👋 GOOD MORNING - Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a good start.

The World Series is set! Heartbreak city for Seattle fans, as the Blue Jays triumphed in Game 7 of the ALCS last night, setting up a World Series showdown with the Dodgers. Game 1 is Friday at 5 pm on FOX, and Game 2 is Saturday, also at 5 pm.

The Dodgers are favored to win their second straight title, but don’t sleep on Toronto. Enjoy the games!

On to the show!

— Patrick Brown, PHNX Sports Daily Editor

The only thing predictable about the Big 12 is that it’s unpredictable.

The Sun Devils find themselves back near the top of this week’s Big 12 Power Rankings after a top-10 win, and just like that, Arizona State is right back in the thick of the conference title race. The defending champs have some company, including No. 11 BYU and No. 21 Cincinnati.

The Sun Devils don’t face either of those schools this season, though, so they’ll need a little help down the stretch.

Here are your Week 9 matchups:

Saturday, Oct. 18

1 — No. 11 BYU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12): The undisputed top team right now, and deservedly so considering the Cougars are the Big 12’s only remaining unbeaten team (overall record). BYU continues to roll through its competition, emerging victorious from last weekend’s Holy War with a 24-21 win over rival Utah. The road doesn’t get any easier for the Cougs, who travel to Ames to face the Cyclones this weekend.
Last Week’s Result: W, 24-21 vs. No. 23 Utah
Last Week’s Ranking: 2

2 — No. 21 Cincinnati (6-1, 4-0): The Bearcats remain unbeaten in the conference after a 49-17 thrashing of the Cowboys in Stillwater, and have some impressive wins on their resume, as well. Cincinnati still has some tough games left on its schedule, and hosts Baylor at 1 pm this Saturday.
Last Week’s Result: W, 49-17 at Oklahoma State
Last Week’s Ranking: 4

3 - No. 24 Arizona State (5-2, 3-1): A much-needed home win over Texas Tech vaulted ASU back up these standings. The Sun Devils again have a good shot in the conference race, though they need a little help considering neither BYU nor Cincinnati appear on their schedule this season.
Last Week’s Result: W, 26-22 vs. No. 7 Texas Tech
Last Week’s Ranking: 6

4 - No. 14 Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1): Tough break to fall from the top spot all the way down to No. 4, but BYU and Cincy control their own destinies as the only unbeaten teams remaining, and on top of that, ASU just beat them. Yes, starter Behren Morton did not play in last weekend’s loss, but it was a costly defeat for the Red Raiders nonetheless.
Last Week’s Result: L, 26-22 at Arizona State
Last Week’s Ranking: 1

5 — Houston (6-1, 3-1): Arizona’s heartbreak is Houston’s gain, as the Cougars just keep hanging around in the Big 12 race. Another huge test awaits in Tempe on Saturday, though.
Last Week’s Result: W, 31-28 vs. Arizona
Last Week’s Ranking: 5

6 — Utah (5-2, 2-2): Tough loss to BYU for the Utes, falling by three points en route to their second conference loss. Utah has played three ranked opponents over its last four games, and has another one in two weeks vs. No. 21 Cincinnati. The good news? 3-4 Colorado is on deck.
Last Week’s Result: L, 24-21 at No. 15 BYU
Last Week’s Ranking: 3

7 - Iowa State (5-2, 2-2): The Cyclones move up despite a bye, and another tough test awaits when No. 11 BYU visits Ames this weekend.
Last Week’s Result: Idle
Last Week’s Ranking: 8

8 - TCU (5-2, 2-2): The Horned Frogs’ topsy-turvy season continues, and they have made a big jump in the rankings by getting back to .500 in Big 12 play. TCU travels to Morgantown this week, and cannot afford another stumble in the conference.
Last Week’s Result: W, 42-36 vs. Baylor
Last Week’s Ranking: 13

9 — Baylor (4-3, 2-2): The Bears can play spoiler while bolstering their own cause in a visit to No. 21 Cincinnati this weekend.
Last Week’s Result: L, 42-36 at TCU
Last Week’s Ranking: 7

Best of the Rest:

10 — Arizona (4-3, 1-3)
Last Week’s Result: L, 31-28 at Houston
Last Week’s Ranking: 9

11 — Kansas (4-3, 2-2 )
Last Week’s Result: Idle
Last Week’s Ranking: 11

12 — Kansas State (3-4, 2-2)
Last Week’s Result: Idle
Last Week’s Ranking: 10

13 — UCF (4-3, 1-3)
Last Week’s Result: W, 45-13 vs. West Virginia
Last Week’s Ranking: 14

14 — Colorado (3-4, 1-3)
Last Week’s Result: Idle
Last Week’s Ranking: 12

15 — West Virginia (2-5 0-4)
Last Week’s Result: L, 45-13 at UCF
Last Week’s Ranking: 15

16 — Oklahoma State (1-6, 0-4)
Last Week’s Result: L, 49-17 vs. No. 24 Cincinnati
Last Week’s Ranking: 16

Agree? Disagree? Email me at [email protected] OR by simply responding to this email and sound off!

Dynamic Duo: Sun Devils wideout Jordyn Tyson and kicker Jesus Gomez each earned recognition from the Big 12 following last week’s win over No. 7 Texas Tech. Tyson earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors after finishing with 10 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Gomez was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after going 4-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on PATs.

The ASU football team has been recognized with a Big 12 weekly award eight times this season.

Welcome Back: The NBA season kicks off tonight with two games, while the Suns officially start their season at home tomorrow against Sacramento. We’ll have a full preview of the Suns’ season tomorrow, but also make sure to subscribe and tune in to our amazing PHNX Suns crew all season long!

I wasn’t kidding when I said the conference race was wide open.

The NBA season kicking off tonight: