With only three weeks remaining in the season, the upper crust of the Big 12 is fully formed. The Big 12 chaos that this conference has established in the past has been reserved for only the middle of the standings. While there is a new team sitting on the throne of the week 12 Big 12 power rankings (which shouldn’t be a surprise), the results have only made the gap bigger between actual contenders and everyone else. Who has the smallest margin of error if they looking to grab that other ticket to the Big 12 championship game?
Week 12 Big 12 Power Rankings: Three Teams, One Ticket Remaining
16. Oklahoma State (Last Week 16)
The Pokes were on a bye week. They resume play this week against Kansas State.
15. Colorado (Last Week 15)
It was still another loss for Deion Sanders’ team. But at least it was a competitive effort from the Buffs on the road. Freshman Ju Ju Lewis had his moments as the starting quarterback, but the offense couldn’t break through when it mattered most. Even with consecutive interceptions forced by the defense in the third quarter, Colorado couldn’t find a way to take the lead. With the loss, Colorado will officially miss bowl season. They have their second bye week before hosting Arizona State for Senior Day.
14. UCF (Last Week 14)
The annual Space Game was supposed to be the guaranteed victory the Knights could always rely on. But it was a clear failure to launch in Orlando by Scott Frost’s team. The final score reflects only a three-point defeat. However, they were out-gained by 151 yards. That includes the offense being aided with the defense winning the turnover margin four-to-two. It doesn’t get any easier for UCF this week, having to travel to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders.
13. West Virginia (Last Week 12)
In October, the Mountaineers looked dead in the water. But Rich Rodriguez’s team is now on a two-game winning streak. No one would suggest they have been the prettiest victories. West Virginia turned the ball over three times against Colorado on Saturday. However, the 29-22 win is a sign of some momentum building to close out the season for West Virginia. Can they keep the winning streak alive on the road this week against Arizona State?
12. Iowa State (Last Week 13)
The result of this game might suggest Iowa State should have moved higher in the week 12 Big 12 power rankings. However, let us present a question to the jury. How many people would have been able to point out that Iowa State won against TCU just by looking at the box score? Last Word would venture very few. Here are the lowlights of the Cyclones’ game against the Horned Frogs:
- Completed nine passes on 24 attempts.
- Threw two interceptions.
- Failed a two-point conversion on the game’s opening score.
- Didn’t score a point for almost 40 minutes of game time.
- Held the ball for five fewer minutes than TCU.
- Out gained by 160 yards.
And yet, Matt Campbell’s team left Fort Worth with a 20-17 victory. The win clinched a bowl berth for the Cyclones as they enter their second bye week.
11. Baylor (Last Week 11)
Dave Aranda’s team was on bye this past week. They welcome Utah to Waco this week.
10. TCU (Last Week 6)
TCU didn’t score a touchdown until the second half. They held a 17-6 lead with 13:30 left in the game. Anyone can see all the advantages they had on Iowa State above. But instead of holding onto an outside chance to compete for the top of the Big 12, Sonny Dykes’ team squandered away a very winnable game. They have already matched their conference loss total from 2024 in only six games. Will we see a more inspired team that must travel up to Provo and take on BYU?
9. Kansas (Last Week 9)
Lance Leipold’s team played as close to a stalemate as a team can play in a football game. Neither team had a turnover. There were a combined eight penalties called between the two teams. Total offensive yards between the two teams were only separated by 46 yards. But someone had to win and lose. Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, one of their better defensive efforts of the season went to waste as they lost the game with 39 seconds left. The Jayhawks will have two weeks to prepare for Iowa State and a chance to wrap up a bowl berth.
8. Arizona (Last Week 10)
It’s fitting that Arizona is just one spot ahead of Kansas in the week 12 Big 12 power rankings. They put together the one drive down the stretch that made all the difference in winning and losing. Asking what the Wildcats do overly well is a challenge to answer. But this season has already been a success in year two under Brent Brennan. The Wildcats look to secure their biggest victory of the season as they travel to Cincinnati on Saturday.
7. Kansas State (Last Week 8)
Kansas State had the week off in week 11. They take on Oklahoma State in Stillwater this week.
6. Houston (Last Week 7)
The imaginary space trophy comes back to Houston after Willie Fritz’s team gave UCF its first-ever Space game defeat. Houston continues to have an outstanding second season under Fritz with even more left to achieve. This week, the Coogs get a chance to rest up before closing out their season. They still have two very winnable games remaining against TCU and Baylor. A 10-win regular season for Houston would be its first since 2021.
5. Arizona State (Last Week 5)
With Kenny Dillingham having the bye week to get Jeff Sims fully entrenched in the offense as the new starter, will they conjure up a late-season push?
THREE TEAMS FIGHTING FOR ONE TICKET
4. Cincinnati (Last Week 4)
The Bearcats have been forgotten after suffering a loss to Utah. But they still control their destiny to get to the title game. They resume action after a bye week as they welcome Arizona.
3. Utah (Last Week 3)
Kyle Whittingham’s team was off as they debuted at 13 in the playoff rankings. If they want to remain in a favorable position, they need to send a message this week against Baylor.
2. BYU (Last Week 1)
There was just a hint of “getting away with it” to BYU’s 2025 season. This was especially true of BYU on the road this year. But they still were undefeated when they traveled down to Lubbock. Surely, they wouldn’t be overwhelmed by Texas Tech that badly, would they? Well, BYU lost the turnover margin three-to-zero and could not get the running game going. Freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier finally had a “true freshman” game. The Cougars’ defense held up well despite seeing their offense struggle to move the ball all day. While they never threatened the Red Raiders, they still control their destiny and look to bounce back at home against TCU on Saturday.
TICKET TO ARLINGTON IN PENCIL
1. Texas Tech (Last Week 2)
The Red Raiders proved Saturday against BYU what many have suspected all season: they are the consensus favorite in the Big 12. With their 29-7 victory over the previously undefeated BYU Cougars, Joey McGuire’s squad has a firm grip on the top spot in the week 12 Big 12 power rankings. Redzone woes have ailed this team all season, and a two-for-seven conversion rate against BYU only echoed that problem. It will be interesting to see how the coaching staff manages quarterback Behren Morton with UCF and West Virginia remaining on the schedule. Expect this team to lean heavily on the rushing attack, powered Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams, and let this elite defense do the rest to punch their ticket to Arlington.
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