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Big 12 Football Power Rankings: BYU unbeaten at the top but chaos everywhere else

By Darnell Dickson - | Nov 13, 2024

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

BYU running back Hinckley Ropati (7) leaps over a Utah defender in a college football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

Here are our weekly power rankings of Big 12 teams with a look at their schedules and matchups.

1. No. 7 BYU (9-0, 6-0 Big 12)

Last results: The BYU defense held Utah scoreless in the second half and Will Ferrin kicked a 44-yard field goal with four seconds to play in a 22-21 victory.

Game On: Saturday vs. Kansas (3-6, 2-4 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)

What’s Up? BYU coach Kalani Sitake won his 70th game last Saturday at Utah. … The Cougars last win against the Utes in Salt Lake City was in 2006, where John Beck passed to Jonny Harline on the last play of the game for a 33-31 victory.

2. No. 18 Colorado (7-2, 5-1 Big 12)

Last results: Shedeur Sanders threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score as No. 21 Colorado overcame an early deficit to beat Texas Tech 41-27.

Game On: Saturday vs. Utah (4-5, 1-5 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Colorado overcame 14 penalties for 106 yards in the victory against Texas Tech. … The Buffaloes last win in the series with Utah came in 2016, a 27-22 victory in Boulder.

3. No. 20 Kansas State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12)

Last results: Bye

Game On: Saturday vs. Arizona State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12), 5 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Junior running back DJ Giddens has 162 carries for 995 yards (a career high 6.1 yards per carry) and five touchdowns this season. … Kansas State lost the first five meetings with Arizona State but broke the streak with a 34-27 victory in the 2002 Holiday Bowl.

4. Arizona State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12)

Last results: Sam Leavitt threw three touchdown passes, two to Jordyn Tyson, as Arizona State held on to defeat UCF 35-31.

Game On: Saturday at No. 20 Kansas State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12), 5 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Arizona State’s win against UCF featured five lead changes. … ASU running back Cam Skattebo didn’t play due to a shoulder injury. … The Sun Devils lead the overall series with Kansas State 5-1.

5. Iowa State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12)

Last results: Iowa State dropped its second straight game after a 7-0 start, surrendering 532 yards of offense to Kansas in a 45-36 loss.

Game On: Saturday vs. Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Rocco Becht finished 24 of 37 for 383 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the loss to Kansas. … Jaylin Noel caught eight passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. … Iowa State won the only meeting with Cincinnati 30-10 last season.

6. TCU (6-4, 4-3 Big 12)

Last results: Josh Hoover passed for 287 yards and a touchdown as TCU became bowl eligible with a 38-13 victory against Oklahoma State.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? TCU ran for 175 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries with nine different ball carriers. … The Horne Frogs scored on six of its first seven possessions. … TCU is off until a Nov. 23 matchup against Arizona.

7. Baylor (5-4, 3-3 Big 12)

Last results: Bye

Game On: Saturday at West Virginia (5-4, 4-2 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Sawyer Robertson has completed 135 of 227 passes (59.5%) for 1,783 yards, 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions. … Baylor’s last win in the series with West Virginia was in 2021, a 45-20 victory in Waco.

8. West Virginia (5-4, 4-2 Big 12)

Last results: Nicco Marchiol threw for a one touchdown and ran for another as West Virginia won on the road at Cincinnati 31-24.

Game On: Saturday vs. Baylor (5-4, 3-3 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Anthony Wilson Jr. Had a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown against Cincinnati. … West Virginia leads the overall series with Baylor 8-4 and has won the past two meetings, including a 34-31 win in Waco last season.

9. Texas Tech (6-4, 4-3 Big 12)

Last results: Tahj Brooks ran 31 times for 137 yards and a touchdown as Texas Tech lost to No. 20 Colorado 41-27.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? Texas Tech had three turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) against Colorado. … Behren Morton was 24 of 40 for 275 yards, two TD’s and one interceptions. … The Red Raiders have a bye and play next on Nov. 23 at Oklahoma State.

10. Kansas (3-6, 2-4 Big 12)

Last results: Devin Neal ran for 116 yards and two scores in a 45-36 victory against No. 17 Iowa State, becoming the Jayhawks’ all-time leader in rush yards and rushing touchdowns.

Game On: Saturday at No. 7 BYU (9-0, 6-0 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Jalon Daniels was 12 of 24 for 295 and two TD’s while rushing 12 times for 68 yards and another score… Kansas won the last meeting, BYU’s first game in the Big 12, 38-27 in Lawrence last season.

11. Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3 Big 12)

Last results: Brendan Sorsby was 25 of 36 for 279 yards and one touchdown but had three turnovers in a 31-24 loss to West Virginia.

Game On: Saturday at Iowa State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Corey Kiner rushed 25 times for 91 yards and a touchdown in the loss to West Virginia. … Evan Prior caught five passes for 100 yards and an 80-yard touchdown.

12. Houston (4-5, 3-3 Big 12)

Last results: Bye

Game On: Friday at Arizona (3-6, 1-5 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Houston leads the overall series with Arizona 3-1. … The Cougars have won the past two meetings with the Wildcats, taking a 45-18 victory in Houston in 2018 and a 19-16 win in Tucson in 2017.

13. Utah (4-5, 1-5 Big 12)

Last results: Utah led No. 9 BYU 21-10 at halftime but went scoreless in the second half of a 22-21 loss, its fifth consecutive defeat.

Game On: Saturday at No. 18 Colorado (7-2, 5-1 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? In his first career start, Utah sophomore Brandon Rose was 12 of 21 for 112 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 55 yards on seven carries. … Utah leads the overall series with Colorado 35-32-3 and has won the past seven meetings .

14. UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12)

Last results: RJ Harvey rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries in UCF’s 35-31 loss to Arizona State

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? Harvey was stopped on fourth-and-2 with 3:18 to play and the Golden Knights’ final possession came with only five seconds left. … UCF has a bye until a Nov. 23 road trip to West Virginia.

15. Arizona (3-6, 1-5 Big 12)

Last results: Bye

Game On: Friday vs. Houston (4-5, 3-3 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Tetairoa McMillian has 63 catches for 1,066 yards (16.9 yards per reception) and six touchdowns this season. … Arizona’s only win against Houston in the four-game series was in 1986, a 37-3 victory in Tucson.

16. Oklahoma State (3-7, 0-7 Big 12)

Last results: Ollie Gordon II ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries but Oklahoma State lost its seventh straight game in a 38-13 defeat at the hands of TCU.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? Ollie Gordon the II rushed 25 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. … Brennan Presley caught 10 passes for 75 yards, giving him 72 catches for the season and 296 for a career, which is a school record.

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