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Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Colorado ascends to top of the heap

By Darnell Dickson - | Nov 19, 2024

David Zalubowski, AP Photo

Colorado wide receiver Will Sheppard (14) pulls in a touchdown pass over Utah cornerback Cameron Calhoun (4) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Boulder, Colo.

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

1. No. 16 Colorado (8-2, 6-1 Big 12)

Last results: Shedeur Sanders threw three touchdown passes and LaJohntay Wester returned a punt 76 yards for a score as No. 17 Colorado routed Utah 49-24.

Game On: Saturday at Kansas (4-6, 3-4 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Will Sheppard had two touchdown catches against Utah. … The Buffaloes have won four straight games. … Colorado leads the overall series with Kansas 42-23-3.

2. No. 21 Arizona State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12)

Last results: Sam Leavitt threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns as Arizona State jumped out to a 24-0 lead in a 24-14 victory at No. 16 Kansas State.

Game On: Saturday at No. 14 BYU, 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Jordyn Tyson caught 12 passes for 176 yards and two scores against Kansas State. … Arizona State leads the overall series with BYU 20-8, its last win in the series was in 1995, a 29-21 victory in Tempe.

3. No. 14 BYU (9-1, 6-1 Big 12)

Last results: BYU failed to convert on fourth down inside the Kansas 15-yard line in the game’s final moments in a 17-13 loss.

Game On: Saturday at No. 21 Arizona State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? BYU outgained Kansas in yardage (354 yards to 242 yards) and had 23 first downs to the Jayhawks 13. … The Cougars have won the past three meetings with Arizona State, including a 27-17 victory at Provo in 2021.

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

Last results: Sawyer Robertson was 26 of 36 for 329 yards and three touchdowns to lead Baylor to a 49-35 victory against West Virginia.

Game On: Saturday at Houston (4-6, 3-4 Big 12), 5 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Bryson Washington rushed 18 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the win against West Virginia. … The series between Baylor and Houston is tied at 14-14, with one tie.

5. No. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12)

Last results: Rocco Becht threw for a score and ran for another to lead Iowa State to a 34-17 victory against Cincinnati.

Game On: Saturday at Utah (4-6, 1-6 Big 12), 5:30 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Becht finished 24 of 33 for 234 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati. … Iowa State leads the overall series with Utah 4-1, with its last win coming in Ames, 44-14, in 1976.

6. Kansas State (7-3, 4-3 Big 12)

Last results: DJ Giddens ran for 133 yards but No. 16 Kansas State had trouble finding consistent offense in a 24-14 loss to Arizona State.

Game On: Saturday vs. Cincinnati (5-5, 3-4 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Avery Johnson was 24 of 40 for 258 yards and two interceptions against Arizona State. … Kansas State has won the past two meetings with Cincinnati, including back-to-back wins in 1995 (23-21 in Cincinnati) and 1996 (35-0 in Manhattan).

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

Last results: Bye

Game On: Saturday at Oklahoma State (3-7, 0-7 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)

What’s Up? Tahj Brooks has rushed 235 times for 1,184 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. … The Red Raiders were last in action on Nov. 9, a 41-27 loss to Colorado. … Texas Tech lost the last matchup with Oklahoma State 41-31 in Stillwater in 2022.

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

Last results: Bye

Game On: Saturday vs. Arizona (4-6, 2-5 Big 12), 1 p.m. MT (ESPN+)

What’s Up? Quarterback Josh Hoover has thrown for 3,233 yards, fourth in the country. … The Horned Frogs have been off since Nov. 9, a 38-13 win against Oklahoma State. … The series between TCU and Arizona is tied at 1-1, with the Horned Frogs winning 13-10 in Tucson in 2003.

9. Kansas (4-6, 3-4 Big 12)

Last results: Kansas converted a pooch kick that resulted in a BYU turnover into its only score of the second half, a 4-yard touchdown run for Devin Neal, in a 17-13 upset.

Game On: Kansas vs. No. 16 Colorado (8-2, 6-1 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Kansas have beaten back-to-back ranked opponents for the first time in school history. … The Jayhawks have won three of the past four meetings with Colorado, including a 52-45 victory in Lawrence in 2010.

10. West Virginia (5-5, 4-3 Big 12)

Last results: Garrett Greene accounted for 366 yards of total offense as West Virginia lost to Baylor in a shootout 49-35.

Game On: Saturday vs. UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPNU)

What’s Up? Green passed for 237 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 129 yards and two more scores. … West Virginia has won all three meetings with UCF, including a 41-28 victory in Orlando last season.

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

Last results: Cincinnati had two rushers over 100 yards (Brandon Sorsby 14 for 141 yards and a TD, Corey Kiner 18 carries for 120 yards) in a 34-17 loss to Iowa State.

Game On: Saturday at Kansas State (7-3, 4-3 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Cincinnati ran for 287 yards in the loss to Iowa State, its third straight defeat. … The Bearcats lead the overall series with Kansas State 4-2.

12. Arizona (4-6, 2-5 Big 12)

Last results: Quali Conley rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown and Arizona forced three turnovers in a 27-3 victory against Houston.

Game On: Saturday at TCU (6-4, 4-3 Big 12), 1 p.m. MT (ESPN+)

What’s Up? The Wildcats ended a five-game losing streak. … Safety Genesis Smith recorded an interception, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup, seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. … Arizona won the first meeting with TCU 35-31 in Fort Worth in 1999.

13. Houston (4-6, 3-4 Big 12)

Last results: Zeon Chriss was 16 of 27 for 191 yards and an interception as Houston lost to Arizona 27-3.

Game On: Saturday vs. Baylor (6-4, 4-3 Big 12), 5 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? The Cougars were outscored 17-0 in the fourth quarter against Arizona. … Houston defeated Baylor 25-24 in Waco last season, the first time the two programs had met since 1995.

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

Last results: Bye

Game On: Saturday at West Virginia (5-5, 4-3 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPNU)

What’s Up? UCF has been on a bye week since losing to Arizona State 35-31 on Nov. 9. … RJ Harvey has rushed for 1,328 yards on 196 carries (6.8 yards per carry) and 19 touchdowns.

15. Utah (4-6, 1-6 Big 12)

Last results: Isaac Wilson was 21 of 40 for 236 yards and two touchdowns but also threw three interceptions as Utah lost its sixth straight game, 49-24 to No. 17 Colorado.

Game On: Saturday vs. No. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12), 5:30 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Utah had just 31 rushing yards in the loss to Colorado. … Utah won the last meeting with Iowa State in 2010, a 68-27 victory in Ames.

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

Last results: Bye

Game On: Saturday vs. Texas Tech (6-4, 4-3 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)

What’s Up? Oklahoma State has been off since Nov. 9, its 38-13 defeat at the hands of TCU the school’s seven straight loss. … The Cowboys lead the overall series with Texas Tech 24-23, with on tie, and has won the past three meetings.