The Big 12 championship runs through Lubbock.
Texas Tech was the unanimous pick in this week’s Big 12 power rankings after a convincing win against BYU. BYU dropped to second, followed by Utah, Cincinnati and Houston to round out the top five. Kansas remained at 12th once again after its narrow loss to Arizona.
1. Texas Tech
Previous ranking: 2
Points: 256 (16 first-place votes)
Record: 9-1 (6-1 Big 12)
Last week: beat No. 7 BYU, 29-7
This week: vs. UCF
Comment: Troubles in the red zone continue to be Texas Tech’s lone sore spot after the biggest win in nearly two decades. All roads to the Big 12 title and College Football Playoff are in Texas Tech’s hands, they just have to avoid hitting a speed bump in the final two games of the regular season.
Did you know? Texas Tech’s next win would give the Red Raiders their seventh season with double-digit victories in the 101-year history of the program. — Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
2. BYU
Previous ranking: 1
Points: 237
Record: 8-1 (5-1 Big 12)
Last week: lost to No. 8 Texas Tech, 29-7
This week: vs. TCU
Comment: Quarterback Bear Bachmeier suffered his first loss of the season in a dismal offensive showing. BYU accounted for its fewest yards since its inaugural Big 12 campaign.
Did you know? Running back LJ Martin was limited against the Red Raiders with only 10 carries and 35 yards. — Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune
3. Utah
Previous ranking: 3
Points: 222
Record: 7-2 (4-2 Big 12)
Last week: Open date
This week: at Baylor
Comment: Utah landed at No. 13 in the first two CFP rankings, breathing new life into its season with the chance of an at-large bid still possible if the Utes win out.
Did you know? Per ESPN’s Power Index, the Utes have a 6.9% chance to win the Big 12 with three games remaining on the schedule. — Jason Batacao, The Salt Lake Tribune
4. Cincinnati
Previous ranking: 4
Points: 205
Record: 7-2 (5-1 Big 12)
Last week: lost to Utah, 45-14
This week: vs. Arizona
Comment: After a six-game stretch, Cincinnati had an opportune off week to heal some players. A healthy Evan Pryor will boost its running game and linebacker Jake Golday should return after leaving the Utah game early. The Bearcats have two of their last three at home to improve their resumé.
Did you know? Cincinnati and Arizona have never played in football. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer
5. Houston
Previous ranking: 6
Points: 183
Record: 8-2 (5-2 Big 12)
Comment: Houston overcame a second consecutive four-turnover game to escape UCF. After committing four total turnovers in the first eight games, the Cougars have eight in the last two games against West Virginia and UCF.
Did you know? Houston is 5-0 on the road this season. A win at Baylor in the Nov. 29 season finale would match the 2011 and 2021 teams for the most road wins in program history. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle
6. Arizona State
Previous ranking: 5
Points: 176
Record: 6-3 (4-2 Big 12)
Last week: Open date
This week: vs. West Virginia
Comment: Safety Xavion Alford is the latest marquee starter out for the season, joining center Ben Coleman, quarterback Sam Leavitt, running back Kyson Brown and linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is still in limbo but not likely to play this week.
Did you know? The Sun Devils return from the open date and will play at home, where they have sold out all five previous games this season. — Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic
T7. Arizona
Previous ranking: 10
Points: 140
Record: 6-3 (3-3 Big 12)
Last week: beat Kansas, 24-20
This week: at No. 25 Cincinnati
Comment: Arizona rallied to beat the Jayhawks for homecoming and reach bowl eligibility for the first time under second-year head coach Brent Brennan. Junior running back Quincy Craig’s 24-yard touchdown run lifted the Wildcats over Kansas with 39 seconds left. Craig, who was named Big 12 offensive player of the week, is the third Wildcat this season to record a receiving touchdown and rushing touchdown in the same game, along with receivers Tre Spivey and Javin Whatley.
Did you know? Arizona has held opponents to under 200 passing yards seven times this season, the most for the UA since 2009. — Justin Spears, Arizona Daily Star
T7. TCU
Previous ranking: 7
Points: 140
Record: 6-3 (3-3 Big 12)
Last week: lost to Iowa State, 20-17
This week: at No. 12 BYU
Comment: TCU’s loss to Iowa State is its first home loss this season. The Cyclones effectively took TCU’s running game away, and a 10-point swing on special teams ultimately was too much for the Horned Frogs to overcome. A road trip to BYU is on deck, with the Frogs hoping they can recover some old magic against a former Mountain West foe.
Did you know? Iowa State’s punt return touchdown was the first special teams touchdown allowed by TCU this season. — Jamie Plunkett, Horned Frog Blitz
9. Iowa State
Previous ranking: 11
Points: 125
Record: 6-4 (3-4 Big 12)
Last week: beat TCU, 20-17
This week: Open date
Comment: Iowa State averted its first five-game skid since 2022 with its comeback win over TCU in Fort Worth.
