Week Eight Big 12 Power Rankings: More Middle Shuffling
The top and bottom of the week eight Big 12 power rankings look eerily similar to week seven’s rankings. It is clear that the top spot is going to need a significant upset before it will be up for grabs. But there was plenty of jockeying happening in the middle. Seven different teams moved up the rankings. So where do the 16 Big 12 members stand at this point in the 2025 season?
Week Eight Big 12 Power Rankings: More Middle Shuffling
16. Oklahoma State (Last Week 16)
On the bright side, Stillwater gave everyone an ultimate “Dudes rock” moment in section 231 when the Cowboys were down 26 in the third quarter. You can check out the video here. But this team is well on its way to a 1-11 season. Things don’t get any better with a surging Bearcat team coming to Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday.
15. West Virginia (Last Week 15)
Rich Rodriguez’s team was on a bye week in week seven. They resume action this week against UCF.
14. UCF (Last Week 12)
Speaking of the Knights, the scrappy unit hung in there with Cincinnati. They outgained the Bearcats 413-306, held the ball for almost 20 more minutes, but never could complete drives. What is even worse is that the Knights never felt in control of the game, despite what the statistics show. However, they stand a great chance of getting their first conference victory this week when they host West Virginia.
13. TCU (Last Week 9)
No team fell harder in the week eight Big 12 power rankings than the Horned Frogs. Kansas State has one of the worst statistical defenses in the conference. Yet, TCU kept stubbing its toe. While they outgained the Wildcats 448-347, they turned the ball over three times. That included two interceptions by quarterback Josh Hoover. The 1-2 start in conference play is not inspiring any confidence in this team, being nothing more than part of a convoluted middle of the standings.
12. Colorado (Last Week 14)
With all the uncertainty happening with head coach Deion Sanders, this team did a great job rallying together. A reeling Iowa State came to Boulder, and Colorado capitalized on their opportunity. Iowa State did not score after the 9:26 mark in the third quarter as the Buffs scored the last 10 points of the game to spring the upset. Colorado now heads into the bye week with some good momentum.
11. Arizona (Last Week 11)
Last Word had your back, Arizona. And as Kedrick Reescano scampered for a 36-yard touchdown run with 11:14 remaining in the game, the upset bid looked sealed. After all, it was 24-14 in favor of the home team. But that would be the last bit of good news for the Wildcats. They allowed 15 and 11-play drives that combined to tie the game up with only 19 seconds left. Arizona eventually fell in double overtime. Can this team lick its wounds and bounce back against Houston this week?
10. Kansas State (Last Week 13)
Are the Kansas State Wildcats the best 3-4 team in the country? They have now scored 34, 34, and 41 in their last three games. The defense still hasn’t shown much resistance, but forcing three turnovers in a 41-28 victory over TCU is something. It is likely too little, too late to be a contender in 2025. But the Wildcats will look to fulfill the same spoiler role its in-state rivals occupied in 2024.
9. Baylor (Last Week 10)
The Bears were on a bye week. They resume action in Fort Worth this week against TCU.
8. Iowa State (Last Week 5)
Matt Campbell’s team is spiraling in a very un-cyclone fashion. Iowa State has now lost two straight and has dropped seven spots in the week eight Big 12 power rankings since previously claiming the crown. The good news for the Cyclones? It is time for a bye week to get healthy and figure out what seems to be ailing this team.
7. Kansas (Last Week 8)
It’s challenging to lose and still advance. But Kansas has done just that in the week eight Big 12 power rankings. The Jayhawks were the first team to finally figure out the Texas Tech defense. Yes, it was only for one quarter. Jalon Daniels was as sharp as a quarterback could be he was sacked eight times. Lance Leipold’s squad now will have two weeks to prepare for the Sunflower Showdown, where Kansas looks to end a 16-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
6. Arizona State (Last Week 3)
We will never know how long Kenny Dillingham might have thought Sam Leavitt wouldn’t play against Utah. So, Last Word is willing to cut the Sun Devils a little slack with QB2 getting thrust into a very challenging road game against Utah. Of course, the defense could have done something to stop the Utes from rushing for 276 yards in a 41-10 loss. It doesn’t get any easier this week as Texas Tech comes to town, coming off a win over Kansas in which the Red Raiders rushed for 372 yards.
5. Houston (Last Week 7)
In Houston’s five wins, including their latest against Oklahoma State, they have won those games by a combined score of 164-70. Of course, their one loss was by 24 points, and it wasn’t that particularly close. But make no mistake, the Willie Fritz rebuild is ahead of schedule. The Coogs do not have a currently ranked top 25 team left on their schedule. A win this week could springboard Houston into the conversation as a candidate to play for a Big 12 title this year.
4. BYU (Last Week 6)
It took extra football, but Kalani Sitake’s team remained undefeated. The start of the season was one that had many projecting the Cougars to take a step back in 2025. However, here is BYU halfway through the season, and it is just one of 11 teams in all of FBS that are still undefeated. They are just one of three teams in the Big 12 that still have not yielded more than 100 points this season. However, many pundits are waiting for the floor to finally drop from this team. Will it come this week in the Holy War?
3. Cincinnati (Last Week 4)
The letdown after the Iowa State win was very apparent. But Cincy never appeared in real danger of losing to UCF. This week, they travel down to Stillwater to match up with the lowly Cowboys. However, the schedule difficulty will ramp up for the last five games as they will take on teams with some of the best offenses and defenses in the conference. This game needs to serve as a quality tune-up before it is “prove it” time.
2. Utah (Last Week 2)
Kyle Whittingham’s team is back to by physical bullies. Since their 34-10 loss to the Red Raiders, they have won their last two games by a combined score of 90-24. Quarterback Devon Dampier continues to be a big playmaker for the Utes’ offense. But things will get significantly more difficult this week, traveling to BYU, looking to avenge last year’s Holy War defeat. A win over BYU would put Utah in the driver’s seat for a possible rematch in Dallas.
1. Texas Tech (Last Week 1)
Joey McGuire’s team finally ran into a challenge from Kansas. It was a reminder that this will not just be a cake walk to a Big 12 championship appearance. However, this team responded well to adversity as Texas Tech ran away (literally and figuratively) with the game in the second half. There were a few significant injuries in the game that are concerning for the rest of the season, but both appear to be better than first anticipated. The odds-on betting favorite to win the Big 12 travels to Arizona State this week to take on the defending Big 12 champions.
Main Image: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
