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Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Undefeated Cougars surge to top spot after road win at UCF

By Darnell Dickson - | Oct 29, 2024

Courtesy BYU Photo

BYU senior defensive lineman Blake Mangelson gets a sack during the Big 12 game against UCF at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

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

1. No. 9 BYU (8-0, 5-0 Big 12)

Last results: Jake Retzlaff passed for two scores and ran for another, leading No. 11 BYU to 480 total yards in a convincing 37-24 victory at UCF.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? The Cougars held UCF to 181 rushing yards, nearly 100 yards below their average. …The Cougars ran for 225 yards, including the second straight 100-yard rushing game for sophomore LJ Martin.

2. No. 11 Iowa State (7-0, 4-0 Big 12)

Last results: Bye

Game On: Saturday vs. Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Iowa State receivers Jaylin Noel (37-681-3) and Jayden Higgins (45-563-6) have accounted for 63% of their team’s receptions and 71% of the Cyclones’ receiving yards. … Iowa State’s last win in the series with Texas Tech came in 2020, a 31-15 victory in Ames.

3. No. 17 Kansas State (7-1, 4-1 Big 12)

Last results: Kansas State’s Chris Tennant made a 51-yard field goal with 1:42 to play and got a fourth-down stop to seal a 29-27 victory against rival Kansas.

Game On: Saturday at Houston (3-5, 2-3 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Avery Johnson was 19 of 34 for 253 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 14 times for 67 yards and another score for Kansas State. … The Wildcats won the only previous meeting with Houston 41-0 in Manhattan last season.

4. No. 23 Colorado (6-2, 4-1 Big 12)

Last results: Heisman candidate Travis Hunter caught nine passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns and was credited with four passes defended at Colorado defeated Cincinnati 34-23.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? Shedeur Sanders was 25 of 30 for 323 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati. He’s totaled 2,268 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions in eight games, completing 72% of his passes. … Colorado has a bye week and returns to action Nov. 9 at Texas Tech.

5. TCU (5-3, 3-2 Big 12)

Last results: TCU’s Devean Deal, who led his team with 10 tackles, recovered a fumble in the closing minutes to secure a 35-34 victory against Texas Tech.

Game On: Saturday at Baylor (4-4, 2-3 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Josh Hoover finished 21 of 32 for 344 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions against the Red Raiders. … The Horned Frogs lead the overall series with Baylor 59-53-7 and have won the past four meetings, including a 42-17 victory in Fort Worth last season.

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

Last results: Bye

Game On: Saturday at Oklahoma State (3-5, 0-5 Big 12), 5 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? ASU running back Cam Skattebo has accounted for over 1,000 yards (848 rushing, 283 receiving) and 10 touchdowns in seven games for the Sun Devils. … Arizona State’s last win in the series with Oklahoma State came in 1993, a 12-10 victory in Tempe.

7. Cincinnati (5-3, 3-2 Big 12)

Last results: Brendan Sorsby threw a pair of touchdown passes as Cincinnati lost at Colorado 34-23.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? Sorsby was 16 of 30 for 180 yards and two touchdowns while Corey Kiner ran 17 times for 94 yards for the Bearcats against Colorado. … Cincinnati is off until Nov. 9, when it will host West Virginia.

8. West Virginia (4-4, 3-2 Big 12)

Last results: Nicco Marchiol threw for two touchdowns in just his second start and West Virginia scored three times on fourth down in a 31-26 victory against Arizona.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? The Mountaineers supported Marchiol with a running game that totaled 203 yards. … West Virginia was missing starting quarterback Garrett Greene, who is injured. … The Mountaineers have a bye and return to action Nov. 9 at Cincinnati.

9. Baylor (4-4, 2-3 Big 12)

Last results: Sawyer Robertson passed for three touchdowns and ran for another, leading Baylor to a 38-28 victory against Oklahoma State.

Game On: Saturday vs. TCU (5-3, 3-2 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Baylor rushed for 343 yards against the Cowboys, including 142 yards on just six carries for Dawson Pendergrass. … The Bears’ last win against TCU came in 2019, a 29-23 victory in Forth Worth. … Baylor has scored 97 points in its past two games, both victories.

10. Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2 Big 12)

Last results: Backup Will Hammond was 10 of 15 for 121 yards and a touchdown in relief of injured starting quarterback Behren Morton but fumbled late in a 35-34 loss to TCU.

Game On: Saturday at No. 11 Iowa State (7-0, 4-0 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks had 30 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown, giving his 804 yards and eight scores in eight games. … The Red Raiders lead the overall series with Iowa State 13-8 and have won the past two meetings, including a 14-10 win at Ames in 2022.

11. Houston (3-5, 2-3 Big 12)

Last results: Jack Martin kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lead Houston to a 17-14 victory against Utah.

Game On: Saturday vs. No. 17 Kansas State (7-1, 4-1 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Houston rushed 50 times for 228 yards against Utah. … With four games left, the Cougars have matched their Big 12 win total (two) from last season. … Houston beat Utah despite being unable to score twice on four chances from the 1-yard line.

12. UCF (3-5, 1-4 Big 12)

Last results: RJ Harvey ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries as UCF lost to No. 11 BYU 37-24.

Game On: Saturday vs. Arizona (3-5, 1-4 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Dylan Rizk, the fourth quarterback UCF has used this season, was 6 of 10 for 102 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 31 yards in the fourth quarter vs. BYU. … Saturday will be the first meeting between UCF and Arizona.

13. Kansas (2-6, 1-4 Big 12)

Last results: Jalon Daniels scored on an 8-yard run late in the third quarter for a 27-23 Kansas lead but the Jayhawks couldn’t hold on in a 29-27 loss to its rival, No. 16 Kansas State.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? Kansas had now lost 16 straight games to Kansas State. … Four of the Jayhawks’ five losses have been by single digits. … Kansas takes a bye week and will host No. 11 Iowa State on Nov. 9.

14. Arizona (3-5, 1-4 Big 12)

Last results: Tetairoa McMillian had 10 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown for Arizona, which lost its third straight game in a 31-26 decision to West Virginia.

Game On: Saturday at UCF (3-5, 1-4 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Noah Fifita was 21 of 32 for 294 yards and two touchdowns against West Virginia. He also caught a 14-yard pass from McMillian but dropped a sure TD pass on a trick play. … Arizona kicker Tyler Loop had been perfect on extra points in his career (119 straight) until missing against the Mountaineers.

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

Last results: Brandon Rose led Utah to third-quarter touchdown after stepping in at quarterback for Isaac Wilson but also threw an interception with two minutes left, leading to the game-winning field in Houston’s 17-14 win.

Game On: Bye

What’s Up? Freshman Isaac Wilson, who had a 71-yard touchdown to Brant Kuithe on a screen pass in the first quarter, was 13 of 22 for 171 yards before being pulled for Rose in the second half. … Rose finished 7 of 15 for 45 yards and an interception. … The Utes are off until a Nov. 9 showdown with rival and No. 9 BYU in Salt Lake City.

16. Oklahoma State (3-5, 0-5 Big 12)

Last results: Alan Bowman was 28 of 42 for 359 yards, one touchdown and one interception as Oklahoma State lost its fifth straight game, 35-28 to Baylor.

Game On: Saturday vs. Arizona State (5-2, 2-2 Big 12), 5 p.m. MT (FS1)

What’s Up? Ollie Gordon II had 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Baylor. … Wide receiver Brennan Presley caught 15 passes for 183 yards and a score. … Oklahoma State leads the overall series with Arizona State 3-2 and has won the past two meetings, including a 27-15 victory in Tempe last season.