves too high, if I get nervous and I don't play well. So I just try to remember what I've been doing in practice. Remember that I'm just as talented as everybody else on the team, as everybody else on the BYU team. Just come into the game with like a calm mindset ready to play.

The expectations surrounding both programs are different — the No. 12 Utes are a favorite to win the Big 12 and earn an automatic spot in the expanded College Football Playoff, while BYU, following a 5-7 season, is projected to fight just to make the postseason.

The Cougars need three more wins to become eligible for the postseason, with Big 12 play kicking off for the Cougars this weekend.