This league delivered on the drama once again. The Big 12 week 12 power rankings had a previous long-standing contender fall out of contention this season. We had an athletic director kick and scream like a four-year-old. We also continued to march to an increasing likelihood of a winless conference team. With all of the spiciness of last week, where do all the teams shake out?
Big 12 Week 12 Power Rankings
16. Oklahoma State (Previous Ranking – 16)
The loss to TCU guarantees that this will be Mike Gundy’s worst season since his first in Stillwater in 2005 when they went 4-7. With two games left against Texas Tech and Colorado, a winless conference record is very much in play. 2000 was the last time Oklahoma State only won a single conference game. If they don’t find a win in those last two, it will be exactly 30 years (1994) since the Pokes went a full season without a conference win. As lifeless as this team looked in Fort Worth, they might need to start updating the record books.
15. Utah (Previous Ranking – 14)
Utah and Oklahoma State played each other on September 21st. Since then, they are a combined 0-11. If Oklahoma State had a single win in Big 12 play, Utah would have easily found itself at the bottom of the Big 12 week 12 power rankings due exclusively to the childish behavior of their athletic director Mark Harlan. Little league coaches all across the country teach their players that games are not lost on one single play. Mr. Harlan would beg to differ after confronting officials on the field after the game over a (correctly called) holding on a fourth down late in the game. He also claimed the game was “stolen” from his team. Harlan has since been fined $40K for his comments. He should have noted the 79 total yards of offense in the second half and the zero points his team scored before accusing it was someone else’s fault for a loss.
14. Arizona (Previous Ranking – 14)
The Wildcats spent week 11 on their bye week and resume play this week against a surging Houston team.
13. UCF (Previous Ranking – 12)
Is UCF the best 4-6 team in the country? They have found themselves in plenty of games this season that they could have won. However, after a 35-31 loss to Arizona State, getting to a bowl game is now in danger. Gus Malzahn’s team had too much talent coming back to make zero progress from last year. But now they have to win out just to match last season’s win total. He has already made coaching changes in-season and one would have to expect more changes when this season ends. He isn’t going to be on any major hot seat going into next season. But this program is expected to be closer to BYU’s achievements this season than Utah’s.
12. Kansas (Previous Ranking – 13)
It only took six games to get going, but this Kansas team is looking like the team many thought they would be in the preseason. A blowout win over Houston, a two-point loss to Kansas State, and now a thorough whooping of Iowa State by the score of 45-36. At one point in the third quarter, it was 38-13 in favor of Kansas. Quarterback Jalon Daniels protected the ball and got big help from his rushing attack headlined by Devin Neal’s 118 yards and two touchdowns. With BYU and Colorado on the schedule, getting to a bowl game seems unlikely at this point. But Lance Leipold’s team seems very intent on playing spoiler to as many teams as possible.
11. Iowa State (Previous Ranking – 3)
Welp, it was fun while it lasted at Iowa State. After starting 7-0, the Cyclones have now dropped two straight. That performance against UCF seems more indicative of who this Iowa State team is as this losing streak very easily could be three right now. Now they are tied for third in the conference standings and no longer in control of their Big 12 destiny. The road also doesn’t get much easier with a spunky Cincinnati team on deck next and they still have Kansas State to close out the season. Winning an eighth game seems very doable and would be their first eight-win season since 2020. But starting 7-0 and finishing 1-4 would overshadow the eight-win accomplishment.
10. TCU (Previous Ranking – 10)
Sonny Dykes has to be pleased with his team handling their business against Oklahoma State. They did not allow a bad Pokes team to hang around and were in control from the opening kickoff until the clock read 0:00. TCU’s lone game against a currently ranked team was an embarrassment at the hands of SMU. But with Arizona and Cincinnati remaining on the schedule, the Horned Frogs could find themselves with an 8-4 season. After last year’s five-win campaign, this would be a good sign that the program is bouncing back.
