The Big 12 has been a one-bid conference in each of the past two College Football Playoffs. This year’s Big 12 Power Rankings offer an updated look at how each team stacks up in the league. In each of those playoffs, the league’s champion fell short in the quarterfinals. Last year, BYU fans will tell you that the league should have had a second team in after the Cougars only lost to Texas Tech, missing out on the playoff as Miami claimed the final spot.
This year, the conference is hoping to become a two-bid league and break into the semifinals. With only one team in the top 12 of the preseason AP poll, the league has work to do to achieve those goals. Here’s our power ranking of each team in the league stands after week 1one, ranked from 16 to 1.
16. Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State was at the wrong end of one of the two biggest upsets of the weekend, losing 24-10 to Tulsa. The Cowboys are the only team in contention with Rutgers for the worst week 1one performance among power five teams. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker gave away 2two fourth-quarter interceptions in Tulsa territory. Two of the Golden Hurricanes’ three touchdowns came off of short fields due to turnovers on downs by the Cowboys. Head coach Eric Morris is one of the nation’s fastest-rising offensive minds, but it was painfully clear on Saturday the impact of only having a single returning offensive starter. For now, the Cowboys bring up the rear.
15. West Virginia
The Mountaineers won week 1one and did so much more dominantly than the final score suggested, leading by 17 points with under three minutes remaining before giving up ten straight Chanticleer points to end the game. West Virginia’s run game was physical and efficient while holding Coastal Carolina below two yards per carry throughout the game. That grit won them the game. West Virginia also gave up 373 passing yards while only generating 132 of their own. In a league packed to the brim with experienced and talented quarterbacks, that simply isn’t a recipe for success in neutral conditions, but it is a formula that can power West Virginia to tight wins in poor weather and on bad days for opposing quarterbacks. They won’t beat many opponents best-on-best, but they can physically overwhelm teams that are off their game, and they’ll surprise someone in league play.
14. UCF
Nine different players scored touchdowns for UCF against Bethune-Cookman last Thursday. The team produced 560 yards of total offense while allowing just 181. Jayden Williams came up with a 45-yard pick six. Despite the big win and a dominant ground game, though, the pass offense was inefficient.
13. Kansas
Isaiah Marshall and Yasin Willis were a dominant one-two punch in the Jayhawks’ week 1one win over LIU. It was also against LIU. Kansas has one of the conference’s weakest rosters on paper, especially at the quarterback position, and LIU isn’t a needle-mover on the other side of the field. If they hold their own in this week’s Border War, they’ll soar up these rankings.
12. TCU
Jeremy Payne looked great for TCU in week zero against North Carolina. Jaden Craig was efficient in the opportunities he was given, but the depth of target was low with only 8.8 yards per completion. The Horned Frog defense played well, only allowing 13 offensive points, with the only Tarheel scoring drive of the second half beginning at the TCU 31. The Horned Frogs just have to finish their drives, whether that means finding a kicker they trust or punching the ball into the end zone more consistently. TCU turned the ball over on downs three times: Once at the UNC 35, once at the UNC 10 and once at the UNC 5. Score 1one touchdown or 2two field goals on those drives, and TCU would have escaped with a win. Unfortunately for the Horned Frogs, they didn’t, and until the offense demonstrates improvement on that front, they’ll stay in the bottom half of the league.
11. Baylor
From one end of the spectrum to the other. DJ Lagway was aggressive and pushed the ball down the field, showing off the arm talent that made him one of the nation’s most hyped quarterbacks in 2024. He also missed on half of his passes, showing the inaccuracy that marred him in 2025. The Bears were under a yard away from winning the game on a two-point conversion in the closing moments of the game. At the end of the day, Baylor lost, but the flashes of brilliance were there to demonstrate that the Bears will be a tough out in 2026.
10. Colorado
Julian Lewis looked bad. Extremely bad. He averaged under five yards per dropback in Colorado’s week 1one win over Georgia Tech. The run game was solid. The defense was dominant. Slots 10 through four are tight, the Buffaloes are a lot closer to the top three than they are to the bottom two, but the offense has further to go than anyone in front of them, and it’s yet to be seen if the week 1one result was more about Colorado’s run defense being stout or Georgia Tech’s run offense being anemic.
