Big 12 Football Power Rankings: BYU back to business after bye, will host Arizona

Courtesy BYU Photo
BYU junior John Taumoepeau tries to sack Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson during the Big 12 game at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.Here are our weekly power rankings of Big 12 teams with a look at their schedules and matchups.
1. No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
Last results: Rocco Becht threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and No. 16 Iowa State outscored Baylor 24-7 in the second half of a 43-21 victory.
Game On: Saturday at West Virginia (3-2, 2-0 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? Iowa State is off to its best start since 1980 (6-0). … The Cyclones were the victors in the last meeting with West Virginia 31-14 (2022) and have won four of the past five.
2. No. 14 BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday vs. Arizona (3-2, 1-1 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? None of BYU’s running backs have topped 100 yards rushing for the season. … The series between BYU and Arizona is tied at 12-12-1 … The Cougars have won four of the past five meetings, including 24-16 in Las Vegas in 2021.
3. No. 18 Kansas State (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday at Colorado (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? DJ Giddens leads Kansas State in rushing with 604 yards on 83 carries (7.3 per carry) and has scored two touchdowns. … The Wildcats’ last win in the series with Colorado came in 2009 in Manhattan (20-6).
4. Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0 Big 12)
Last results: Gino Garcia kicked a 41-yard field goal with 2:21 to play and Texas Tech added a 32-yard Tahj Brooks touchdown run to clinch a 28-22 victory against Arizona.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Tahj Brooks carried the ball 21 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona but fumbled twice in the second half. … Texas Tech is off until an Oct. 19 meeting at home against Baylor.
5. No. 16 Utah (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Friday at Arizona State (4-1, 1-1 Big 12), 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? In place of injured starter Cam Rising, Utah freshman Isaac Wilson is 68 of 122 (56%) for 830 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. … The Utes have won the past four meetings with Arizona State, including a 55-3 victory in Salt Lake City in 2023.
6. Colorado (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday vs. No. 18 Kansas State (4-1, 1-1 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders has thrown for 1,630 yards (70% completions) with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. … The Buffaloes lead the overall series with Kansas State 45-20-1 and won the last meeting 44-36 in 2010.
7. West Virginia (3-2, 2-0 Big 12)
Last results: Jahiem White ran for 158 yards and a touchdown as West Virginia raced out to a 31-7 halftime lead in a 38-14 victory against Oklahoma State.
Game On: Saturday vs. No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? CJ Donaldson rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns in the victory against Oklahoma State. … West Virginia leads the overall series with Iowa State 6-5.
8. Arizona State (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
Last results: Sam Leavitt threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson with 16 seconds to play in a 35-31 victory against Kansas.
Game On: Friday vs. No. 16 Utah (4-1, 1-1 Big 12), 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? Arizona State and Kansas combined for 35 points in the fourth quarter. … The Sun Devils lead the overall series with Utah 22-12, with their last win coming in 2018 in Tempe (38-20).
9. Arizona (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
Last results: Tetairo McMillan caught eight passes for 161 yards but fumbled on a critical late Arizona drive in a 28-22 loss to Texas Tech.
Game On: Saturday at No. 14 BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12), 2 p.m. (FOX)
What’s Up? Noah Fifita was 28 of 49 for 301 yards and two interceptions in the loss to Texas Tech. … Arizona’s last win in the series with BYU came in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl (31-21).
10. Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday at UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
What’s Up? Freshman Brendan Sorsby is 108 of 163 (66%) passing for 1,481 yards, 12 touchdowns and just one interception. … Cincinnati’s last win in the series with UCF came in 2021, a 56-21 home victory.
11. UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
Last results: UCF was held without a touchdown until the fourth quarter in a 24-13 loss to Florida.
Game On: Saturday vs. Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
What’s Up? KJ Jefferson was 12 of 22 for 165 yards and an interception in the loss to Florida. … UCF leads the overall series with Cincinnati 5-4 and has won the past two meetings, including a 28-26 win on the road last season.
12. Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)
Last results: Oklahoma State had just 227 total yards, 36 rushing, in a 38-14 loss to West Virginia.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II left the West Virginia game in the third quarter with a leg injury after rushing 13 times for 50 yards. … The Cowboys are off until and Oct. 18 matchup at BYU.
13. Baylor (2-4, 0-2 Big 12)
Last results: Sawyer Robertson was 25 of 44 for 258 yards and three touchdowns in Baylor’s 43-21 loss to No. 16 Iowa State.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Baylor have given up an average of 38.3 points per game in its three-game losing streak. … The Bears are in a bye week and will travel to Texas Tech on Oct. 19.
14. Houston (2-4, 1-2 Big 12)
Last results: Zeon Chriss ran 71 yards for a touchdown on a quarterback draw in his first start with Houston coming off back-to-back shutout losses and the Cougars knocked off TCU 30-19.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? The Cougars came into the game vs. TCU having lost seven of eight Big 12 games since their 2023 debut. … Houston is off until an Oct. 19 meeting against Kansas in Lawrence.
15. TCU (3-2, 1-2 Big 12)
Last results: TCU, which was a 16.5-point favorite, got 233 yards passing and two touchdowns (with two interceptions) from Josh Hoover in a 30-19 loss to Houston.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? TCU had won nine straight games against Houston until Saturday’s loss. … The Horned Frogs are on a bye week and play at Utah on Oct. 19.
16. Kansas (1-5, 0-3 Big 12)
Last results: Jalon Daniels threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Skinner with 2:04 to play for a 31-28 lead but Kansas couldn’t hold on in a 35-31 loss to Arizona State.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Daniels was 18 of 31 for 260 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another score in the loss to Arizona State. … The Jayhawks head into a bye week and will next be in action on Oct. 19 at home against Houston.