College football fans were treated to a wild weekend as the American and Big 12 conferences delivered drama, upsets, and high-stakes showdowns on October 25, 2025. The Temple Owls eked out a heart-pounding 38-37 overtime road win against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Houston and Arizona State geared up for a high-scoring clash in Tempe, and the undefeated BYU Cougars prepared for a tough test at Iowa State. With playoff implications and conference races heating up, let’s dive into all the action, the numbers, and what’s next for these programs.
In Tulsa, few would have predicted the rollercoaster ride that unfolded between the Temple Owls and the Golden Hurricane. Temple, fighting to cement their spot in the top half of The American standings, simply couldn’t afford a slip-up against a Tulsa squad still searching for its first conference win. The stakes were clear: win, and keep pace; lose, and risk falling behind in a crowded league race.
From the opening whistle, the game promised fireworks. Temple’s offense, led by quarterback Evan Simon, struck first in overtime with a dazzling 24-yard connection to Colin Chase, immediately followed by a touchdown pass to Kajiya Hollawayne. Carl Hardin’s extra point—just another kick, right?—would prove to be the difference-maker. Tulsa answered with a gritty five-play drive, capped by a five-yard touchdown from Baylor Hayes to Brody Foley. Then came the gutsy call: Tulsa lined up for a two-point conversion, ready to win it all on one play. The ball snapped to Foley in the wildcat, but Temple’s Demerek Morris applied the pressure, forcing an errant jump pass that fell incomplete. Temple’s bench erupted—the Owls had survived, 38-37, in a contest that felt like it could swing on any snap.
"It was another big day for Simon who completed 24 of 35 passes for 267 yards and 5 touchdowns. This game matched his touchdown total in the season opener at UMass. He also ran for 17 yards," wrote Glenn Papazian of PhillyCollegeSports.com. Simon’s performance was nothing short of electric, spreading the ball around and keeping Tulsa’s defense guessing. Hollawayne, his favorite target on the day, hauled in 10 catches for 85 yards and three touchdowns, while Jay Ducker added two more scores and 23 receiving yards. Ducker also paced the ground game with 78 yards, aided by Hunter Smith’s 92 rushing yards.
Tulsa’s Baylor Hayes was no slouch either, completing 19 of 31 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for a score. Brody Foley was a one-man highlight reel, finding the end zone twice through the air and once on the ground. Dominic Richardson chipped in 78 rushing yards, and Josh Smith led all receivers with 112 yards on four catches.
Offensively, both teams were humming. Temple finished with 447 yards on 69 plays, while Tulsa racked up 436 yards on 75 plays. Remarkably, neither quarterback threw an interception—a testament to their poise under pressure. The lead changed hands multiple times, with each team answering the other’s big plays. It was a classic shootout, and in the end, it all came down to a single, desperate pass that fell incomplete.
For Temple, the win marked their first overtime road triumph since a 17-14 victory over UConn in 2012. The Owls, now 5-3 overall and 3-1 in The American, will look to build on this momentum when they return home to face East Carolina on November 1. With the conference race tightening, every game is a must-win from here on out.
Elsewhere in the college football landscape, the Houston Cougars (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) are set for a primetime battle against the No. 25 Arizona State Sun Devils (5-2, 3-1) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, with ESPN2 providing the national broadcast. Houston enters the matchup riding a two-game winning streak, including a dramatic 31-28 home victory over Arizona. In that contest, the Cougars rushed for an impressive 232 yards, and kicker Ethan Sanchez delivered a clutch 41-yard field goal as time expired to seal the win.
Arizona State, meanwhile, is coming off a headline-grabbing upset of then-No. 7 Texas Tech. The Sun Devils, 7.5-point underdogs at home, rallied from a 22-19 deficit late in the fourth quarter. Running back Raleek Brown plunged in for a one-yard touchdown with just 34 seconds left, while wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was a force with 10 catches for 105 yards and a score. However, Tyson is expected to miss the upcoming Houston game due to a hamstring injury—a significant blow, as he leads both the team and the conference in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Arizona State is favored by 7 points, with a moneyline of -285 compared to Houston’s +225. The over/under is set at 46.5 points. Expert predictions give the Sun Devils a slight edge, projecting a 27-23 win, but with all three of their conference victories coming by four points or fewer, this one could go down to the wire. Betting advice leans toward Houston +7 and the over, given both teams’ recent offensive fireworks—Arizona State’s last five games and four of Houston’s last five have each surpassed 46 total points.
Arizona State hasn’t lost a conference game at home since 2023, but the Cougars’ balanced attack and recent clutch performances suggest this could be a nail-biter. With Tyson sidelined, the Sun Devils will need new playmakers to step up if they want to keep their home streak alive.
In another Big 12 showdown, the undefeated No. 10 BYU Cougars (7-0, 4-0) travel to face the Iowa State Cyclones (5-2, 2-2) at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX. BYU is coming off a hard-fought 24-21 rivalry win over Utah, in which quarterback Bear Bachmeier accounted for two touchdowns. Iowa State, on the other hand, enters on a two-game skid, most recently falling 24-17 to Colorado. Despite the downturn, the Cyclones have been stingy at home, allowing just 34 points over three games this season.
The betting lines are tight: Iowa State is favored by 2.5 points, with a moneyline of -145, while BYU sits at +120. The over/under is set at 48.5 points. Predictions tilt toward Iowa State pulling off a 24-20 win, citing their home-field advantage and rested roster. All five of the Cyclones’ victories have come by at least three points, and with the spread so narrow, bettors are advised to consider Iowa State -2.5 and the under, given the defensive prowess both teams have shown recently.
BYU’s unbeaten run has included several nail-biters, with three of their four conference wins decided by a single score. The Cyclones, meanwhile, are hungry to get back on track and have history on their side—they last defeated BYU 45-13 in Ames back in 2023.
As the dust settles on this action-packed weekend, Temple celebrates a gutsy road win that keeps their conference dreams alive, Houston and Arizona State prepare for a high-stakes showdown in the desert, and BYU faces its toughest test yet in hostile territory. With playoff races heating up and every snap carrying extra weight, college football fans couldn’t ask for more drama or excitement.
Looking ahead, all eyes will be on these pivotal matchups as teams jockey for position and look to make their mark in the closing stretch of the season. One thing’s for sure: the road to the championship is as unpredictable—and thrilling—as ever.
