Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Kansas State makes rare trip west to play at BYU
(Charlie Riedel, AP Photo
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson (2) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan.Here is the Daily Herald’s weekly power rankings of Big 12 teams with a look at their schedules and matchups.
1. No. 13 Kansas State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes and Dylan Edwards returned a punt 71 yards for a score as No. 14 Kansas State pounded No. 20 Arizona 31-7.
Game On: Saturday at BYU (3-0, 0-0 Big 12), 8:30 PM MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? Kansas State held the high-powered Arizona offense to just 324 total yards. … The Wildcats have produced 67 turnovers since 2021, the second-most among active Big 12 teams and tied for 10th among Power 4 teams.
2. No. 12 Utah (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Freshman Isaac Wilson had 239 yards passing and three touchdowns in his first career start as No. 12 Utah topped Utah State 35-21.
Game On: Saturday at No. 14 Oklahoma State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? Former Cougar basketball player Caleb Lohner caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Wilson in the second quarter against Utah State. … This is the first time Utah has traveled to play in Stillwater.
3. No. 14 Oklahoma State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Alan Bowman matched a career-high with five touchdown passes to lead No. 13 Oklahoma State to a 45-10 rout of Tulsa, its 10th straight win over the Golden Hurricane.
Game On: Saturday vs. No. 12 Utah (3-0, 0-0 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? Bowmen’s favorite target against Tulsa was De’Zaun Stribling, who caught seven passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. … The only other meeting between the Cowboys and Utah was in 1945, a 46-6 OSU victory in Salt Lake City.
4. UCF (3-0, 1-0 Big 12)
Last results: KJ Jefferson connected with Kobe Hudson on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left to lead UCF past TCU 35-34.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? RJ Harvey was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after rushing 29 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns against TCU and teammate Kobe Hudson caught six passes for 145 yards and two scores. … The Golden Knights are off until Sept. 28, when they will host Colorado.
5. Iowa State (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday vs. Arkansas State (2-1), noon MT (ESPN+)
What’s Up? This is the first matchup between Iowa State and Arkansas State. … The Cyclones opened the season with a 21-3 victory against North Dakota and a 20-19 win over rival Iowa. … Arkansas State is 2-1 this season after beating Central Arkansas (34-31) and Tulsa (28-24) then losing at then-No. 17 Michigan (28-18).
6. BYU (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Jake Retzlaff threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns and Keelan Marion returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown as BYU defeated Wyoming 34-14.
Game On: Saturday vs. No. 13 Kansas State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12), 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? Kansas State had beaten Tennessee-Martin (41-6), Tulane (34-27) and then-No. 20 Arizona (31-7). … The Cougars and Wildcats have split eight previous meetings, with BYU winning the last meeting at the 1997 Cotton Bowl (19-15).
7. Arizona State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Cam Skattebo ran for two scores and Ian Hershey kicked a 22-yard field goal with 6:29 to play as Arizona State held off Texas State 31-28.
Game On: Saturday at Texas Tech (2-1, 0-0 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FS1)
What’s Up? Texas State quarterback Jordan McCloud was 29 of 44 for 269 yards and four TD’s against Arizona State. … The series between Arizona State and Texas Tech is tied at 2-2 with the Red Raiders winning the 2017 meeting 52-45 in Lubbock and the Sun Devils earning a 68-55 victory in Tempe in 2016.
8. Arizona (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Arizona receiver caught 11 passes for 138 yards but the No. 20 Wildcats lost to No. 14 Kansas State 31-7.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Arizona-Kansas State was a non-conference matchup since the game was scheduled previous to the Wildcats joining the Big 12. … Arizona is off until September 28, when it will travel to Utah for its Big 12 opener.
9. Texas Tech (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Behren Morton threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score as Texas Tech tied a school record with 52 points in the first half of a 66-21 thrashing of North Texas.
Game On: Saturday vs. Arizona State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FS1)
What’s Up? Texas Tech running back Taj Brooks ran 17 times for 109 yards and a touchdown against North Texas. … The Red Raiders and the Sun Devils met in the 2013 Holiday Bowl, with Texas Tech winning 37-23.
10. TCU (2-1, 0-1 Big 12)
Last results: Josh Hoover threw for 402 yards and four touchdowns and Jack Bech caught nine passes for 200 yards and a score in a 35-34 TCU loss to UCF.
Game On: Saturday at SMU (2-1), 3 p.m. MT (CW)
What’s Up? SMU had the week off after dropping an 18-15 decision to BYU in Dallas. … TCU leads the overall series with the Mustangs 53-42-7 and has won the past three meetings, including a 34-17 victory in Fort Worth last season.
11. West Virginia (1-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: West Virginia led Pitt 34-24 with 4:55 to play but the Panthers rallied, getting a 1-yard touchdown run from Derrick Davis Jr. with 32 seconds to play in a 38-34 win.
Game On: Saturday vs. Kansas (1-2, 0-0 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (ESPN2)
What’s Up? Kansas lost to UNLV 23-20 last week as Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels ran for two touchdowns but also threw a pair of interceptions. … West Virginia leads the overall series with the Jayhawks 10-2-0.
12. Kansas (1-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: UNLV used an 18-play, 75-yard drive that took more than nine minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter, scoring the go-ahead touchdown on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line in a 23-20 upset of Kansas.
Game On: Saturday at West Virginia (1-2, 0-0 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (ESPN2)
What’s Up? Kansas lost to UNLV despite outgaining the Rebels 352 to 267. … The Jayhawks’ last win in the series with West Virginia came in 2022, a 55-42 win in Morgantown.
13. Baylor (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Baylor outscored Air Force 25-0 in the second half and held the Falcons to just a field goal in a 31-3 victory.
Game On: Saturday at Colorado (2-1, 0-0 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? Bryson Washington rushed 12 times for 106 yards and a touchdown in Baylor’s win against Air Force. … The Bears’ last win in the series with Colorado came in 2010, a 31-25 victory in Boulder.
14. Colorado (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Shedeur Sanders threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns — two each to Travis Hunter and LaJohntay Wester — in a 28-9 victory against in-state rival Colorado State.
Game On: Saturday vs. Baylor (2-1, 0-0 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? Colorado leads the overall series with Baylor 9-7-0. … The Buffaloes last win in the series with the Bears came in 2007, a 42-23 victory in Waco.
15. Cincinnati (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Cincinnati claimed its seven straight win the Battle for the Victory Bell at Yager Stadium, never trailing in a 27-16 victory against Miami-Ohio.
Game On: Saturday vs. Houston (1-2, 0-0 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (FS1)
What’s Up? Corey Kiner rushed 21 times for 126 yards and a touchdown in the victory against Miami-Ohio. … Cincinnati has won four straight against Houston, including a 24-14 victory in Houston last season.
16. Houston (1-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last results: Houston held Rice to 159 total yards (84 passing, 75 rushing) in a 33-7 victory.
Game On: Saturday at Cincinnati (2-1, 0-0 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (FS1)
What’s Up? Donovan Smith accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) as Houston earned the first victory for new Houston leads the overall series with Cincinnati 15-14-0., with its last win coming at home against the Cougars in 2016, a 40-16 victory.


