Big 12 Power Rankings: Which team will join Texas Tech in the league title game?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Texas Tech leads league; defense and Jacob Rodriguez drive title-game control
- BYU, Utah and Cincinnati remain primary contenders; head-to-head games decide
- Upsets and tiebreakers could elevate Arizona State or Houston into title slot
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark can send a save-the-date letter to Texas Tech for the conference championship game on Dec. 6.
The Red Raiders have all but clinched a trip to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Which team will join them? That is the million-dollar question for the league right now. BYU and Cincinnati are in the best position to earn a berth in the league title game. But you can’t rule out Arizona State, Houston or Utah.
The race for Arlington will make for an entertaining last few weeks of the regular season.
Let’s take some time to analyze everything we have seen up to this point — heading into Week 12 — and project what will happen in the future with a new edition of Big 12 Power Rankings.
The Red Raiders are having fun at No. 1
1. Texas Tech (9-1, 6-1 Big 12): Jacob Rodriguez deserves Heisman Trophy buzz. The Texas Tech linebacker has been the best player on the nation’s best defense all season.
Who will join Texas Tech in Arlington?
2. Utah (7-2, 4-2): Strange is it may seem, Utah fans may want to root for Cincinnati or BYU to keep the Utes out of the Big 12 championship game. For Utah, the easiest path to a CFP berth might be winning its final three games with style points and then sitting on the sideline while two other teams play for a league title.
3. BYU (8-1, 5-1): There is no shame in losing on the road against Texas Tech, but BYU will need to bounce back quickly and win its final three games to have any hope at earning an at-large berth into the College Football Playoff.
4. Houston (8-2, 5-2): The Cougars haven’t been to a notable bowl game in a decade. That could change this season. Here’s guessing Houston will be a strong candidate for the Alamo Bowl.
5. Cincinnati (7-2, 5-1): No offense to the Bearcats, but their 5-0 start in Big 12 play came against a favorable schedule. They still need to prove themselves down the stretch against Arizona, BYU and TCU.
6. Arizona State (6-3, 4-2): The Sun Devils can still sneak into the Big 12 championship game if BYU and Cincinnati both suffer a loss in the final three weeks of the regular season. Beating Texas Tech during the regular season could come in handy if Arizona State needs tiebreaker help.
So close, but yet so far
7. TCU (6-3, 3-3): The Horned Frogs have arguably been the most disappointing team in the Big 12 this season. Had they not blown double-digit leads against both Arizona State and Iowa State, they would be in the championship hunt right now.
8. Baylor (5-4, 3-3): As if Baylor’s season wasn’t already a roller coaster, the Bears are now investigating athletic director Mack Rhoades for a bizarre sideline incident with star tight end Michael Trigg.
9. Iowa State (6-4, 3-4): The Cyclones trailed 17-6 in the fourth quarter and only gained 272 yards against TCU over the weekend. But it didn’t matter. Iowa State used a punt return touchdown and two interceptions to pull off an improbable upset. Matt Campbell’s team is once again bowl eligible.
10. Arizona (6-3, 3-3): The Wildcats have benefited from a nice home-field advantage this season. They are 5-1 in Tucson and the only loss came in overtime against BYU.
Let’s go bowling?
11. Kansas State (4-5, 3-3): Injuries have not been kind to the Wildcats this season, as they will finish out the year without Dylan Edwards, Austin Romaine, Tobi Osunsanmi, George Fitzpatrick and other contributors.
12. Kansas (5-5, 3-4): Is Lance Leipold an overrated head coach? Many have anointed him as a savior for KU football. But the Jayhawks only have one winning season under his watch. And after a 24-20 loss at Arizona last week, the Jayhawks are in danger of missing out on a bowl in Year 5.
13. West Virginia (4-6, 2-5): Are the Mountaineers a good football team? No. But they have fight on their roster. West Virginia has won consecutive games against Houston and Colorado to keep its bowl hopes alive.
14. UCF (4-5, 1-5): The Knights may have lost more than just a battle for space supremacy against Houston over the weekend. That defeat will likely keep them out of a bowl game. UCF will need to upset BYU or Texas Tech on the road to finish with six wins.
Good luck with basketball
15. Colorado (3-7, 1-6): With games remaining against Arizona State and Kansas State, I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Buffaloes are finishing the regular season with just three wins
16. Oklahoma State (1-8, 0-6): Here’s the saddest stat you will see today. The Cowboys haven’t won a Big 12 game since 2023.