Big 12 power rankings: Can anyone stop Texas Tech, and where do BYU, Utah rank among their peers?

The message has been sent: Texas Tech is a contender, not just in the Big 12, but in the race for a College Football Playoff spot.

The Red Raiders took care of business last weekend by beating Utah 34-10, in what shaped up to be one of the league’s best games of the early conference season.

The Utes were in the game with 10 minutes to go, down only 13-10, but Texas Tech scored three straight touchdowns to put it away.

Now, the league is chasing the Red Raiders as the season marches into Week 5.

That was one of three Big 12 conference games last weekend that helped shape the early league action — Arizona State edged Baylor, while Kansas pounded West Virginia.

Here’s how the teams stack up following the fourth week of the 2025 season.

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 3 (⬆️ 2)
• Last week:Beat No. 16 Utah, 34-10
• Next game: Oct. 4 at Houston, 5 p.m. MDT (ESPN)

Talk about a statement win.

Texas Tech went into Rice-Eccles Stadium, went toe-to-toe with Utah and pulled away in the fourth quarter behind a redshirt freshman quarterback, Will Hammond, who was nothing short of brilliant.

Now, the Red Raiders are the highest-ranked Big 12 team, are looking like legit College Football Playoff contenders, and appear to have a fearsome defense that is a perfect complement to their high-scoring offense.

The only downside? We’ve got to wait nearly two weeks until their next game, as they have a bye this week.

2. TCU Horned Frogs (3-0)

• Previous ranking: No. 4 (⬆️ 2)
• Last week: Beat SMU, 35-24
• Next game: Friday at Arizona State, 7 p.m. MDT (Fox)

TCU earns the jump in the power rankings this week after beating rival SMU in what may be the final Iron Skillet matchup, at least for the immediate future. The Horned Frogs looked the part of a contender in fending off the Mustangs, giving TCU a 2-0 record in nonconference play against ACC competition (along with a win over North Carolina to start the year).

This week’s matchup with Arizona State is shaping up to be the Game of the Week, one that pits two teams that started league play 1-0 and are trying to gain an upper hand in the early Big 12 race. Plus, the QB matchup between TCU’s Josh Hoover and Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt should be worth the time to tune in.

3. Iowa State Cyclones (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 1 (⬇️ 2)
• Last week: Bye
• Next game: Saturday vs. Arizona, 5 p.m. MDT (ESPN)

Iowa State had a well-deserved bye last week, after a busy first four weeks of the season where the Cyclones had three one-score games but managed to stay unbeaten. This helps put Iowa State in prime position to make a run at the Big 12 crown again, after being the runner-up a year ago.

Saturday’s matchup could provide plenty of theatrics. Arizona is unbeaten and looking much better this season after a forgettable 2024 campaign in Brent Brennan’s first year in Tucson. The good thing for Iowa State is the Cyclones play the game at home. If the Cyclones win this week, there’s a solid chance Iowa State is unbeaten going into a Oct. 25 home game against BYU.

4. BYU Cougars (3-0)

• Previous ranking: No. 5 (⬆️ 1)
• Last week:Beat East Carolina, 34-13
• Next game: Saturday at Colorado, 8:15 p.m. MDT (ESPN)

Bear Bachmeier stepped up when BYU needed him to, as Cougar fans got to see the true freshman grow up before their eyes in the team’s first road game — and road win — of the season.

Bachmeier and the Cougars offense started slow against East Carolina, accounting for just two field goals during the first half. In the second half, though, Bachmeier looked poised and led three touchdown drives that helped put the Pirates away.

Can BYU’s road success translate over to next weekend? It’s a tougher matchup, with the Cougars traveling to Colorado to face a Buffaloes team that could surprise favored BYU. A lot of eyes will be on Bachmeier again, as he faces a Big 12 opponent for the first time.

