Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Iowa State, BYU keep winning
Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald
BYU sophomore linebacker Siale Esera chases Arizona sophomore quarterback Noah Fifita during the Big 12 game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.Here are our weekly power rankings of Big 12 teams with a look at their schedules and matchups.
1. No. 9 Iowa State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12)
Last results: Carson Hansen ran for 96 yards and three touchdowns as No. 11 Iowa State finished with a 28-16 victory against West Virginia.
Game On: Saturday vs. UCF (3-3, 1-2 Big 12), 5:30 p.m. MT (FOX or FS1).
What’s Up? Iowa State is 6-0 for the first time since 1938. … Rocco Becht was 18 of 26 for 265 yards and a touchdown in the win against West Virginia. … This will be the first meeting between ISU and UCF.
2. No. 13 BYU (6-0, 3-0 Big 12)
Last results: Running back L.J. Martin and receiver Parker Kingston scored two TD’s each as BYU stayed unbeaten with a 41-19 victory against Arizona.
Game On: Friday vs. Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? BYU is bowl eligible after opening the season 6-0. … Last year in Stillwater, Oklahoma State beat BYU 40-34 in double overtime, earning a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.
3. No. 17 Kansas State (5-1, 2-1 Big 12)
Last results: Avery Johnson rebounded from throwing a costly interception by finding Jayce Brown on a 50-yard touchdown pass with 2:14 remaining to lead No. 18 Kansas State to a 31-28 victory at Colorado.
Game On: Saturday at West Virginia (3-3, 2-1 Big 12), 5:30 p.m. MT (FOX or FS1)
What’s Up? DJ Giddens rushed 25 times for 182 yards against Colorado. … Kansas State leads the overall series with West Virginia 7-6 and has won the past two meetings, including a 48-31 victory in Morgantown in 2022.
4. Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday vs. Baylor (2-4, 0-3 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
What’s Up? Texas Tech was last in action on Oct. 5, winning at Arizona 28-22. … The Red Raiders won last year’s meeting with Baylor 39-14 in Waco. … Texas Tech won 15 in a row against the Bears from 1996-2010.
5. Arizona State (5-1, 2-1 Big 12)
Last results: Cam Skattebo ran for 158 yards and scored on runs of 50 and 47 yards as Arizona State upset No. 16 Utah 27-19.
Game On: Saturday at Cincinnati (4-2, 2-1 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (ESPN+)
What’s Up? The Sun Devils are off to their best start since opening the 2019 season at 5-1. … Cincinnati leads the overall series with Arizona State 2-0.
6. Colorado (4-2, 2-1 Big 12)
Last results: Shedeur Sanders completed 34 of 40 passes for 388 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in a 31-28 loss to No. 18 Kansas State.
Game On: Saturday at Arizona (3-3, 1-2 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? The Buffaloes finished with -29 yards rushing in the loss to Kansas State. … Colorado leads the overall series with Arizona 16-10 and won the first 12 meetings between the two school (1931-1985).
7. Cincinnati (4-2, 2-1 Big 12)
Last results: Brendan Sorsby threw for 241 yards and a game-clinching four-yard touchdown pass to Tony Johnson late in the fourth quarter of a 19-13 Cincinnati win against UCF.
Game On: Saturday vs. Arizona State (5-1, 2-1 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (ESPN+)
What’s Up? Jared Bartlett had the game-clinching sack for Cincinnati on the final play of the game against UCF. … The Bearcats won the only previous meetings with Arizona State in 1954 (34-7 in Tempe) and 1976 (14-0 in Tempe).
8. Utah (4-2, 1-2 Big 12)
Last results: In his first game back from injury for No. 16 Utah, quarterback Cam Rising was 16 of 37 (43%) for 209 yards and three interceptions in a 27-19 loss at Arizona State.
Game On: Saturday vs. TCU (3-3, 1-2 Big 12), 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? The loss to Arizona State was the first time in Rising’s career he completed less than 50% of his passes. … Utah leads the overall series with TCU 5-3 and won the last meeting, 13-10, in Salt Lake City (2008).
9. West Virginia (3-3, 2-1 Big 12)
Last results: West Virginia was held to 148 rushing yards one week after amassing 389 at Oklahoma State, falling to No. 11 Iowa State 28-16.
Game On: Saturday vs. No. 17 Kansas State (5-1, 2-1 Big 12), 5:30 p.m. MT (FOX or FS1)
What’s Up? Garrett Greene was 18 of 32 for 206 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against Iowa State, and also ran 10 times for 87 yards. .. The Mountaineers’ last victory against Kansas State came in 2020, a 37-10 win in Morgantown.
10. Arizona (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)
Last results: Arizona had four turnovers that BYU converted into 24 points in a 41-19 loss in Provo.
Game On: Saturday vs. Colorado (4-2, 2-1 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? Noah Fifita was 26 of 52 for 275 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions against BNYU. … Arizona has won the past two meetings with Colorado in 2022 (43-20 in Tucson) and 2023 (34-31 in Boulder).
11. UCF (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)
Last results: UCF’s final drive reached the Cincinnati 25-yard line but Jaccuri Brown was sacked on the final play of the game in a 19-13 loss.
Game On: Saturday at No. 9 Iowa State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12), 5:30 p.m. MT (FOX or FS1)
What’s Up? RJ Harvey ran 17 times for 94 yards against Cincinnati. … Quarterback KJ Jefferson was benched and Jaccuri Brown started for the Golden Knights, finishing 13 of 20 for 207 yards and a touchdown. … This is the first meeting between Iowa State and UCF.
12. Baylor (2-4, 0-3 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday at Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
What’s Up? Baylor leads the overall series with Texas Tech 41-40-1. … The Bears won in 2022 (45-17 in Lubbock) and 2021 (27-24 in Waco). … Baylor has been victorious in 9 of past 13 meetings against the Red Raiders.
13. Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Friday at No. 13 BYU (6-0 3-0 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? Oklahoma State was last in action on Oct. 5 in a 38-14 loss to West Virginia, its third defeat in a row. … The Cowboys lead the overall series with BYU 3-0.
14. Houston (2-4, 1-2 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday at Kansas (1-5, 0-3 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
What’s Up? Houston was last in action on Oct. 4, pulling off a 30-19 victory at TCU. … Kansas won the last meeting with the Cougars in 2022 (48-30 in Houston).
15. TCU (3-2, 1-2 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday at Utah (4-2, 1-2 Big 12), 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? The Horned Frogs have been off since a 30-19 loss to Houston on Oct. 4. … TCU won two meetings with Utah in 2009 (55-28 in Fort Worth) and 2010 (47-7 in SLC) while both teams were members of the MWC.
16. Kansas (1-5, 0-3 Big 12)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday vs. Houston (2-4, 1-2 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
What’s Up? The Jayhawks’ five loss have been by a total of 29 points (5.8 points per game). … Kansas leads the overall series with Houston 4-0. … The two teams met in the 2005 Fort Worth Bowl, won by Kansas 42-14.


