Big 12 power rankings with full dose of conference play on the docket

Several Big 12 teams have already played their conference opener, and those that haven’t will get fully into the swing of conference play this week.

We’ve already seen two expected title contenders face off, and it was a great one to watch. Texas Tech hung on for dear life for a home win over Houston, as Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman was mere inches away from forcing overtime on a QB keeper in the final minute.

From a national perspective, the Big 12 has four teams ranked in the AP Top 25, more than only the ACC (three) among Power Four conferences. The Big 12’s top-ranked team is the lowest-ranked top team among Power Four leaders (ACC’s No. 6 Miami is next lowest):

• No. 9 BYU
• No. 11 Texas Tech
• No. 15 Utah
• No. 25 Houston

With Arizona State on a bye this week after traveling back from London and Arizona among the three teams playing a nonconference game this week, let’s check in on the pecking order in the conference:

Big 12 power rankings entering Week 4

All of the conference’s Week 4 games will be played Saturday. All kickoff times are MST.

1. BYU (3-0, 1-0 in Big 12)

Week 4: BYE

While BYU hasn’t faced the toughest schedule yet with Arizona being its only Power Four matchup so far, its identity has been very clear behind quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin. Bachmeier has eight total touchdowns and one interception, while Martin is well on his way to leading the Big 12 in rushing yards for the second straight season (328 to lead it so far).

The Cougars have two lighter Big 12 matchups on the other side of their bye against TCU and Iowa State before hosting No. 3 Notre Dame. Their only other ranked matchup on the schedule is the Holy War rivalry game at Utah on Nov. 15.

2. Utah (3-0)

Week 4: at Iowa State at 12:30 p.m. (FOX)

The Utes have gone full throttle with the dual-threat, dual-quarterback system integrating Byrd Ficklin alongside starter Devon Dampier often. The pair have combined for 12 total touchdowns and one interception, leading the offense to a staggering 518 yards per game with a top-10 scoring offense nationally at 47.3 points per game.

Their schedule has been even easier than BYU’s, however, with their only Power Four game coming against SEC bottom-feeder Arkansas, which they won 43-10. With matchups against Iowa State, Kansas and Colorado on the docket, Utah’s first real test will come on Oct. 24 when it gets a visit from Houston.

3. Texas Tech (3-0, 1-0)

Week 4: vs. Sam Houston at 9 a.m. (TNT)

The Red Raiders haven’t come close to hitting the sky-high standard they set for themselves, but they still look like arguably the toughest team to beat with an offense that can be explosive as well as a defense that replaced impactful defenders like linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with proven contributors at the Power Four level like Austin Romaine.

However, Texas Tech needs to iron out the Thomas Castellanos usage after the gadget quarterback threw an interception on the first play against Houston.

Having escaped Houston by merely the kneecap of Weigman, Texas Tech gets one final tune-up against an inferior in-state opponent before fully swinging into Big 12 play at Colorado. After their ensuing bye week, the Red Raiders will host the Sun Devils.

4. Houston (2-1, 0-1)

Week 4: at Georgia Southern at 1 p.m. (ESPNU)

In Houston’s near-upset of Texas Tech, Weigman showed why he’s in the conversation for top signal-caller in the conference. He had 339 total yards on 71.1% passing with three touchdowns against the elite defense, and he scrambled for four first downs in an effort to will his team to the win.

He has established three go-to weapons through the air between Amare Thomas, who is one of the most prolific receivers among active college players, along with fellow wide receiver Koby Young and tight end Patrick Overmeyer, who has serviceably replaced Tanner Koziol, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Big 12 fans should have the Oct. 17 matchup between Houston and Oklahoma State circled.

5. Arizona (2-1, 0-1)

Week 4: at Washington State at 4:30 p.m. (CBS)

Noah Fifita is coming off a record-breaking night when he leapt in front of Nick Foles to be the Wildcats’ all-time leading passer. He’s going to set the ceiling for what this Wildcats team can do in conference, and the second-half showing at BYU with 89 passing yards indicated Arizona may be a step behind the top tier of contenders.

Following this week’s game at Washington State, the Wildcats have a handful of winnable games coming up (Cincinnati, West Virginia and Iowa State) before Texas Tech on Oct. 31 is their next big test.

6. Oklahoma State (2-1)

Week 4: at West Virginia at 4 p.m. (FS1)

The Cowboys stumbled out of the gates with a loss to Tulsa, but their two weeks since have been promising enough to dismiss that as a fluke: Oklahoma State beat Oregon 39-31 and walloped Murray State 59-0. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has looked like the legit NFL prospect that many saw in his season at North Texas where he led the nation in passing yards.