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 7 (⬆️ 2)
• Last week: Beat Baylor, 27-24
• Next game: Friday vs. No. 24 TCU, 7 p.m. MDT (Fox)

Arizona State’s back-and-forth win over Baylor seemed to prove that even though the Sun Devils may not be able to repeat their run to the Big 12 title that shocked the league last season, Arizona State is going to factor into the conference race heavily. Sam Leavitt impressed, and the Sun Devils matched Baylor blow for blow before kicking the game-winning field goal as time expired.

The clutch gene still resides in Tempe.

It should be fun to see what happens in a Friday primetime matchup this week against TCU. The Horned Frogs leapt Arizona State in the polls this week, as TCU is ranked for the first time this season. A home victory could help lay the foundation for another conference run, though there are still plenty of difficult games for Arizona State ahead.

6. Utah Utes (3-1, 0-1 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 2 (⬇️ 4)
• Last week:Lost to No. 17 Texas Tech, 34-10
• Next game: Saturday at West Virginia, 1:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)

The Utah fans? They showed up. Utah’s defense? They showed up. Utah’s offense? That’s where the problems emerged in a 24-point home loss to Texas Tech.

Devon Dampier, who wasn’t 100% healthy in the game, had his worst game as a Ute and Utah turned the ball over four times. While Utah’s defense kept things close for three-plus quarters, eventually Texas Tech wore down the Utes.

Now, the Utes will head across the country to face a West Virginia team that is coming off a 31-point loss to Kansas. While Rich Rodriguez could get this Mountaineers team back to respectability in the near future, Utah should be the favorite Saturday.

7. Baylor Bears (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 6 (⬇️ 1)
• Last week: Lost to Arizona State, 27-24
• Next game: Saturday at Oklahoma State, 1:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN2)

The Bears’ two losses this season have been agonizing. First, Baylor lost to Auburn in Week 1 in a game where the Bears had a chance to make a statement against an SEC opponent. Then last Saturday, the Bears couldn’t protect their home field as they lost to Arizona State in a nailbiter.

While Baylor’s offense certainly looks capable of making the team competitive in the Big 12 race, the Bears defense is another story altogether. At least this week, Baylor should be heavy favorites to go on the road and win at moribund Oklahoma State.

8. Kansas Jayhawks (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 10 (⬆️ 2)
• Last week: Beat West Virginia, 41-10
• Next game: Saturday vs. Cincinnati, 10 a.m. MDT (TNT)

The more this Kansas team plays in 2025, the more there is to like about them. The Jayhawks steamrolled West Virginia this past week to move to 3-1 and unbeaten (1-0) in Big 12 play. Jalon Daniels has caught some of that magic he had earlier in his career, and the Jayhawks are becoming more impressive by the week.

Can Kansas hold serve and win at home against Cincinnati this week? This is one of those matchups where the Jayhawks look like the clear favorite from the onset. It is conference season, though, and crazy results can oftentimes come from conference play, where teams know each other so well.

9. Arizona Wildcats (3-0)

• Previous ranking: No. 8 (⬇️ 1)
• Last week: Bye
• Next game: Saturday at No. 14 Iowa State, 5 p.m. MDT (ESPN)

Like a handful of teams in the Big 12 right now, Arizona looks the part of an improved program over a year ago — it just has a limited sample size this early in the season to definitely say how seriously the Wildcats will factor into the conference race.

There’s a big test this weekend, though, as Arizona travels to face a top 15 Cyclones team. Can the Wildcats spring the upset, or at least make it competitive? Year 2 of the Brent Brennan era is much more promising, and Saturday’s game gives Arizona the opportunity to make another statement.

10. Houston Cougars (3-0, 1-0 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 9 (⬇️ 1)
• Last week: Bye
• Next game: Friday at Oregon State, 8:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN)

It’s too bad that Houston had a bye last week, at least from a fan/analyst perspective. This Cougars team is a joy to watch, and their tough-mindedness and improved offense give the sense that Houston could enjoy its most successful season in the Big 12 since joining the league in 2023.

