For the second week in a row, Iowa State remained in the top spot in the Big 12 power rankings. The Cyclones received 11 of a possible 16 first-place votes from a panel of media members who regularly cover the Big 12.
Texas Tech had three first-place votes and Utah picked up one ahead of Saturday’s Top 25 clash in Salt Lake City. TCU received the other first-place vote.
The top six teams remained unchanged from the previous week, as did Kansas at No. 8.
Houston made a big move, climbing from 10th to seventh after beating Colorado to open Big 12 play. The Cougars are off to their best start since 2016.
1. Iowa State
Previous ranking: 1
Points: 249 (11 first-place votes)
Record: 4-0 (1-0 Big 12)
Last week: beat Arkansas State, 24-16
This week: Open date
Comment: The Cyclones have started 4-0 or better in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
Did you know? Iowa State trailed for the first time this season last week when upset-minded Arkansas State took a 10-9 lead shortly before halftime. The Cyclones’ deficit lasted a mere 28 seconds, though, as quarterback Rocco Becht led a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in that span. — Rob Gray, Cedar Rapids Gazette
2. Texas Tech
Previous ranking: 2 (tied)
Points: 236 (3 first-place votes)
Last week: beat Oregon State, 45-14
This week: at No. 16 Utah
Comment: The starters have yet to play a full game, a byproduct of outscoring opponents 174-35 and the starting defense not giving up a single score in the first three weeks. Behren Morton’s fixed shoulder has been as good as advertised and the big-play ability of the offense is refreshing.
Did you know? Texas Tech hasn’t won its first true road game of a season since 2018. The last time Tech was 3-0 was 2021, and the first road game was a 70-35 loss at Texas in Week 4. — Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
3. Utah
Previous ranking: 2 (tied)
Points: 222 (1 first-place vote)
Record: 3-0
Last week: beat Wyoming, 31-6
This week: vs. No. 17 Texas Tech
Comment: After scoring only three points in the first half against Wyoming, the Utes stormed back by scoring 28 points in the second half. The surge was led by star quarterback Devon Dampier, who finished with 230 passing and 86 rushing yards for two total touchdowns.
Did you know? In three games, Utah’s offense is averaging 290 rushing yards per game — good for the seventh-best run attack in the nation. Last season the Utes’ rushing attack clocked an average of 130.4 ground yards per contest. — Jason Batacao, The Salt Lake Tribune
4. TCU
Previous ranking: 4
Points: 202 (1 first-place vote)
Record: 2-0
Last week: beat Abilene Christian, 42-21
This week: vs. SMU
Comment: TCU and SMU meet for the 104th time in the Iron Skillet. It’s the final meeting scheduled between the schools in a rivalry that dates to 1915. SMU has won three of the last five meetings.
Did you know? Sonny Dykes’ 27 wins are the second-most by a TCU coach in the first three seasons behind only Dutch Meyer, who had 29 from 1934-36. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle
5. Baylor
Previous ranking: 5
Points: 193
Record: 2-1
Last week: beat Samford, 42-7
This week: vs. Arizona State
Comment: It wasn’t always pretty, as Sawyer Robertson threw his first two interceptions of the season and the defense gave up one of the ugliest touchdowns of the season, but the Bears closed out non-conference play with a win. Dave Aranda was discouraged that his team lacked focus against the Bulldogs. Baylor will have no choice but to focus when defending conference champion Arizona State comes to Waco Saturday night.
Did you know? Saturday will be just the second-ever meeting between Baylor and Arizona State, and the first time the Sun Devils have played in Waco. — Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald
6. Arizona State
Previous ranking: 6
Points: 172
Record: 2-1
Last week: beat Texas State, 34-15
This week: at Baylor
Comment: Arizona State bounced back from a loss to Mississippi State behind the production of Raleek Brown (144 rushing yards) and Jordyn Tyson (six catches for 105 yards).
Did you know? The Sun Devils will play five Texas schools in the span of seven weeks. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle
7. Houston
Previous ranking: 10
Points: 148
Record: 3-0 (1-0 Big 12)
Last week: beat Colorado, 36-20
This week: Open date
Comment: Don’t look now but the Cougars are halfway to the necessary six wins for bowl eligibility for the first time since 2022. The open week can’t come soon enough as Houston has been hit with recent injuries on the offensive line, the latest a season-ending knee injury to key backup David Ndukwe. There’s plenty to be encouraged by through three games, including the play of quarterback Conner Weigman and a defense that is allowing just 8.3 points per game.
Did you know? Weigman has gone 70 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, the longest streak by a Houston quarterback to begin a career since at least 1996. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle
Kansas place kicker Laith Marjan (99) during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
8. Kansas
Previous ranking: 8
Points: 140
Record: 2-1
Last week: Open date
This week: vs. West Virginia
Comment: KU had some time to regroup after wrapping up its nonconference slate, thanks to the first of its unusual three open dates this season — a result of having played in Week 0, before most teams kicked off. Under head coach Lance Leipold, the Jayhawks have won their last four games coming off bye weeks and will go for a fifth straight against WVU.
