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Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Cougars take over top spot with Cincy, ASU, Houston in the rise

By Darnell Dickson - | Oct 21, 2025

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

BYU junior Parker Kingston runs the ball during the Big 12 game against Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.

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

1. No. 11 BYU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12)

Last results: No. 15 BYU stopped No 23 Utah four times on fourth down and Bear Bachmeier scored the clinching touchdown on a 22-yard run in a the fourth quarter in a 24-21 victory.

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

What’s Up? BYU has beaten Utah three straight times (2021, 2024, 2025) after Utah won nine in a row from 2010 to 2019. … The last time BYU played against Iowa State in Ames was 1974, a 34-7 loss.

2. No. 21 Cincinnati (6-1, 4-0 Big 12)

Last results: Brendan Sorsby accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) as No. 24 Cincinnati routed Oklahoma State 49-17.

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

What’s Up? Matthew McDoom returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown against Oklahoma State, the longest interception return in school history … Cincinnati has six straight wins and is bowl eligible.

3. No. 24 Arizona State (5-2, 3-1 Big 12)

Last results: Raleek Brown scored on a 1-yard run with 34 seconds to play as Arizona State knocked off No. 7 Texas Tech 26-22.

Game On: Saturday vs. Houston (6-1, 3-1 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Jesus Gomez kicked four field goals for the Sun Devils and Sam Leavitt contributed 319 yards passing. … Arizona State leads the overall series with Houston 5-4.

4. No. 14 Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1 Big 12)

Last results: Texas Tech rallied from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to take a three-point lead but Arizona State scored a touchdown with 34 seconds to play, sending the Red Raiders to their first defeat, 26-22.

Game On: Saturday vs. Oklahoma State (1-6, 0-4 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (ESPNU)

What’s Up? Texas Tech was averaging an FBS-best 558.8 yards of offense through six games, but had only 276 vs. Arizona State. … The series between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State is tied at 24-24, with three ties. … The Red Raiders won last year 56-48 in Stillwater.

5. Houston (6-1, 3-1 Big 12)

Last results: Ethan Sanchez kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired as Houston held off Arizona 31-28.

Game On: Saturday at No. 24 Arizona State (5-2, 3-1 Big 12), 6 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Sanchez capped a 13-play, 52-yard drive with the winning kick and Houston is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2022. … Houston has won the past two meetings with Arizona State, 36-7 at Tempe in 1989 and 62-45 at the Coca-Cola Classic in Tokyo (1990).

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

Last results: Josh Hoover threw three touchdown passes and Kevorian Barnes rushed for two scores as TCU held off Baylor 42-36.

Game On: Saturday at West Virginia (2-5, 0-4 Big 12), 4 p.m. MT (ESPN+)

What’s Up? The Horned Frogs led Baylor 42-24 early in fourth quarter. … TCU’s last win in the series with West Virginia was in 2022, a 41-31 victory at Morgantown.

7. Utah (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)

Last results: No. 23 Utah outgained No. 15 BYU 470 yards to 368 and held the Cougars to 3-of-12 on third down, but the Utes lost their third straight rivalry game 24-21.

Game On: Saturday vs. Colorado (3-4, 1-3 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Devin Dampier threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns for the Utes. … Utah leads the overall series with Colorado 35-33-3, winning seven in a row from 2017-2023.

8. Iowa State (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)

Last results: The Cyclones lost their second straight game on Oct. 11, a 24-17 defeat at Colorado.

Game On: Saturday vs. No. 11 BYU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12), 1:30 p.m. MT (FOX)

What’s Up? Iowa State has lost two straight games by single digits (24-17 to Colorado,38-30 to Cincinnati). … The Cyclones are 5-0 against BYU and won the last meeting 45-13 at Provo in 2023.

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

Last results: Sawyer Robertson threw for 318 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off three times in a 42-36 loss to TCU.

Game On: Saturday at No. 21 Cincinnati (6-1, 4-0 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (ESPN2)

What’s Up? Baylor rallied with two scores late in the fourth after being down 42-24. … The Bears finished the game with four turnovers. … Baylor won the only previous meeting with Cincinnati on the road, 32-29 in 2023.

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

Last results: Keli Lawson returned a fumble 32 yards for a score to highlight a big UCF defensive effort, leading the Golden Knights to their first Big 12 game of the season with a 45-13 thrashing of West Virginia.

Game On: Bye (Next game is Nov. 1 at Baylor)

What’s Up? Jaden Nixon ran seven times for 116 yards and two touchdowns, including an 83-yarder. … Tayven Jackson threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns for the Golden Knights.

11. Colorado (3-4, 1-3 Big 12)

Last results: The Buffaloes pulled off a 24-17 upset of then-No. 22 Iowa State on Oct. 11.

Game On: Saturday at Utah (5-2, 2-2 Big 12), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)

What’s Up? Kaidon Salter has thrown for 1,156 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 270 rushing yards and five more scores. … Colorado won the last meeting with Utah 49-24 in Boulder last season.

12. Kansas State (3-4, 2-2 Big 12)

Last results: The Wildcats defeated TCU 41-28 on Oct. 10.

Game On: Saturday at Kansas (4-3, 2-2 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (TNT)

What’s Up? Avery Johnson has thrown for 1,561 yards with 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions while adding 238 rushing yards with three more scores. … Kansas State has won the past 16 games in the Sunflower Showdown, including a 29-27 victory at Manhattan last season.

13. Arizona (4-3, 2-3 Big 12)

Last results: Noah Fifita was 24 of 26 for 269 yards and two touchdowns but Arizona gave up a field goal as time expired in a 31-28 loss to Houston.

Game On: Bye (Next game Nov. 1 at Colorado)

What’s Up? Arizona has lost three of its past four games, losing to BYU by six in OT and Houston by 3. … Noah Fifita has thrown for 1,829 yards with 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions and has scored three times on the ground.

14. Kansas (4-3, 2-2 Big 12)

Last results: The Jayhawks lost to No. 8 Texas Tech 42-17 on Oct. 10.

Game On: Saturday vs. Kansas State (3-4, 2-2 Big 12), 10 a.m. MT (TNT)

What’s Up? Kansas leads the Sunflower Showdown series with Kansas State 64-53-5 but its last win was in 2008, a 52-21 victory at Lawrence. … Jalon Daniels has thrown for 1,752 yards with 18 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

15. West Virginia (2-5, 0-4 Big 12)

Last results: West Virginia managed only 207 total yards, just 79 through the air, in a 45-13 loss to UCF.

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

What’s Up? Scott Fox Jr., Khalil Wilkins and Cam Vaughn combined to complete just 11 of 28 passes for 79 yards vs. UCF. … The Mountaineers allowed 578 yards to the Golden Knights. … West Virginia leads the overall series with TCU 8-5 and has won five of the past six, including a 24-21 victory at Fort Worth in 2023.

16. Oklahoma State (1-6, 0-4 Big 12)

Last results: Oklahoma State lost its sixth straight game, falling to No. 24 Cincinnati 49-17.

Game On: Saturday at No. 14 Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1 Big 12), 2 p.m. MT (ESPNU)

What’s Up? Oklahoma State ran for 228 yards on 48 carries against Cincinnati after averaging 124.5 yards rushing in first six games. … The Cowboys beat Texas Tech in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 20222 but the Red Raiders took the last meeting 56-48 at Stillwater in 2024.

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