The Cougars are sizable favorites in Friday’s road game at Oregon State, but it should serve as a good test for Houston, to show that its game can translate to a road environment (like it did in an earlier win at Rice). A win would send Houston into a matchup with Texas Tech with an unbeaten record.

11. UCF Knights (3-0)

• Previous ranking: No. 13 (⬆️ 2)
• Last week: Beat North Carolina, 34-9
• Next game: Saturday at Kansas State, 10 a.m. MDT (FS1)

Yes, it feels like UCF is too low in these power rankings right now, I’ll admit it. That’s especially true after the Knights easily handled Bill Belichick’s North Carolina team this past weekend, giving the Big 12 another win over the ACC this year. For now, it’s tough to justify UCF leapfrogging other league teams, but that could change quickly with conference play here in full force.

Before the season began, UCF’s road game at Kansas State looked like a sure Knights loss. A lot has changed, though, as the Wildcats are limping to a 1-3 record. Can UCF extend Kansas State’s woes and start Big 12 action with a solid win?

12. Colorado Buffaloes (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 14 (⬆️ 2)
• Last week: Beat Wyoming, 37-20
• Next game: Saturday vs. No. 25 BYU, 8:15 p.m. MDT (ESPN)

It’s back to Kaidon Salter as QB1 for Colorado, and that paid off with a dominant victory over Wyoming. Salter threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in the win and added 86 rushing yards and another score, showcasing the kind of dual-threat capabilities he showed at Liberty.

The Buffaloes can ill afford another Big 12 loss with BYU coming to town, after falling to Houston in their league opener. BYU rolled past Colorado in their Alamo Bowl matchup last season, but so much has changed for both teams since then.

13. Cincinnati Bearcats (2-1)

• Previous ranking: No. 12 (⬇️ 1)
• Last week: Bye
• Next game: Saturday at Kansas, 10 a.m. MDT (TNT)

What do we know about Cincinnati going into the Bearcats’ first Big 12 conference game? It doesn’t feel like a whole lot. Cincinnati played tough but missed a chance to beat Nebraska in its opener, and the last couple weeks were against inferior opponents.

This week is a good challenge. Kansas is playing well, and it doesn’t help Cincinnati that it is a road game. The Bearcats, though, have shown enough to believe that this will be a competitive matchup.

14. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 11 (⬇️ 3)
• Last week: Lost to Kansas, 41-10
• Next game: Saturday vs. Utah, 1:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)

West Virginia’s rollercoaster play in the early part of the season was on a dip last week, when the Mountaineers were overmatched by Kansas in the league opener for both schools. The Jayhawks led 34-3 in the third quarter and West Virginia’s offense never got on track.

Up next is a Utah squad that is also coming off a humbling loss. While West Virginia is at home for this one, the Utes are favored, in large part because of their stingy Morgan Scalley defense. Can the Mountaineers show improvement and make it a game?

15. Kansas State Wildcats (1-3, 0-1 Big 12)

• Previous ranking: No. 15 (no change)
• Last week: Bye
• Next game: Saturday vs. UCF, 10 a.m. MDT (FS1)

It must have been a long week in Manhattan, Kansas, during the bye, after the Wildcats’ disastrous start to the season. Yes, there’s still plenty of time to turn things around and Kansas State is well within range of challenging for the Big 12 title, like it was expected to do before the year began.

The problem is, what the Wildcats have shown thus far in 2025 looks far from a championship contender. Will a home matchup against UCF get things headed in the right direction finally for Kansas State?

16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-2)

• Previous ranking: No. 16 (no change)
• Last week: Lost to Tulsa, 19-12
• Next game: Saturday vs. Baylor, 1:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN2)

The Mike Gundy era at Oklahoma State is over, as the school fired the longtime head coach Tuesday. It came just days after the Cowboys went into halftime trailing Tulsa 16-3 and Oklahoma State couldn’t complete the rally to fall to 1-2.

Is there a win or two in conference play for the Cowboys under an interim coach? Given the current trajectory of the program, it’s difficult to look at the schedule and feel good about any of their Big 12 conference games at this point.