Big 12 Power Rankings: Iowa State and Oklahoma State emerge as unexpected contenders
There are only two ranked football teams in the Big 12 this week.
Oklahoma is No. 7 after starting the season with six consecutive victories. Texas is one spot back at No. 8 at 5-1 but with a road win over Alabama.
After that, it’s a long drop to the “others receiving votes” category where Kansas, Oklahoma State and West Virginia received minor consideration for the top 25. K-State did not receive any votes this week.
Some may complain that the conference isn’t getting enough respect, but, honestly, two ranked teams feels appropriate. Right now, the Big 12 is a jumbled mess once you get past the Longhorns and Sooners. Every game not involving those two teams feels unpredictable. One week, a team like Iowa State or Oklahoma State can look completely overmatched. The next, that same team can be riding high.
Only one team is undefeated in league play. Just two teams are still searching for their first conference victory. The hunt for a championship is technically wide open, even if it feels like a two-team race.
Call it the Jekyll and Hyde Conference.
That leads us into this week’s Big 12 Power Rankings:
1. Oklahoma (6-0, 3-0 Big 12)
Last game: 34-30 win over Texas
Next game: UCF
Analysis: Many have already written the Sooners into the Big 12 championship game thanks to their 3-0 start in conference play, which featured a crucial win over Texas. In all likelihood, they will make it to AT&T Stadium in December. But back-to-back road games at Kansas and Oklahoma State could be tricky. The Cowboys, in particular, have been feisty at Boone Pickens Stadium of late.
2. Texas (5-1, 2-1 Big 12)
Last game: 34-30 loss to Oklahoma
Next game: at Houston
Analysis: The Longhorns will play Houston and BYU for the first time as Big 12 rivals during the next two weeks. It’s too bad the Longhorns are leaving for the SEC. Those could have become fun series to watch over time.
3. Iowa State (4-3, 3-1 Big 12)
Last game: 30-10 win at Cincinnati
Next game: at Baylor
Analysis: Had you told me earlier this month that I would rank the Cyclones this high I would not have believed you. I probably would have called you crazy, too. Iowa State looked like be the worst team in the Big 12 when it finished nonconference play with a 10-7 loss at Ohio. And yet, here we are. Iowa State has won three of four, with its only loss coming at Oklahoma. Rocco Becht has the offense playing well and Matt Campbell’s defense is starting to look salty again. The Cyclones get this week off and then play Baylor, KU and BYU. Don’t be shocked if they win all three.
4. Oklahoma State (4-2, 3-1 Big 12)
Last game: 39-32 win over Kansas
Next game: at West Virginia
Analysis: I should probably apologize to Mike Gundy and the Cowboys. I dug a grave for this team when it lost consecutive games to South Alabama and Iowa State. But Oklahoma State roared back after those losses with impressive home victories over K-State and KU. Losing to the Cyclones also no longer looks so bad. The offense looks much better with Alan Bowman handling all the snaps. The Cowboys have also recaptured their magic at home. Gundy might make his 18th straight bowl trip after all. Bedlam is going to be off the chain if Oklahoma State can figure out a way to win its next two games against West Virginia and Cincinnati.
5. Kansas State (4-2, 2-1 Big 12)
Last game: 38-21 win over Texas Tech
Next game: TCU
Analysis: The Wildcats are in a good spot. Not only did they just win an important game at Texas Tech, but now they get to play TCU and Houston at home. If K-State takes care of business over the next two weeks, its game against Texas will have Big 12 championship implications. Avery Johnson entering the picture at quarterback could also be a major plus. But let’s not schedule a parade for the Wildcats just yet. They still have two losses and just got out-gained by a Texas Tech team that had to use its third-string quarterback for half the game.
6. Kansas (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)
Last game: 39-32 loss at Oklahoma State
Next game: Oklahoma
Analysis: Jason Bean threw for 410 yards and five touchdowns against Oklahoma State, but he failed to make a game-clinching play in the fourth quarter despite having several chances to be a hero. Kansas needs to hope Jalon Daniels is ready to play in two weeks against the Sooners.
7. West Virginia (4-2, 2-1 Big 12)
Last game: 41-39 loss at Houston
Next game: Oklahoma State
Analysis: I’m not sure quite what do with the Mountaineers. On one hand, it’s difficult to punish them too severely for losing on a Hail Mary at Houston. If they simply knock down the final pass of the game they are 5-1 right now. On the other hand, they trailed the struggling Cougars by double digits in the fourth quarter before making a late comeback. Ultimately, I dropped them here because they haven’t beaten any of the teams ranked above them.
8. TCU (4-3, 2-2 Big 12)
Last game: 44-11 win over BYU
Next game: at K-State
Analysis: Maybe the Horned Frogs should have been playing Josh Hoover all season. The redshirt-freshman quarterback stepped in for an injured Chandler Morris and threw for 439 yards and four touchdowns during a dominant victory over BYU. The Horned Frogs could be major spoilers down the stretch with K-State, Texas and Oklahoma on the schedule.
9. Texas Tech (3-4, 2-2 Big 12)
Last game: 38-21 loss to K-State
Next game: at BYU
Analysis: The Red Raiders took a 21-17 lead over K-State early in the third quarter before the wheels came off in Lubbock. But boy did things go wrong from that point on with a third-string quarterback directing the offense. Texas Tech may not make it to a bowl game if its top two passers remain on the sideline.
10. Houston (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)
Last game: 41-39 win over West Virginia
Next game: Texas
Analysis: You never know what you’re going to get from Houston, but the Cougars have been playing better of late. Maybe a last-second victory over West Virginia is the type of moment that could bring this team together and create some consistency. Dana Holgorsen certainly hopes that is the case with Texas coming to town.
11. BYU (4-2, 1-2 Big 12)
Last game: 44-11 loss at TCU
Next game: Texas Tech
Analysis: Big 12 road games have been incredibly unkind to BYU this season. First it lost 38-27 at Kansas. Then it went to TCU and got crushed 44-11. Upcoming road trips to Texas, West Virginia and Oklahoma could be even worse. But the Cougars will get a chance to feel better about themselves with a home game against Texas Tech up next.
12. Baylor (2-4, 1-2 Big 12)
Last game: 39-14 loss to Texas Tech
Next game: at Cincinnati
Analysis: The Bears were able to move up despite not doing anything during their off week. They can further distance themselves from the bottom two by winning at Cincinnati this weekend.
13. Cincinnati (2-4, 0-3 Big 12)
Last game: 30-10 loss to Iowa State
Next game: Baylor
Analysis: There’s not much to like about the Bearcats right now. They have lost four straight games and they weren’t even competitive at home against Iowa State.
14. UCF (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)
Last game: 51-22 loss at Kansas
Next game: at Oklahoma
Analysis: The Knights better hope that John Rhys Plumlee can provide a major spark to the offense. If he doesn’t, this team might go 0-9 in Big 12 play. UCF can’t stop anybody on defense.
This story was originally published October 17, 2023 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Big 12 Power Rankings: Iowa State and Oklahoma State emerge as unexpected contenders."