If Oklahoma State can get past the next three games (which includes matchups against West Virginia and Houston), the schedule is favorable enough where it could realistically make the title game in Eric Morris’ first season as head coach.

7. West Virginia (3-0)

Week 4: vs. Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. (FS1)

Saturday’s matchup between the Mountaineers and Cowboys is a prove-it game for both sides, as West Virginia has shown signs of a big step up in Year 2 of Rich Rodriguez’s second stint.

Oklahoma transfer quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. has been brilliant for the zone read option system that Rodriguez pioneered, as he has 11 total touchdowns without an interception while completing 68.6% of his passes.

8. Arizona State (2-1, 1-0)

Week 4: BYE

ASU could be a few spots higher if not for the fourth-quarter collapse at Texas A&M, even if the absence of it didn’t result in a win. There are real concerns about the offensive line being able to protect quarterback Cutter Boley, and starting tight end Khamari Anderson being ruled out for the season with a lower leg injury only exacerbates the issues.

Finding ways over the bye week to get the offense rolling in spite of the offensive line troubles will be critical in determining where ASU’s ceiling is, as changes in the run game are expected. Baylor as the next opponent will be a great litmus test for whether any changes work, as the Bears lead the Big 12 in team rush defense, per PFF.

9. Kansas State (3-0)

Week 4: at Cincinnati at 4 p.m. (ESPN2)

There’s debate about whether Kansas State and Cincinnati belong in the conversation with the top eight, which I believe are the realistic title contenders, and Saturday’s matchup between the two give both a chance to make their case.

Kansas State’s first-year head coach Collin Klein has injected a lot of what made last year’s College Football Playoff appearance for Texas A&M successful when he was the offensive coordinator, but it still feels like there’s a real ceiling on quarterback Avery Johnson because of his inaccuracy and spotty decision making.

10. Cincinnati (3-0)

Week 4: vs. Kansas State at 4 p.m. (ESPN2)

Count JC French IV among the Big 12 quarterbacks who have been highly effective without turning the ball over so far, as the former Georgia Southern product has nine total touchdowns and has not yet thrown an interception.

It should be noted that French was held to 77 passing yards in his lone Power Four matchup so far, completing 10 of 14 passes against Boston College in Week 1.

11. TCU (2-1)

Week 4: at UCF at 12:30 p.m. (FS1)

Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig bounced back from his underwhelming debut in Ireland against North Carolina with two games with at least 330 passing yards and three touchdowns, albeit coming against Grambling State and Arkansas State.

Craig leads the Big 12 in passing yards at 906 so far, and that’s been without a single game from star receiver Jordan Dwyer (730 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025), who’s questionable to make his season debut this week.

12. Baylor (2-1)

Week 4: vs. Colorado at 9 a.m. (ESPN2)

The Bears’ outlook could look a lot different if they got the upset at Auburn across the finish line, falling short in a 17-16 loss. It could also look a lot different if quarterback DJ Lagway never injured his ankle and was able to adapt more smoothly to his new situation after transferring from Florida.

Lagway is instead probable to return to the lineup this week, with Colorado serving as a bit of a potential tune-up game before Baylor travels to Tempe to face ASU the following week.

13. Kansas (1-2, 0-1)

Week 4: BYE

The only Big 12 team with two losses so far (Missouri and ASU), the Jayhawks had every chance to upset ASU in London but fell short in part because of late turnovers. Quarterback Isaiah Marshall looks like someone with long-term upside, but not someone you can expect to win a lot of games with right now.

14. Iowa State (2-1)

Week 4: vs. Utah at 12:30 p.m. (FOX)

The Cyclones kept their rivalry game with Iowa closer than most would expect in a 16-13 loss, but that type of score feels par for the course in that rivalry. Iowa State has a three-game gauntlet coming up of Utah, West Virginia and at BYU. We’ll know in short order if the performance against the Hawkeyes was for real.

15. UCF (2-1)

Week 4: vs. TCU at 12:30 p.m. (FS1)

In their first game after starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III suffered a hamstring injury, the Knights trailed Georgia State 24-20 at the half before pulling away for a 44-30 win. They lost 12-7 to Pitt the game before when they still had Barnett.

UCF will be without Barnett again this week, and the injury could linger beyond that as well, leaving head coach Scott Frost in a tough spot. Backup Keyone Jenkins had two touchdowns on the ground in last week’s win, but he completed just 41.1% of his passes for 86 yards.

16. Colorado (2-1)

Week 4: at Baylor at 9 a.m. (ESPN2)

The Buffaloes are coming off perhaps the worst loss the conference has suffered so far this season, as Northwestern won 41-7 for its largest margin of victory against a Power Four opponent since October 2020. Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis threw his first two interceptions of his college career in the loss.

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