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The top of the Big 12 Conference Standings is a log jam. Currently, four teams lead the way at 6-2, with five more at 5-3. On Nov. 23, Kansas upset No. 25 Colorado, and No. 16 Arizona State held on against No. 19 BYU to give formerly one-loss teams their second losses. No. 18 Iowa State staved off Utah to keep pace with the other three conference frontrunners. Baylor, No. 24 Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia are the five schools that have a shot to back their way into the Big 12 Championship game if three of the top four teams lose in the final weekend of the regular season.
College Football Dawgs' Big 12 power rankings are based on an aggregated weighing of writing staff votes for conference members.
Point Structure
Each first-place vote counts for 16 points, and the remaining votes are scored in descending order. For example, second-place votes count for 15, third for 14 and so on. Each team's points are added up and the poll is organized to reflect how many points (shown in parentheses) each team received. Here are the results, with summaries provided for the top 5 vote-receiving teams.
No. 1: Arizona State Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2) (95), Last Week: No. 2
At the beginning of the season, the media picked the Sun Devils to finish last in the Big 12. However, quarterback Sam Leavitt and running back Cam Skattebo had a different idea and have earned a win-and-get-in scenario for the Big 12 championship game. Winners of four straight games over Oklahoma State, UCF, Kansas State and BYU. Skattebo proved he is one of the top running backs in the Big 12, rushing for 1,221 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Upcoming Game: at Arizona Wildcats
No. 2: Iowa State Cyclones (9-2, 6-2) (90), Last Week: No. 4
The Cyclone's defense is giving up only 19.5 points per game which is the best in the conference. After dropping two games in a row against Texas Tech and Kansas they have rebounded with two straight victories to set themselves up for a championship game berth. While Iowa State struggles to stop the run giving up 176.4 yards per game, QB Rocco Becht has thrown for 2,884 yards, 18 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, with an opportunity to put this team in the record books if they pick up one more win to reach 10 for the first time in school history.
Upcoming Game: Kansas State Wildcats
No. 3: BYU Cougars (9-2, 6-2) (83), Last Week: No. 3
After winning the first nine games of the season, the Cougars have dropped two straight. In both of the last two games, they have turned the ball over twice. BYU's defense is second in the conference in total yardage allowed, giving up 323.1 yards and points at 20.3 points per game. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff has thrown for 2,629 yards 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, leading BYU to its best start since 2020.
Upcoming Game: Houston Cougars
No. 4: Kansas State Wildcats (8-3, 5-3) (80), Last Week: No. 5
Kansas State went through a rough stretch, losing to Houston and Arizona State before bouncing back to beat Cincinnati. The Wildcats ran for 281 yards against the Bearcats after having issues getting the run game going consistently over the previous four games. The defense is first in the Big 12 at stopping the run, giving up only 108.4 yards per game, but struggles to stop the pass, giving up 231.5 yards. Avery Johnson and DJ Giddens are both finally healthy according to head coach Chris Klieman, making the offense more potent.
Upcoming Game: at Iowa State Cyclones
No. 5: Colorado Buffaloes (8-3, 6-2) (72), Last Week: No. 1
Colorado has two of the most dynamic players in the Big 12—Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. In the Buffaloes' losses, they have struggled running the ball, averaging only 10 yards per game, while averaging 98 yards in their wins. The Colorado defense leads the Big 12 in sacks with 34. Coach Deion Sanders has successfully turned this program around after being 1-11 two years ago.
Upcoming Game: Oklahoma State Cowboys
Big 12 Power Rankings: Nos. 6-16
No. 6: TCU Horned Frogs (7-4, 5-3) (62); Last week: No. 6; Upcoming game: at Cincinnati Bearcats
No. 7: Baylor Bears (7-4, 5-3) (61); Last week: No. 8; Upcoming game: Kansas Jayhawks
No. 8: Kansas Jayhawks (5-6, 4-4) (55); Last week: No. 9; Upcoming game: at Baylor Bears
No. 9: Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-4, 5-3) (49); Last week: No. 7; Upcoming game: West Virginia Mountaineers
No. 10: West Virginia Mountaineers (6-5, 5-3) (43); Last week: No. 11; Upcoming game: at Texas Tech Red Raiders
No. 11: Cincinnati Bearcats (5-6, 3-5) (33); Last week: No. 10; Upcoming game: TCU Horned Frogs
No. 12: UCF Knights (4-7, 2-6) (29); Last week: No. 12; Upcoming game: at West Virginia Mountaineers
No. 13: Arizona Wildcats (4-7, 2-6) (28); Last week: No. 13; Upcoming game: Arizona State Sun Devils
No. 14: Houston Cougars (4-7, 3-5) (17); Last week: No. 14; Upcoming game: at BYU Cougars
No. 15: Utah Utes (4-7, 1-7) (13); Last week: No. 15; Upcoming game: at UCF Knights
No. 16: Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-8, 0-8) (6); Last week: No. 16; Upcoming game: at Colorado Buffaloes
Rivalry weekend in the Big 12 has some new and old matchups. Kansas State and Iowa State face off in one of the most underrated rivalries in college football, and Arizona and Arizona State battle in Duel in the Desert. Oklahoma State replaces Bedlam with a familiar foe that returned to the Big 12 this season, Colorado. All of the other matchups this weekend should build new rivalries that will evolve.
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