The Big 12 Conference is the most fun, yet most frustrating conference in all of college football. While most P4 leagues have 1-2 top teams, the Big 12 title race is wide open as it gets with a bunch of teams having a realistic shot at being the conference champion at the end of the year.
Each week is crazier than ever and this past week did not disappoint.
Houston — which hadn’t scored in two games — went on the road to TCU, which was favored by nearly three touchdowns, and won 30-19.
We also had Texas Tech go on the road and pick up an important win over Arizona 28-22, despite being a touchdown underdog. The Wildcats were looking to capitalize on their big win over Utah two weeks ago, but the Raid Raiders gave them a Big 12 warm welcome with a loss in Arizona’s Big 12 home opener.
Meanwhile, West Virginia went into Stillwater, Oklahoma and destroyed Oklahoma State 38-14. This is a Cowboys team that was projected to challenge for the conference championship, with voters putting them third in Big 12 preseason polls.
Speaking of flops, Kansas, which was predicted to finish fourth in the preseason poll, is now 1-5 on the year after losing another heartbreaking game, this time against Arizona State (35-31).
Meanwhile, Arizona State is now 4-1 on the year and 1-1 in conference play. Texas Tech, which beat the Sun Devils two weeks ago, is 5-1 and 3-0 in Big play. The Red Raiders are the only Big 12 team with three conference wins.
As of now, the Big 12 still has four ranked teams (No. 11 Iowa, No. 14 BYU, No. 16 Utah and No. 18 Kansas State). The Big 12 Conference also has two teams (Texas Tech and Colorado) that are receiving votes, down from three the prior week (Arizona, Oklahoma State and Colorado).
So, how does the Big 12 stack up in this week’s power rankings? Let’s take a look.
** As a reminder, rankings are based on what teams have done so far this season. This is NOT a prediction of where they will end up. **
| Big 12 Week 7 Power Rankings | Big 12 Football Preseason Poll (Media) |
| 1. BYU (5-0, 2-0) | 1. Utah |
| 2. Iowa State (5-0, 2-0) | 2. Kansas State |
| 3. Kansas State (4-1, 1-1) | 3. Oklahoma State |
| 4. Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0) | 4. Kansas |
| 5. Utah (4-1, 1-1) | 5. Arizona |
| 6. Colorado (4-1, 2-0) | 6. Iowa State |
| 7. Arizona (3-2, 1-1) | 7. West Virginia |
| 8. Arizona State (4-1, 1-1) | 8. UCF |
| 9. West Virginia (3-2, 2-0) | 9. Texas Tech |
| 10. Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1) | 10. TCU |
| 11. UCF (3-2, 1-1) | 11. Colorado |
| 12. Oklahoma State (3-2, 0-2) | 12. Baylor |
| 13. Baylor (2-4, 0-3) | 13. BYU |
| 14. TCU (3-3, 1-2) | 14. Cincinnati |
| 15. Houston (2-4, 1-2) | 15. Houston |
| 16. Kansas (1-5, 0-3) | 16. Arizona State |
No. 1 BYU (5-0, 2-0, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 1
Wins: Southern Illinois (41-13), SMU (18-15), Wyoming (34-14), No. 13 Kansas State (38-9), Baylor (34-28)
Losses: None
BYU (5-0) is coming off a bye week. The Cougars will host Arizona (3-2) in a high stakes showdown with FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff is coming to Provo, Utah for the first-time ever. Saturday’s game will be the Cougars’ annual homecoming game as the Cougars look to make another statement on national television.
Next up: vs. Arizona (3-2)
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No. 2 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 2
Wins: North Dakota (21-3), No. 21 Iowa (20-19), Arkansas State (52-7), Houston (20-0), Baylor (43-21)
Losses: None
Playing in front of a nationally televised audience, Iowa State didn’t disappoint as the Cyclones rolled to a dominating 43-21 home victory over Baylor. With the win, Iowa State and BYU remain the only undefeated teams left in the Big 12. To date, BYU has a stronger resume, but Iowa State isn’t far behind.
This week, both schools face one of their biggest tests so far this season as BYU hosts Arizona, while Iowa State takes on West Virginia. The Cougars and Cyclones will look to keep their undefeated seasons alive.
Next up: @ West Virginia (3-2)
No. 3 Kansas State (4-1, 1-1, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 3
Wins: UT Martin (41-6), Tulane (34-27), No. 20 Arizona (31-7), No. 20 Oklahoma State (42-20)
Losses: BYU (9-38)
Bye Week
Next up: @ Colorado (4-1)
No. 4 Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 5
Wins: Abilene Christian (52-51), North Texas (66-21), Arizona State (30-22), Cincinnati (44-41), Arizona (28-22)
Losses: Washington State (16-37)
Despite being a touchdown underdog, Texas Tech moved up a spot after going into Tucson and walking out with a 28-22 victory. The Raid Raiders are clicking right now are are currently the dark horse for the Big 12 title.
Unfortunately for Texas Tech, the Raid Raiders have a bye this week so we’ll see if that momentum carries over to next week.
Next up: Bye Week
No. 5 Utah (4-1, 1-1, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 4
Wins: Southern Utah (49-0), Baylor (23-12), Utah State (38-21), No. 14 Oklahoma State (22-19)
Losses: Arizona (10-23)
The win earlier in the season over Oklahoma State doesn’t look very good now as the Cowboys have lost three games in a row. That’s why Texas Tech is ahead this week as the Red Raiders have the better resume.
