With Utah’s win over BYU on Saturday, the undefeated Utes officially control their own destiny to make the Big 12 Championship game, as does Texas Tech as the last standing one-loss team. Behind the Red Raiders, though, sit five 4-2 teams ready to pounce should Texas Tech lose. With the Red Raiders’ biggest remaining challenge slated for this Saturday against Oklahoma State, here’s where the Big 12 stands:

16. Kansas

The Jayhawks outplayed UCF in nearly every facet of Saturday’s game. Still, they lost. The loss all but removed KU’s chances at playing in the postseason, so it’s time for Kansas to begin looking at the future of what this team will look like in 2027 and beyond.

15. Colorado

Colorado’s offense is the worst in the Big 12, and that has consistently cost them this year. It cost them again in Saturday’s 20-10 loss to Arizona State. Coach Prime needs to do a better job in recruiting and in the portal, particularly along the offensive line, to prevent this outcome next year, or his tenure in Boulder may be meeting a sudden end.

14. Kansas State

Kansas State got thoroughly dismantled on Saturday by Oklahoma State. That was a game, and this has been a season that Wildcat fans simply need to flush. There aren’t many takeaways to be had from a 38-point demolition, and the staff in Manhattan needs to reset after this year should they keep their jobs

13. UCF

A win is a win for UCF, but a one-point win over the worst team in the league won’t earn a ringing endorsement, either. The defense got run all over and the offense wasn’t particularly efficient, but at the end of the day, the Knights got the win. Now one game out of bowl eligibility, UCF has the opportunity to play in the postseason despite the team’s shortcomings. Given the level of talent and physicality on this team, that would be plenty of reason to celebrate for fans in Orlando.

12. Arizona State

Saturday’s win wasn’t convincing, but at the end of the day, it was a win. ASU just needs one more win to reach bowl eligibility, which would mark a major milestone in a down year for the Sun Devils. Beat UCF in Orlando on Saturday, and at least fan in Tempe will get to enjoy some December football as Arizona State figures out how to return to the top of the conference next year.

11. Iowa State

Iowa State was physically dominant on offense and got physically dominated on defense. Saturday’s result was that simple. It was a disappointing result for a team that expected its strength to be on the defensive line. Still, Jimmy Rogers has drawn excellent play out of the Cyclone offensive line, allowing Aiden Flora to look like one of the conference’s premier running backs, and if Iowa State can hold onto Flora next year, he’ll be a key building block for the team in 2027.

10. TCU

Defensive back Hudson Hooper’s 93-yard pick six kept TCU alive in the Horned Frog’s battle with Arizona, but the defense gave up too much ground in the fourth quarter of a heartbreaking loss. With the one of the two hardest remaining schedules of any team in the league against Kansas State, Texas Tech and Utah, the deck is stacked against TCU’s hopes of bowl eligibility, but the Horned Frogs are scrappy and physical enough to pick off one of the league’s top dogs if they’re caught sleeping.

9. Cincinnati

The Bearcats’ schedule was too much for them this season, but Cincinnati’s competitiveness in games against elite competition gives the program plenty to build on going into the future. With Iowa State on the schedule this week and bowl eligibility on the line, the Bearcats have an opportunity to hit a key checkpoint for this season Saturday in Ames.

8. West Virginia

The weekly Mountaineer shootout is must-see TV if nothing else. West Virginia’s defense has been nothing short of an embarrassment this year, but the offense continues to shoot fireworks every time it hits the field. That was no different this week in a 53-48 loss to Texas Tech. While West Virginia will need to figure things out defensively in years to come, at least fans in Morgantown have enjoyed some very entertaining football this year.

7. Baylor

The new-look Bears offense has been excellent over the past several weeks, and Baylor’s astronomical rise has them back in the fight for a Big 12 title. With BYU, Texas Tech and Houston slated to end the year, the Bears have the opportunity to catapult themselves into College Football Playoff conversations out of nowhere. Likely? Not at all, but it’s a hook Bears fans can hang their hats on in November that they didn’t expect to have just a few weeks ago.

6. Oklahoma State

A 66-28 win speaks for itself. The Cowboys are riding high again ahead of their biggest game of the year. Oklahoma State holds the fate of the Big 12 in its hands this week as the Pokes take on Texas Tech. Win, and bedlam will ensue. Lose, and the Red Raiders are in the clear. Oklahoma State’s season will be determined on Saturday.

5. Arizona

It wasn’t pretty, but Arizona’s comeback win over TCU kept the Wildcats’ season alive Friday night. Three fourth-quarter scoring drives proved that quarterback Noah Fifita still has his clutch gene, while Arizona’s defense bore down as the game went on, holding the Horned Frog offense to 2.3 yards per carry and 5.7 yards per passing attempt. With undefeated Utah on the schedule this week, Arizona will need to play its best game of the year to keep its hopes of a trip to Arlington alive.

4. Houston

Houston has been excellent this year at winning the games they should, taking care of business yet again this week against Cincinnati. The Cougars’ best win over Oklahoma State, though, doesn’t stand out in comparison to other College Football Playoff contenders, likely leaving Houston in a position where qualifying for the Big 12 Championship Game is a must. With a head-to-head loss to Texas Tech, though, the Red Raiders must lose this week against Oklahoma State to open Houston’s door to Arlington, as a Tech loss later in the season would set Houston’s tiebreakers firmly behind the Red Raiders’.

3. Texas Tech

Texas Tech avoided both BYU and Utah on this year’s schedule. Not having to play either of the other top two teams in the league is certainly a knock against the Red Raiders. Still, Texas Tech has a marquee win over Houston and proved this weekend that it can win with its offense in West Virginia’s weekly shootout. The Red Raiders just need to win the games in front of them to make the Big 12 title game and likely qualify for the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma State represents their biggest obstacle this weekend. Beat the Cowboys, and the Red Raiders can cruise through the final two weeks. Lose, and chaos will unfold.

2. BYU

It was a bad time for Bear Bachmeier to have his worst game of the season, as the Cougar quarterback threw 4 interceptions in BYU’s loss to Utah on Saturday. Outside of Utah, though, BYU remains the most proven team in the league thanks to the Cougars’ win over Notre Dame. BYU will need some help from other teams around the conference to reach the Big 12 title game, but even without a conference championship appearance, BYU has made a compelling argument to make the College Football Playoff. History hasn’t been kind to the Cougars in the selection process, but with a weak Big Ten this year, they’ll certainly have a chance.

1. Utah

Devon Dampier’s 4 total touchdowns made the difference in the Utes’ 28-20 win over BYU, proving that Utah belongs at the top of the league in the process. One of two remaining undefeated FBS teams, Utah has passed every test and proven it belongs at the top of college football. With their biggest remaining test against an Arizona team fighting for survival, this week is critical for the Utes to prove they can stay focused off of last week’s big win and perform consistently against top-tier opponents like they’ll need to do in this winter’s College Football Playoff.