Did you know? The Jayhawks are opening Big 12 play against the Mountaineers for the third time in the last four seasons. — Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World
9. BYU
Previous ranking: 7
Points: 135
Record: 2-0
Last week: Open date
This week: at East Carolina
Comment: BYU had its open date early this season. But it might be beneficial for a freshman quarterback still figuring out the Cougars’ offense.
Did you know? BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier has yet to throw for over 200 yards in a single game. — Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune
10. Arizona
Previous ranking: 9
Points: 131
Record: 3-0
Last week: beat Kansas State, 23-17
This week: Open date
Comment: Arizona passed its first test of the season and avenged its 24-point loss to Kansas State in Manhattan from 2024. Arizona’s defense is a top-10 unit nationally in yards allowed per game (223.3) and points allowed per game (8.7) this season and is tied with Houston for the most interceptions in the Big 12.
Did you know? Arizona held its last two opponents, Kansas State and Weber State, to fewer than 100 passing yards. The last time Arizona held back-to-back opponents to under 100 passing yards was in 1995 — the height of the celebrated “Desert Swarm” defense that had College Football Hall of Famer Tedy Bruschi. — Justin Spears, Arizona Daily Star
11. West Virginia
Previous ranking: 15
Points: 88
Record: 2-1
Last week: beat Pitt, 31-24 in OT
This week: at Kansas
Comment: West Virginia rebounded from a tough loss to win an instant classic in the final Backyard Brawl until 2029. Struggling quarterback Nicco Marchiol was pulled to start the second half, but he reentered to lead two scoring drives at the end of regulation, throwing the game-tying touchdown with 11 seconds left.
Did you know? Saturday’s Backyard Brawl was just the second-ever game in the series to go into overtime. The other was a 41-38 triple-overtime Pitt victory in Morgantown in 1997. — Cody Nespor, Gold and Blue Nation
12. Cincinnati
Previous ranking: 14
Points: 85
Record: 2-1
Last week: beat Northwestern State, 70-0
This week: Open date
Comment: Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby threw for five touchdowns and was 15-for-15 against Northwestern State. He exited the game with 3:55 left in the second quarter. The five first-half scoring passes are a Bearcat record. The single-game record is six, held by Gunner Kiel and Tony Pike.
Did you know? The 70-0 game was Cincinnati’s most lopsided win since it defeated Southeast Missouri State 70-3 in 2009 under then-coach Brian Kelly. Saturday’s game was reduced to 10-minute quarters in the second half by agreement of coaches and officials. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer
13. UCF
Previous ranking: 13
Points: 64
Record: 2-0
Last week: Open date
This week: vs. North Carolina
Comment: UCF aims to improve its record to 3-0 for the third year in a row as the Knights prepare to host North Carolina this Saturday. This matchup marks the first encounter between the two programs, despite an earlier plan for a home-and-home series in 2018 and 2020. Unfortunately, Hurricane Florence led to the cancellation of the 2018 game, while the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 matchup.
Did you know? UCF coach Scott Frost previously played safety for UNC coach Bill Belichick, when Belichick was the defensive backs coach at the New York Jets from 1997 to 1998. — Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel
14. Kansas State
Previous ranking: 12
Points: 52
Record: 1-3 (0-1 Big 12)
Last week: loss to Arizona, 23-17
This week: Open date
Comment: Despite holding Arizona to just six points in the second half, K-State’s offense couldn’t overcome a dreadful start to the game. K-State racked up just over 40 total yards in the first two quarters in Friday’s loss in the desert.
Did you know? After being one of the top rushing teams in the Big 12 over the last three seasons, K-State currently ranks dead last, averaging just 108 yards per game. The Wildcats rank 121st in the country in rushing yards per game, the third-worst mark among Power Four teams. — Tim Everson, The Manhattan Mercury
15. Colorado
Previous ranking: 11
Points: 41
Record: 1-2 (0-1 Big 12)
Last week: lost to Houston, 36-20
This week: vs. Wyoming
Comment: Another week, more questions about who will be the Buffaloes’ starting quarterback. Third-stringer Ryan Staub threw two interceptions and was ineffective as Colorado struggled in its Big 12 opener. Coach Deion Sanders said he “most definitely” knows his starter but refused to tip his hand. Will he go back to Kaidon Salter? Or give a shot to freshman Julian Lewis?
Did you know? Staub’s start against Houston was the second of his career and first in 699 days. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle
16. Oklahoma State
Previous ranking: 16
Points: 17
Record: 1-1
Last week: Open date
This week: vs Tulsa (Friday)
Comment: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy vowed to simplify the game plan for the Cowboys after a historic loss at Oregon. Mental overload probably won’t be the difference this week but considering the program’s last FBS win came 370 days before this week’s kickoff, the Cowboys could use a win to rally around ahead of Big 12 play.
Did you know? Oklahoma State is 4-1 against the spread following its last five bye weeks. Three resulted in outright victories, which is significant since the Cowboys were the underdogs in all five of those games. — Tyler Waldrep, Pistols Firing
AP Photo/Colin E. Braley