Did you know? The Cyclones will seek to end a three-game losing streak against Kansas when the Jayhawks come to Ames on Nov. 22. — Rob Gray, Cedar Rapids Gazette
10. Baylor
Previous ranking: 8
Points: 120
Record: 5-4 (3-3 Big 12)
Last week: Open date
This week: vs. No. 13 Utah
Comment: Baylor won leading into an off week for the second time this season after putting together one of its best performances in a win over UCF. The goal will be trying to carry some of that momentum through the off week, something the Bears failed to do this season. Utah presents some challenges that Baylor has struggled to stop, with a strong offensive line and mobile quarterback. The Bears have dropped back-to-back games to the Utes in the last two seasons, although neither was a Big 12 game.
Did you know? Tight end Michael Trigg is one of eight semifinalists for the Mackey Award. Among all NCAA tight ends, he ranks first in receiving yards (607), is tied for first touchdowns (six) and ranks third in the nation in catches (40). — Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald
11. Kansas State
Previous ranking: 9
Points: 115
Record: 4-5 (3-3 Big 12)
Last week: Open date
This week: at Oklahoma State
Comment: It came out last week that star running back Dylan Edwards was no longer with the team following an injury suffered in K-State’s season-opener versus Iowa State in Dublin. He recorded stats in just three games this season, including rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown in a home win over UCF.
Did you know? K-State has lost eight of its last nine games versus Oklahoma State played at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. — Tim Everson, The Manhattan Mercury
12. Kansas
Previous ranking: 12
Points: 82
Record: 5-5 (3-4 Big 12)
Last week: lost to Arizona, 24-20
This week: Open date
Comment: What had been, for most of Saturday, a vastly improved KU defense gave way in the final moments, allowing the game-winning touchdown to host Arizona with 39 seconds remaining. This game will likely be remembered, however, for what directly preceded that final touchdown drive: KU coach Lance Leipold’s decision to attempt a field goal on fourth-and-2 deep in Arizona territory as the Jayhawks held a three-point lead.
Did you know? KU is entering its open date coming off a loss, and if that sounds familiar it’s because the Jayhawks have not won a game entering a bye week since 2013. — Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World
13. West Virginia
Previous ranking: 13
Points: 62
Record: 4-6 (2-5 Big 12)
Last week: beat Colorado, 29-22
This week: at Arizona State
Comment: West Virginia made fewer mistakes and more key plays to beat Colorado in a game between teams fighting for their postseason lives. Linebacker Curtis Jones Jr. had to fill in at running back and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns.
Did you know? Israel Boyce blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety in the first quarter, the Mountaineers’ first blocked punt for a safety since 2014. — Cody Nespor, Gold and Blue Nation
14. UCF
Previous ranking: 14
Points: 47
Record: 4-5 (1-5 Big 12)
Last week: lost to Houston, 30-27
This week: at No. 6 Texas Tech
Comment: UCF started strong, leading 24-17 at halftime, but couldn’t hold on as Houston turned the tables in the second half. The Cougars outpaced the Knights 13-3, ultimately securing a 30-27 victory. The loss ruined UCF’s perfect record in its Space Game, snapping an eight-game winning streak.
Did you know? Safety Phillip Dunnam had a program-best three interceptions in the loss, including a 43-yard pick-6 in the second quarter. — Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel
15. Colorado
Previous ranking: 15
Points: 40
Record: 3-7 (1-6 Big 12)
Last week: lost to West Virginia, 29-22
This week: Open date
Comment: Although the Buffs lost a third consecutive game, they played much better than in the previous two. Behind true freshman quarterback JuJu Lewis, making his first career start, the Buffs were in the game all afternoon. Lewis, a five-star recruit in the 2025 class, threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns in his debut start.
Did you know? CU was eliminated from bowl contention and will miss out on the postseason for the seventh time in the last nine seasons and for the 16th time in the last 20 seasons (2006-2025). CU was aiming for a second consecutive bowl, which hasn’t happened since the 2004 and 2005 seasons. — Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera
16. Oklahoma State
Previous ranking: 16
Points: 16
Record: 1-8 (0-6 Big 12)
Last week: Open date
Comment: Oklahoma State’s offense finally found its footing, converting 43% of the time on third down in its last three games (Cincinnati, Texas Tech and Kansas). That would rank 45th nationally, which is a huge jump from the 116th ranking OSU had after the first five games.
Did you know? Oklahoma State linebacker Wendell Gregory leads all freshmdn with 10.5 tackles for loss this season. — Tyler Waldrep, Pistols Firing