9. Cincinnati
This is the point where any of these teams could win the league. Quarterback JC French IV was lethal in and near the red zone for the Bearcats, producing four total touchdowns in a power-five victory over Boston College. Gi’Bran Payne was dominant in the run game. The defense stood firm despite a surge from the BC offense in the second half. There was a lot to like. There were also areas of needed improvement. As SSM’s Noah Crigler noted, the Bearcats need to develop their passing game in the coming weeks as they approach Big 12 play. Every team in front of Cincinnati has clear upside in the passing game, the Bearcats won’t be able to climb until they show an ability to move the ball in both phases.
8. Iowa State
Jaylen Raynor averaged 11.5 yards per attempt and 23 yards per completion in week 1one. He showed off an ability to attack the secondary that Iowa State will enjoy weaponizing all year. Aiden Flora only got seven touches, but he averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Pace of play between the Cyclones and Southeast Missouri was slow, leading to the offense having few opportunities and not generating pop-off-the-page yardage numbers, but Iowa State was efficient. That efficiency will pay dividends against opponents like the rival Hawkeyes that the Cyclones will take on this week. Iowa State is on a three-game CyHawk win streak, and all eyes will be on Iowa City this Saturday. Oh, and if you haven’t seen it, cCornerback Beni Ngoyi’s pick was an early contender for pass of the year, and that athleticism will be a weapon in the secondary.
7. Houston
Conner Weigman was a stud on Saturday. He passed for 305 yards, averaging 15.3 yards per completion, gashing the Oregon State defense over and over again. Running back Makhi Hughes was as consistent as the Cougars could have asked for at the head of a run game that generated 228 yards. Houston’s defense gave up several long, sustained drives to the Beavers on Saturday, though, in an underwhelming performance. There’s no shortage of quarterback talent in this league, and Houston’s defense was the most disappointing of the league’s upper echelon in week 1one.
6. Arizona
The Arizona defense locked down Northern Arizona’s run game to the tune of -7 total yards. That’s domination. Noah Fifita was efficient on his way to a 279-yard day through the air. Eight different Wildcat rushers combined to average nearly 6six yards per carry. The Wildcats will be tested in the first premiere conference matchup of the year this Saturday at BYU.
5. Kansas State
Similarly to the Wildcats above them, Kansas State’s defense controlled the game from opening kickoff to final whistle, while veteran quarterback Avery Johnson went for four total touchdowns at the helm of an offense that simply couldn’t be stopped. Running back Rodney Fields went for 101 yards on over 7 yards per carry on Saturday to lead a run game that generated 312 yards. Like most of the Big 12 in week 1one, a low level of competition made it difficult to come to too many conclusions, but K-State will once again be fighting among the ranks of the Big 12’s best.
4. Arizona State
Three hundred eighty-seven387 passing yards and 6six touchdowns for starting quarterback Cutter Boley. Eleven11 receivers with a catch. Nine players with at least one rushing attempt. The Sun Devil offense clicked from top to bottom against Morgan State on Saturday. Once again, it’s tough to make conclusions about a week 1o1ne win over subpar competition, but Arizona State has an opportunity to prove itself in week two against Texas A&M, we’ll see what Kenny Dillingham’s Devils do against SEC competition.
3. Utah
There’s only so many ways to say “good job blowing out your FCS opponent,” but Utah took care of business. The Utes had three different backs with 70+ yard days on the ground, Devon Dampier was efficient despite low volume, and Utah came out +2 in the turnover battle. Another team with an SEC foe in week 2to in Arkansas, this week will tell us a lot more about where the Utes stand to open 2026.
2. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders were underwhelming on Saturday to say the least. They have easily the most talented roster in the league, and they remain this high for that reason, but fans in Lubbock were expecting a lot more than a 3three-score win. Texas Tech moved the ball well, but the offense struggled to find the end zone, settling for field goals four times against Abilene Christian in addition to an interception in field goal range. Based purely on week 1one performance, the Red Raiders would have fallen out of the top five, but this defense has playmakers all over the field and the offense should be much better than it looked on Saturday. If Tech doesn’t perform against Oregon State, expect a drop next week.
1. BYU
The Cougars have plenty of unfinished business after feeling snubbed last December. They would have made the CFP in 2024 under the 12-team model. Is this the Cougars’ year? It certainly looked like it on Saturday. Bear Bachmeier averaged nearly 10 yards per dropback, the team averaged 6.7 yards per carry, and Cannon DeVries’ kickoff return showed immediate upside for the special teams unit. We’ll learn more about the Cougars this Saturday against Arizona, but for now, BYU is the favorite in the Big 12.