Big 12 Power Rankings: Texas Tech, West Virginia surge while Oklahoma State craters
What is going on?
This season, enough Big 12 football fans have already asked that question that the conference should consider using it as a slogan.
Hey, it beats “Every Game Matters” and “Everybody Plays Everybody.”
The Big 12 truly is a conference of chaos through six weeks. Texas Tech, which started the year with an overtime win against Abilene Christian and a blowout loss at Washington State, is on top of the conference standings at 3-0. BYU, Colorado, Iowa State and West Virginia are just behind the Red Raiders at 2-0.
Oklahoma State has bottomed out at 0-3.
And just in case those results aren’t wacky enough for you, Houston shrugged off back-to-back shutout losses and beat TCU on the road 30-19 last week.
There has been so much chaos in the Big 12 that some are suggesting the league champion might not earn a bye in the expanded college football playoff this season. Boise State, the highest ranked team from outside the power conferences, could end up rated above every team in the Big 12 if there is too much parity in the league standings.
What is going on? There is no better question to ask as we take some time to analyze everything we have seen up to this point — heading into Week 7 — with a new edition of Big 12 Power Rankings.
You can’t argue with these results
1. Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
Football fans across the Big 12 are eager to shout about the weak schedule that the Cyclones have played thus far. But an undefeated record is an undefeated record. And let’s not pretend like it’s easy to go on the road and beat Iowa.
Matt Campbell’s team has won its past three games against Arkansas State, Houston and Baylor by an aggregate score of 115-28. The Cyclones aren’t just winning, they are winning with style points. They deserve the top spot in these power rankings until they stumble.
2. Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0 Big 12)
Forgive me if this turns out to be way too much of an overreaction, but I’m starting to think Joey McGuire has built a contender at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are undefeated when running back Tahj Brooks plays this season, and he rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona.
With Baylor and TCU up next, Texas Tech is well-positioned to continue winning before it heads to Iowa State for what could be a colossal showdown of conference heavyweights on Nov. 2.
3. BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
The bye week came at an excellent time for BYU. While many other undefeated teams across the country suffered unexpected losses, the Cougars were watching the carnage from home.
Big game on the horizon
4. Kansas State (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
The Wildcats haven’t been road warriors of late. They are 3-4 in their past seven away games, including a 1-1 mark this season. K-State got flattened 38-9 three weeks ago in Provo, Utah. Before that, it needed a late defensive touchdown and goal-line stand to win at Tulane. Will things be different this week at Colorado? A win would signal that the Wildcats are ready to contend for a conference championship.
5. Colorado (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)
It has been surprising to see the Buffaloes receive so few votes for the top 25. With Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter playing for Coach Prime on a team that is off to a 4-1 start, one would think Colorado would be getting more national love than this. It can validate its recent winning streak against K-State.
6. West Virginia (3-2, 2-0 Big 12)
I am hesitant to move the Mountaineers up more than a few spots, even though they beat the living daylights out of Oklahoma State over the weekend. The Cowboys appear to be broken. But West Virginia did look really good in that game. Maybe Neal Brown can win me over when the Mountaineers host Iowa State this weekend.
7. Arizona State (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
The Sun Devils are the biggest bargain team in the Big 12 right now. You can find Arizona State as high as 80-to-1 to win the conference this season, which is insane compared to the odds you will find for floundering teams like UCF (30-1) and Cincinnati (50-1). The Sun Devils have already beaten Wyoming, Mississippi State, Texas State and Kansas. Folks will have to take them more seriously if they beat Utah at home in their next game.
Jekyll and Hyde
8. Arizona (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
The Wildcats are capable of scoring 61 points in a game and beating Utah on the road. They also barely survived a home game against Northern Arizona and have already lost a pair of games against Big 12 competition.
9. Utah (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
It seemed like Utah started conference play with a pivotal victory at Oklahoma State, but that result has not aged well. Following it up with a home loss to Arizona and lots of questions about Cam Rising makes the Utes an impossible team to predict.
Is it basketball season yet?
10. Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
The Bearcats moved up a few spots during their idle week. Not losing will do that in the Big 12.
11. Houston (2-4, 1-2 Big 12)
The Cougars gave their supporters a reason to celebrate with a road win at TCU on Friday. Head coach Willie Fritz threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Horned Frogs and they scored 30 points after suffering shutout losses to Cincinnati and Iowa State.
12. Kansas (1-5, 0-3 Big 12)
The Jayhawks are entering new territory when it comes to losing close games. Believe it or not, Kansas has outscored its opponents 171-154 on the season.
13. Baylor (2-4, 0-3 Big 12)
The Bears can’t stop anybody. Colorado (38 points), BYU (34 points) and Iowa State (43 points) all scored at will against the Bears, even though they have a defensive-minded coach in Dave Aranda.
I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed
14. UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
Something weird is going on in Orlando. The Knights completely no-showed in consecutive games against Colorado and Florida. They will struggle to make a bowl against a difficult closing schedule.
15. TCU (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)
I’m genuinely starting to wonder how TCU made it all the way to the national championship game two years ago under Sonny Dykes. The Horned Frogs have gone 8-10 since then.
16. Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)
It might seem severe to rate the Cowboys last, but I think it’s warranted. I wouldn’t pick this team to beat anybody else in the Big 12 right now. Mike Gundy’s team ranks 16th in the conference in rushing defense and 14th in the conference in rushing offense. That is just plain bad. But there is reason to hope.
Oklahoma State is entering its first bye week of the season. Last year, the Cowboys made massive changes and went 7-1 after the bye.