9. Houston (Previous Ranking – 9)
Willie Fritz’s squad rested up on the bye week and will take on Arizona this Friday night.
8. Cincinnati (Previous Ranking – 6)
Scott Satterfield’s team is kicking themselves after letting the West Virginia game get away from them. They out-gained the Moutainers by almost 200 yards and won the time of possession by 10 minutes. However, they committed three costly turnovers resulting in a 31-24 loss. The Bearcats were the demonstrably better team for the game, except on the scoreboard. But this loss was just yet another example of how thin the margins are in winning and losing in the Big 12. They now travel to a slumping Iowa State team this week.
7. Baylor (Previous Ranking – 8)
There is a good chance Dave Aranda would have preferred just to keep playing because they had won three straight and playing their best ball of the season. But with the bye week completed, they face West Virginia on Saturday.
6. West Virginia (Previous Ranking – 11)
There are four teams in the Big 12 with a 4-2 conference record, and West Virginia is one of them. After suffering two embarrassing home losses, this team has rattled off two road victories. All season, Neal Brown’s team has not been able to play up for the biggest games on its schedule. But it also hasn’t lost a “dumb” game this season. This week, the surging Baylor Bears come to Morgantown. If the Mountaineers like their spot in the Big 12 week 12 power rankings, they must successfully defend the home turf for the first time since September 21st.
5. Texas Tech (Previous Ranking – 4)
All of the ingredients were there for Texas Tech to make the most significant jump in the Joey McGuire era. After the first quarter of the Colorado game, all of those ingredients were cooking together nicely. However, someone turned off the heat for the Red Raiders as they were outscored 41-14 in the last three quarters. The Red Raiders wasted a golden opportunity against Colorado in the 41-27 loss. For those searching in the “glass half-full” department, Texas Tech was physically dominated in the trenches all game and still found itself with the ball and down a score with one minute left in the game. But now, Texas Tech is officially eliminated from Big 12 contention. They now must grapple during the bye week with what they want the rest of this season to look like.
4. Kansas State (Previous Ranking – 7)
Chris Kliemen better have his team ready for these last three weeks after their second bye week. They have two current 7-2 teams left on their schedule, starting this week against Arizona State.
3. Arizona State (Previous Ranking – 5)
Attention college football playoff committee; RANK THE SUN DEVILS! Arizona State is now 7-2 on the season after defeating UCF without their All-American caliber running back Cam Skattebo. Kenny Dillingham’s program has been a great story this season. Now, they are in a prime position to play in the Big 12 title game. It starts this week traveling to Kansas State. A win over Kansas State would eliminate the Wildcats. The following week, they host BYU before closing out the season against their in-state rival. Assuming Skattebo is back this week, there is no reason the Sun Devils couldn’t shake up the Big 12 race late in November.
2. Colorado (Previous Ranking – 2)
We now enter the part of the Big 12 week 12 power rankings where the favorites to play for the Big 12 title are firmly cemented in their positions. Colorado’s edge rushers have been the biggest game changer for the Buffalos this season. After unsuccessfully flipping his roster in year one, head coach Deion Sanders appears to have hit on this large transfer class. With the improvement in the trenches on both sides and elite NFL-caliber talent at quarterback, wide receiver, and cornerback, this team has the goods. They did not blink or panic in front of a hostile Texas Tech crowd when they fell behind 13-0 early in the game. Colorado is playing like a poised team and should not be challenged this week against Utah.
1. BYU (Previous Ranking – 1)
One more announcement for the playoff committee; RESPECT BYU! If this team had an SEC/BIG logo on its jersey, this team would be ranked in the top 4 in the country. Their undefeated resume by any measure, is one of the best in the country. In their latest victory over the rival Utes, it was not the prettiest win. It also was not a dominant one as it required a walk-off field goal to win. But the fact is this is one of only three P4 teams still undefeated at this point. It deserves more respect nationally. We present all of that to also recognize that BYU better not stub its toe at home against a Kansas team that has caught fire in the last few weeks.
