With the Big 12 having a big non-conference slate against other P4 conference opponents, there was some possibility we could see a big shift in the Big 12 week three power rankings. A few teams avoided the upset, while some fell victim to the upset bug. So which teams are best positioned as conference play is around the corner?
Big 12 Week Three Power Rankings
16. Cincinnati (Previous Ranking – 15)
The bottom of the Big 12 week three power rankings is occupied by three teams that could be clumped together in the last spot. Cincinnati kicked a field goal to go up 27-6 with 4:50 left in the third quarter. Pitt would then score 22 unanswered points to escape Nippert Stadium with a win. This was a game that the Bearcats had to close out and didn’t.
15. Texas Tech (Previous Ranking – 13)
Maybe no team turned in a worse performance in week two than the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The defense couldn’t stop a running quarterback. The offense couldn’t protect the ball. And both sides of the ball couldn’t stop committing penalties in a 37-16 loss to Washington State. Head coach Joey McGuire better find some answers quickly or this season will spiral out of control quickly.
14. Colorado (Previous Ranking – 10)
The only other team who could have given Texas Tech a run for worst performance was the Colorado Buffalos. Through two games, it is clear that head coach Deion Sanders is not even interested in trying to run the ball. They only have a combined 75 rushing yards in two games. The offensive line still is struggling to protect Shedeur Sanders. Nebraska’s 28-10 victory over Colorado was never in doubt. All of the issues offensively from 2023 still appear to be an issue in 2024.
13. Baylor (Previous Ranking – 14)
While the Bears lost this week, they acquitted themselves nicely against the Utes. In their 23-12 defeat, the defense played very well. This included a shutout in the second half (more on this later). But the offense struggled as they only gained 223 total yards of offense. Most teams are going to struggle at Rice-Eccles. And while Dave Aranda will say there aren’t moral victories, the Bears did plenty of things well and could serve them well through this season.
12. Houston (Previous Ranking – 16)
How can a team move up four spots in the Big 12 week three rankings that lost? And how can the only winless team not be in the last spot? Well, going on the road to Oklahoma and holding them to 252 yards of offense was one of the more impressive performances in the entire conference. The problem was they couldn’t finish off the one drive that would have sprung the upset. So while Houston fell 16-12, this team showed enough of a spark to garner the move up.
11. TCU (Previous Ranking – 9)
TCU handled Long Island University 45-0. There wasn’t much to glean from this game other than the Horned Frogs handling their business. So why the move down for the 2-0 team? It has more to do with another 2-0 team that deserves some recognition. TCU has a chance to move up quickly next week with UCF coming to Fort Worth.
10. West Virginia (Previous Ranking – 8)
Similarly to TCU, West Virginia took down the University of Albany without any issues by a score of 49-14. It was a nice bounce-back performance after getting dominated at home by Penn State to open the season. The Mountaineers square off against rival Pitt this week.
9. BYU (Previous Ranking – 11)
It was not a game to be described as pretty. The teams combined to by 5-for-29 in third-down conversions. There were plenty of times the causal fan might have asked “Why am I watching this on a Friday night?” But the BYU Cougars are 2-0 after they were able to hold on over SMU 18-15. Kalani Sitake and his team look to finish off a perfect non-conference slate traveling to Wyoming this week.
8. Arizona State (Previous Ranking – 12)
Last Word has seen enough. Arizona State is this year’s West Virginia. The team picked to finish last in the Big 12 is 2-0 and has looked impressive in doing so. The latest sign of growth came this week with a 30-23 victory over Mississippi State. Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham has to feel great seeing his team click. They are far from perfect, but this team is playing hard. More importantly, they are executing crisply in the first eight quarters of football this season.
7. Kansas (Previous Ranking – 4)
Lance Leipold has to know his team gift-wrapped a victory for Illinois this past week. Kansas was able to keep the Illini to just 271 yards of offense and only gave up 16 points on defense. This is even more impressive considering the Jayhawk offense turned the ball over four times (including a pick-six that ended up being the difference in a 23-17 defeat). If they can protect the ball, they should be able to bounce back against UNLV this week.
6. UCF (Previous Ranking – 6)
Through the first two weeks of the season, UCF has defeated its opponents by a combined score of 102-17. They also have only played New Hampshire and Sam Houston State so far. Powered by a punishing rushing attack, the Knights will finally get a chance to show everyone they are for real this week. UCF opens up Big 12 play this week when they travel to TCU.
5. Iowa State (Previous Ranking – 7)
The most impressive win from the Big 12 week three power rankings belongs to the Iowa State Cyclones. After going down 13-0 after the first half, Iowa State shut the door on their in-state rival. Matt Campbell’s guys mounted a second-half comeback which culminated with a game-winning 54-yard field goal. The Cyclones have now won two straight in Kinnick Stadium.
4. Arizona (Previous Ranking – 5)
All four teams in the remaining four spots in the Big 12 week three power rankings shared a survival mentality this past week. Arizona was very clearly sleepwalking against Northern Arizona. Going into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats only had a three-point lead. And while Norther Arizona never really was threatening to win, this result reeks of looking ahead to a measuring stick game against the team ranked one spot in front of them.
3. Kansas State (Previous Ranking – 3)
Tulane gave all that Kansas State could handle. This game did not put any concerns to bed about Avery Johnson being able to make real throws down the field. But Chris Klieman’s Wildcats held on by their chinny chin chin with a goalline stand in the final minute of the game. The 34-27 victory over Tulane might not mean much in the playoff race. However, it was big for the psyche of this team.
2. Oklahoma State (Previous Ranking – 2)
Mike Gundy’s team was getting owned in its building for half of football by the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas had 648 yards of total offense. But thanks to some questionable game management and three turnovers, the Cowboys climbed back for a 39-31 2OT victory. With Utah coming to Stillwater in two weeks, will Oklahoma State avoid stubbing its toe at Tulsa this week?
1. Utah (Previous Ranking – 1)
When Cam Rising was in the game, Utah owned Baylor. The concerning part of the game was when Rising left the game, the Utes scored zero points. Last season, Utah was essentially playing without a quarterback and was able to cobble together an 8-4 record. While the injury to his right hand didn’t appear to be serious, it is a situation worth monitoring. But if Rising doesn’t have to miss much/any time, the Utes looked exactly like the team everyone anticipated they would be.
