Big 12 Power Rankings: Cincinnati climbs, Houston falls and Texas Tech dominates
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Texas Tech sits undefeated, projects as Big 12 favorite and title contender
- Cincinnati rises after key wins; Sorsby leads offense with strong efficiency
- Conference parity shifts: Kansas State close losses, West Virginia nosedive
This is starting to look like a dream season for the Texas Tech football team.
Not only are the Red Raiders considered huge favorites to win the Big 12, as they are fresh off impressive road wins against Utah and Houston, but they have a legitimate path to an undefeated record.
Texas Tech projects as the favorite in all seven of its remaining games, and only three of them are on the road — at Arizona State, at Kansas State and at West Virginia. At this point, it will be considered a major disappointment if they don’t reach the conference championship game for the first time in program history.
Things are also looking up for Cincinnati. Many were slow to embrace the Bearcats as one of the best teams in the Big 12, but then they won a shootout at Kansas and handed Iowa State its first loss of the season. They appear to be for real.
It will be interesting to see if they can push for a trip to Arlington, Texas, or if another strong Big 12 team like Arizona State, BYU, Iowa State or Utah can spoil their hot start.
That gives us plenty to cover around the conference this week.
Let’s take some time to analyze everything we have seen up to this point — heading into Week 7 — and project what will happen in the future with a new edition of Big 12 Power Rankings.
Big move for the Bearcats
1. Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0 Big 12): The Red Raiders aren’t messing around this season. They are off to an undefeated start with a pair of impressive road wins over Utah and Houston. Texas Tech has won all five of its games by at least 24 points. This team is the class of the conference. What a time to introduce a new logo.
2. Cincinnati (4-1, 2-0): Beginning the season with a loss to Nebraska didn’t inspire much confidence in this team. But the Bearcats have been dynamite ever since. Starting the Big 12 portion of their schedule with wins over Kansas and Iowa State was a major statement for Cincinnati. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been nails, throwing for 1,257 yards and 12 touchdowns with just one interception.
3. Iowa State (5-1, 2-1): The Cyclones finally stumbled in a difficult road game against Cincinnati. That doesn’t change the fact that Matt Campbell has assembled a very good team in Ames. But losing a pair of starting defensive backs certainly lowers Iowa State’s ceiling.
4. Arizona State (4-1, 2-0): The Sun Devils can prove they are still a Big 12 heavyweight this weekend with a difficult road game against Utah on tap.
Contenders or pretenders?
5. Baylor (4-2, 2-1): It was shocking to see so many empty seats at McLane Stadium on Saturday. Sure, it was hot. And the Bears trailed by 14 midway through the fourth quarter. But Sawyer Robertson and Baylor’s high-octane offense are never out of a game. Local fans missed a thrilling comeback victory against Kansas State.
6. BYU (5-0, 2-0): No team can control its schedule strength, so it’s hard to penalize the Cougars too much for starting 5-0 against a weak lineup of opponents that has included Portland State, Stanford, East Carolina, Colorado and West Virginia. They have done their part by winning games. But it’s fair to say BYU hasn’t been tested yet.
7. Utah (4-1, 1-1): In hindsight, the Utes didn’t deserve to be punished harshly for a home blowout loss to Texas Tech. This team has looked good against every other opponent.
8. Kansas (4-2, 2-1): The Jayhawks won a game with their defense? Believe it. If they can keep getting stops against stronger teams than UCF, then Jalon Daniels will have a bigger margin for error at quarterback.
9. TCU (4-1, 1-1): It’s impossible to take your eyes off a Big 12 football game involving the Horned Frogs. They led 17-0 at Arizona State and lost. They trailed Colorado 14-0 and won. How big of a score swing will we see this weekend against Kansas State.
They ain’t played nobody!
10. Houston (4-1, 1-1): It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen a good effort from the Cougars. Houston needed overtime to beat woeful Oregon State and then got steamrolled by Texas Tech. Fortunately for head coach Willie Fritz, an excellent bounce-back game awaits at Oklahoma State.
11. Arizona (4-1, 1-1): The Wildcats have proven that they can beat up on mediocre competition at home. But are they capable of more? We will learn when Arizona hosts BYU this weekend.
Bowl eligibility is still within reach
12. Kansas State (2-4, 1-2): College football statistician Kelley Ford has an interesting what-if rankings database that flips the result of every one-score game that takes place across the country. It is designed to show how much differently a season could have played out for teams. K-State would be 5-1 in that universe. Instead, the Wildcats have lost four close games by a total of 13 points.
13. UCF (3-2, 0-2): Little has gone right for the Knights since they crushed North Carolina to finish off a perfect run through nonconference play.
Is it basketball season yet?
14. Colorado (2-4, 0-3): The Buffaloes have wins over Delaware and Wyoming this season. That’s it. That’s the list.
15. West Virginia (2-4, 0-3): Bringing back Rich Rodriguez as head coach already feels like a big mistake. The Mountaineers may not win another game this season.
16. Oklahoma State (1-4, 0-2): The Cowboys are a dreadful road team. They proved that once again on Saturday in a 41-13 loss at Arizona. It was an improvement over a 69-3 loss at Oregon, though.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 5:30 AM.