Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Utah surges to top despite bye week
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- Utah running back Wayshawn Parker, left, runs from Iowa State cornerback Keyon Washington, right, during a touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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- BYU running back Journee Tonga (20) carries the ball against TCU in a Big 12 football game at Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Each week of the college football season the Daily Herald’s Darnell Dickson takes a deep dive into the Big 12: What happened and what’s up next with the league’s 16 teams.
1. No. 12 Utah (4-0, 1-0)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday vs. Kansas (2-2, 0-1), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? Devin Dampier is completing 70% of his passes for 896 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception while rushing for two more scores. … Utah leads the overall series with Kansas 3-2 and has won the past three meetings (2025, 1996, 1993).
2. No. 8 BYU (4-0, 2-0)
Last results: Quarterback Bear Bachmeier ran for two touchdowns, including the game-clincher with two minutes to play, as No. 10 BYU topped TCU in Fort Worth 17-10.
Game On: Friday vs. Iowa State (3-2, 1-1), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? Saturday’s game was the least points in a win for BYU since a 10-3 victory against Hawaii in 1986. … The Cougars won at Ames 41-27 last season, their first victory in the series.
3. No. 11 Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0)
Last results: No. 12 Texas Tech forced four turnovers, including a pick-six by John Curry, in a 29-7 victory at Colorado.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Will Hammond finished 17 of 26 for 134 yards and a touchdown for The Red Raiders. … Curry had seven tackles (six solo), one tackle for loss and the interception return for a touchdown. … Texas Tech is in a bye week and hosts Arizona State on Oct. 17.
4. No. 18 Oklahoma State (3-1, 1-0)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday vs. UCF (3-2, 1-1), 10 a.m. MT (ESPN2)
What’s Up? Transfer quarterback Drew Mestemaker is completing 67% of his passes for 1,271 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. … Oklahoma State is 0-2 all-time against UCF, which lost to Houston 27-17 on Saturday.
5. Arizona (4-1, 1-1)
Last results: Noah Fifita threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third in 34-7 victory against Cincinnati.
Game On: Saturday at West Virginia (3-2, 0-2), 10 a.m. MT (TNT)
What’s Up? Fifita finished 25 of 37 for 284 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. … The Wildcats led Cincinnati 24-0. … Arizona, whose only loss was to No. 8 BYU, received 19 votes in the AP poll this week.
6. No. 22 Houston (4-1, 1-1)
Last results: Quarterback Conner Weigman scored on three touchdown runs in the second half and No. 20 Houston rallied from a 17-0 deficit to beat UCF 27-17.
Game On: Saturday at Kansas State (3-1, 0-1), 1:30 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? The series between Houston and Kansas State is tied at 1-1. … The Cougars won 24-19 at Houston in 2024.
7. Baylor (4-1, 2-0)
Last results: DJ Lagway threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns as Baylor routed Arizona State 55-19.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Baylor has now won four games in a row. … The Bears outgained Arizona State 564 yards to 409 yards. … Baylor is off until an Oct. 17 meeting at home against TCU.
8. Kansas State (3-1, 0-1)
Last results: Bye
Game On: Saturday vs. No. 22 Houston (4-1, 1-1), 1:30 p.m. MT (FOX)
What’s Up? Quarterback Avery Johnson is completing 66% of his passes for 910 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions, while leading the Wildcats in rushing with 291 yards (9.7 per carry) and three more scores. … Kansas State’s last win in the series with Houston came in 2023 (41-0 at Manhattan).
9. Iowa State (3-2, 1-1)
Last results: Aiden Flora amassed five touchdowns (two passing, three rushing) and totaled 212 rushing yards in a 45-42 victory against West Virginia.
Game On: Friday at No. 8 BYU (4-0, 2-0), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? Flora has 594 rushing yards, which is seventh in the country, averaging 8.1 yards per carry with six touchdowns this season. … Sullivan Schlimgen forced a West Virginia fumble with 52 seconds left, which was recovered by Seth Johnson. … Iowa State won the first five games in the series with BYU and leads 5-1.
10. Cincinnati (4-1, 1-1)
Last results: Cincinnati managed just 227 yards of offense (74 on the ground) in a 34-7 loss to Arizona.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Quarterback JC French was 16 of 29 for 153 yards passing against Houston, with nine carries for 29 yards and a score. … The Bearcats are off until an October 17 meeting at West Virginia.
11. UCF (3-2, 1-1)
Last results: UCF dropped to 0-2 on the road this season, failing to hold on to an early 17-0 lead in a 27-17 loss to No. 20 Houston.
Game On: Saturday at No. 18 Oklahoma State (3-1, 1-0), 10 a.m. MT (ESPN2)
What’s Up? Quarterback Keyone Jenkins finished 23 of 35 for 253 yards, one TD and one interception and ran for a score. … Josh Derry caught seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. … The Golden Knights have won both games in the series with Oklahoma State (17-14 at Orlando in 2025, 45-3 at Orlando in 2023).
12. West Virginia (3-2, 0-2)
Last results: Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. accounted for 376 total yards and four touchdowns in a wild 45-42 loss to Iowa State.
Game On: Saturday vs. Arizona (4-1, 1-1), 10 a.m. MT (TNT)
What’s Up? Hawkins had 227 passing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 149 yards on the ground and two more scores. … Cam Cook rushed 20 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns for the Mountaineers. … West Virginia won the only previous meeting with Arizona 31-26 at Tucson in 2024.
13. TCU (2-3, 0-2)
Last results: TCU is 0-2 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2013 after a 17-10 loss to No. 10 BYU.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Kari Ashley caught six passes for 108 yards and a score. … TCU was 4 of 13 on third downs against BYU. … The Horned Frogs have scored just 33 points in three games against power conference opponents. … TCU travels to Baylor on October 17.
14. Arizona State (2-2, 1-1)
Last result: Cutter Boley was 25 of 43 for 304 yards, one TD and one interception in a 55-19 loss to Baylor.
Game On: Saturday vs. Hawaii, 8:30 p.m. MT (FS1)
What’s Up? Reed Harris caught seven passes for 125 yards against Baylor. … The Sun Devils had three turnovers (two fumbles, one interception). … Arizona State is 5-2 all-time against Hawaii but the Warriors have won the past two meetings (41-24 in the 2024 Hawaii Bowl, 29-17 at Honolulu in 1979).
15. Kansas (2-2, 0-1)
Last results: Dylan Edwards rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns as Kansas blew past Middle Tennessee 55-0.
Game On: Saturday at No. 12 Utah (4-0, 1-0), 8:15 p.m. MT (ESPN)
What’s Up? The Jayhawks outgained Middle Tennessee 706 yards to 136 with 480 rushing yards. …The last Kansas win in the series with Utah was in 1951, a 26-7 victory at Lawrence.
16. Colorado (2-2, 0-1)
Last results: Colorado outgained No. 12 Texas Tech 375 yards to 315 yards in a 29-7 loss.
Game On: Bye
What’s Up? Former Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson finished 26 of 44 for 290 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. … Former Skyridge High quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne was 1 of 2 for seven yards against Texas Tech. … The Buffaloes are off until hosting Utah on October 17.
