Big 12 Power Rankings: Contenders separating themselves from pretenders

The Big 12 had another explosive week of action, complete with a handful of upsets and near-upsets. The conference is quickly drawing a line between the legitimate contenders and the pretenders who won't seriously factor into the title race. Here's the updated Big 12 hierarchy after all the drama.

1. BYU Cougars 4-0 (2-0)

   Last Week's Result: W at TCU 17-10 Last Week's Rank: 1st

   It wasn't the most convincing win for the Cougars, but some grace is given to BYU for the fact that they lost star rusher LJ Martin to injury after just two carries. Bear Bachmeier struggled mightily against the TCU secondary, but the elite defense delivered the win.

2. Texas Tech Red Raiders 5-0 (2-0)

   Last Week's Result: W at Colorado 29-7

   Last Week's Rank: 2nd

   If the Red Raiders had won more convincingly this week, they'd have leapfrogged the Cougars, but alas. Texas Tech trailed Colorado - who turned to backup quarterback Isaac Wilson in this one for his first start since 2024 - for the first 42 minutes of game time, only taking the lead late in the third quarter before pulling away.

3. Houston Cougars 4-1 (1-1)

   Last Week's Result: W vs UCF 27-17

   Last Week's Rank: 3rd

   For most of Saturday's game, it felt like the Cougars were going to drop several spots. The offense couldn't score and the defense couldn't get off the field, and UCF led 17-0 halfway through the third quarter. Then, a switch flipped, and Houston scored 27 unanswered to win in convincing fashion despite an uncharacteristically slow start.

4. Utah Utes 4-0 (1-0)

   Last Week's Result: BYE

   Last Week's Rank: 4th

   Utah sits in a good spot on their bye week, with the road win over Iowa State aging a bit better now. They don't face a true test for a few more weeks, when they host Houston, but for now they've lived up to the hype.

5. Baylor Bears 4-1 (2-0)

   Last Week's Result: W at Arizona State 55-19

   Last Week's Rank: 6th

   Baylor jumps over a team that was on their bye solely because of how dominant they beat Arizona State. DJ Lagway is in a rhythm, and the Bears defense is causing fits for opposing offenses no matter who it is. There may not be a hotter team in the Big 12 right now.

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys 3-1 (1-0)

   Last Week's Result: BYE

   Last Week's Rank: 5th

   The Cowboys had their bye week and dropped a spot. That may be unfair, but Baylor earned the right to move up ahead of them. Oklahoma State, like Baylor, is playing great football right now and looks to be firmly in the mix for the Big 12 title.

7. Arizona Wildcats 4-1 (1-1)

   Last Week's Result: W vs Cincinnati 34-7

   Last Week's Rank: 7th

   In a perfect world, Arizona would move up a spot or two after blowing out an undefeated Cincinnati team. But right now, none of the six teams ahead of the Wildcats belong any lower. Still, Arizona and quarterback Noah Fifita are firing on all cylinders.

8. Kansas State Wildcats 3-1 (0-1)

   Last Week's Result: BYE

   Last Week's Rank: 10th

   Kansas State gets a bump up a few spots despite being on their bye week, largely because the rest of the Big 12 is driving a hard dividing line between pretenders and contenders. I'm not sure which one Kansas State is yet, so this feels like an appropriate spot for now.

9. UCF Knights 3-2 (1-1)

   Last Week's Result: L at Houston 27-17

   Last Week's Rank: 11th

   Scott Frost couldn't pull it off, but UCF nearly had a massive upset on their resume. The Knights may have choked a 17-0 lead, but the mere fact they had it to begin with is impressive. UCF isn't a legitimate contender this year, but they are also far from the easy out they were last year.

10. Cincinnati Bearcats 4-1 (1-1)

    Last Week's Result: L at Arizona 34-7

    Last Week's Rank: 8th

    Cincinnati made some headway in last week's rankings for winning despite not playing their best ball. Well, this week in Tucson showed that may have just been their best ball. They were completely outclassed by Arizona, who isn't even the cream of the Big 12 crop.

11. Iowa State Cyclones 3-2 (1-1)

    Last Week's Result: W vs West Virginia 45-42

    Last Week's Rank: 15th

    Jumping up four spots are the Cyclones who pulled off the upset over West Virginia in dramatic fashion. Iowa State began the year at the very bottom of these rankings, but they're clearly a better team than anyone gave them credit for.

12. Arizona State Sun Devils 2-2 (1-1)

    Last Week's Result: L vs Baylor 55-19

    Last Week's Rank: 9th

    It may not be time to panic just yet, but the Sun Devils have a problem. Several problems, actually. They got crushed in all three phases by Baylor at home, where Arizona State was 12-2 since 2024. Kenny Dillingham's squad may miss a bowl game if they can't right the ship fast.

13. Kansas Jayhawks 2-2 (0-1)

    Last Week's Result: W vs Middle Tennessee 55-0

    Last Week's Rank: 13th

    Kansas obliterated Middle Tennessee this week, rebounding quite well after a sloppy London loss. The Jayhawks looked good doing it, but the quality of competition has to be considered here.

14. West Virginia Mountaineers 3-2 (0-2)

    Last Week's Result: L at Iowa State 45-42

    Last Week's Rank: 12th

    How long ago it feels when West Virginia upset No. 25 Virginia to sound the alarm on Rich Rodriguez officially being back. That was just three weeks ago now, but it feels like ages. The Mountaineers have since lost two straight, with the defense giving up 41+ in both games.

15. TCU Horned Frogs 2-3 (0-2)

    Last Week's Result: L vs BYU 17-10

    Last Week's Rank: 14th

    Losing to BYU isn't necessarily a cardinal sin, but it's the way they lost. The offense simply isn't right, and Sonny Dykes' gambles on both offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis and quarterback Jaden Craig have backfired miserably. They head into their bye now before facing a red hot Baylor team. A loss to their bitter rival might be enough for Dykes to be done.

16. Colorado Buffaloes 2-3 (0-2)

    Last Week's Result: L vs Texas Tech 29-7

    Last Week's Rank: 16th

    Colorado held Texas Tech in check for nearly three full quarters, but when things went bad, they flew off the rails. Deion Sanders turned to a new quarterback, then promptly watched that quarterback throw a pick six from his own endzone to a defender also in the endzone. It was a perfect microcosm of the Buffaloes right now.