Utah enjoyed a bye week this week… now the games begin whether Cam Rising will play this week or not.
Next up: @ Arizona State (4-1)
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No. 6 Colorado (4-1, 2-0, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 7
Wins: North Dakota State (31-26), Colorado State (28-9), Baylor (38-31), UCF (48-21)
Losses: Nebraska (10-28)
Colorado has won three straight games and is coming off a bye week. The Buffs will host No. 18 Kansas State in a late Saturday night game on ESPN. A win this weekend would cement Colorado as a Big 12 contender this year as the Buffs look to get their biggest win yet.
Next up: vs. Kansas State (4-1)
No. 7 Arizona (3-2, 1-1, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 6
Wins: New Mexico (61-39), Northern Arizona (22-10), Utah (23-10)
Losses: No. 14 Kansas Sate (7-31)
Arizona dropped one spot after blowing a late lead at home to Texas Tech. The only reason the Wildcats didn’t drop more is their win over Utah. We’ll know if Arizona is a contender or a pretender this weekend as they go up against BYU.
Next up: @ BYU (5-0)
No. 8 Arizona State (4-1, 1-1, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 11
Wins: Wyoming (48-7), Mississippi State (30-23), Texas State (31-28)
Losses: Texas Tech (22-30)
The Sun Devils rallied to beat Kansas in a last-second thriller. It was the first Big 12 win in program history. We’ll know if Arizona State is a pretender or a Big 12 contender after they play Utah on Friday night. Both teams come in at 4-1.
Next up: vs. Kansas (1-4)
No. 9 West Virginia (3-2, 2-0, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 12
Wins: UAlbany (49-14), Kansas (32-28), Oklahoma State (38-14).
Losses: No. 8 Penn State (12-34), Pittsburgh (34-38)
West Virginia is playing like many expected they would the entire year as they went on the road and crushed Oklahoma State 38-14. Now they look to keep the momentum going against No. 11 Iowa State at home. A win Saturday would cement the Mountaineers as Big 12 contenders after a slow start to the season.
Next up: vs. Iowa State (5-0)
No. 10 Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 10
Wins: Towson (38-20), Miami OH (27-16), Houston (34-0)
Losses: Pittsburgh (27-28), Texas Tech (41-44)
Cincinnati enjoyed a bye week as they go on the road to face a UCF team that has lost two straight games. UCF is favored by 3, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bearcats win on Saturday.
Next up: @ UCF
No. 11 UCF (3-2, 1-1, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 8
Wins: New Hampshire (57-3), Sam Houston (45-0), TCU (35-34)
Losses: Colorado (21-48), Florida (13-24)
What a fall from grace. Back-to-back losses to Colorado and Florida put the Knights near the bottom of the conference. UCF doesn’t have a signature win yet but any win at this point would be welcome for UCF fans an dplayers.
Next up: vs. Cincinnati (3-2)
No. 12 Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-2, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 9
Wins: South Dakota State (44-20), Arkansas (39-31, 2OT), Tulsa (45-10)
Losses: No. 10 Utah (19-22), No. 23 Kansas State (20-42), West Virginia (14-38)
Jus like UCF, Oklahoma State has fallen from grace as the Cowboys have lost 3 consecutive games. Thankfully for Cowboy fans, the team has a bye this week as the program looks to regroup and bounce back.
Next up: Bye week.
No. 13 Baylor (2-4, 0-3, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 14
Wins: Tarleton State (45-3), Air Force (31-3)
Losses: Utah (12-23), Colorado (31-38), BYU (28-34), Iowa State (21-43)
It’s not often you lose and move up but that’s where we are currently in the Big 12… The Bears have played the toughest schedule so far with games against the conference contenders: Iowa State, BYU and Utah.
Next up: Bye Week
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No. 14 TCU (3-3, 1-2, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 13
Wins: Stanford (34-27), Long Island University (45-0), Kansas (38-27)
Losses: UCF (34-35), SMU (42-66), Houston (19-30)
TCU lost to Houston despite being almost a three touchdown favorite at home. The Horned Frogs had a great start to the season but have now lost 3 of their last 4 games. Thankfully there’s a bye week this week.
Next up: Bye Week.
No. 15 Houston (2-4, 1-2, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 16
Wins: Rice (33-7), TCU (30-19)
Losses: UNLV (7-27), Oklahoma (12-16), Cincinnati (0-34), Iowa State (0-20)
Houston snapped it’s two-game scoreless streak and goes on the road and gets a great win over TCU. I moved Houston up a spot, and was close to putting the Cougars above TCU. But that will have to wait another week as Houston needs to prove if last week was a fluke or not.
Next up: Bye Week
No. 16 Kansas (1-5, 0-3, Big 12)
Last Week Ranking: No. 15
Wins: Lindenwood (48-3)
Losses: Illinois (17-23), UNLV (20-23), West Virginia (28-32), TCU (27-38), Arizona State (31-35)
There’s a new bottom feeder in the Big 12. Kansas, yup Kansas. The Jayhawks were projected to be one of the favorites in the Big 12 and now they are on track to miss a bowl game. Thankfully there’s a bye week this week as its badly needed for the program.
Is it time for basketball season yet?
Next up: Bye Week
