Is Saturday’s game between Oklahoma State and K-State an elimination game in the race to the Big 12 championship? After both teams lost their conference opener, it may very well be. I know it is still early, as we are only one game into the conference schedule, but I am skeptical that a two-loss team will make the Big 12 championship game. The loser of this game will start conference play 0-2 and have a huge hole to dig out of if they have hopes of playing in Arlington in December.

I think Utah is the clear front-runner in the Big 12 at this point, and looking at their schedule, they could run the table in the conference. They play Arizona at home this Saturday, at Arizona State, TCU, at Houston, BYU, at Colorado, Iowa State, and at UCF. Anything can happen, of course, but I predict Utah will earn a bid to the Big 12 conference championship with an undefeated record.

That leaves one spot available, and two of the preseason favorites to fill that spot, K-State and Oklahoma State play each other this Saturday. While a win doesn’t necessarily give them the inside track with seven conference games left to play after this weekend, a loss could prove devastating to either team’s chances.

Oklahoma State still must play West Virginia, at BYU, at Baylor, Arizona State, at TCU, Texas Tech, and at Colorado. Could they run the table with a loss to K-State? Sure, but it’s not likely. Even with a win, it will be difficult for them to go unscathed the rest of the way. We will have to see how things play out.

K-State has games at Colorado, at West Virginia, Kansas, at Houston, Arizona State, Cincinnati, and at Iowa State. If the Wildcats can get their issues on offense fixed (which they should), they can run the table after the Oklahoma State game, but I think a loss and an 0-2 conference start may eliminate them. That’s why this game is of utmost importance. Perusing the schedules of the other contenders in the Big 12, I don’t think anyone else will finish with an undefeated or one loss conference record. Of course, it’s early and anything can still happen, but I don’t see it at this point in the season. Both K-State and Oklahoma State can get it done with a win on Saturday.

I will probably hear it from the “take it one game at a time” crowd, but the point of this column is to emphasize how important this game is to both teams. Is it an elimination game? Not officially, but it sure feels like it may be.