Exit powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma. Enter former Pac-12 members Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah. The Big 12 has experienced immense change over the last two years, and it’s evident in the 2024 Big 12 Power Rankings. Just look at the top of the charts.
2024 Big 12 Power Rankings
16) Houston Cougars
National Rank: 119
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 16 (no change)
Houston, we have a problem.
The Cougars hired Willie Fritz to turn the program around after he led Tulane to back-to-back 10+ win seasons. A quick glance at the depth chart shows he got to work quickly, using the transfer portal to his advantage.
With so much change, it will take the Cougars some time to get the engine running. Turnovers and the lack of a running game led to a 0-2 start, but Houston beat up on Rice in Week 3.
Looking back, that was likely due more to Rice’s incompetence than Houston’s dominance, as Cincinnati and Iowa State had their way with the Cougars in the last two games.
15) Baylor Bears
National Rank: 81
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 15 (no change)
The 2024 season could be Dave Aranda’s last in Waco if he doesn’t tilt the scales back in the Bears’ favor. Since going 12-2 and winning the Sugar Bowl in 2021, Baylor has gone 9-16.
Toledo transfer Dequan Finn tossed a pair of TDs and INTs against Tarleton State, but if there was a game to be reckless with the ball, it was that one, as the Bears left their home stadium with a 45-3 dub.
Ball security issues were once again an issue in Week 2 vs. Utah, as Finn fumbled twice. He also completed less than 50% of his passes, and against a team as talented as the Utes, there was no coming back. Finn suffered an injury in the contest, prompting Sawyer Robertson to take the reigns in a 31-3 Week 3 win over Air Force.
Robertson accounted for another three TDs with no turnovers against Colorado, but the Buffs took care of business in overtime, resulting in Baylor’s 38-31 loss. Then, BYU made the Bears look like cubs in Week 5, building a 31-14 lead by halftime. The Bears are already 0-3 in the Big 12 — if they don’t turn it around, fans will begin calling for Aranda’s job.
14) Kansas Jayhawks
National Rank: 79
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 14 (no change)
In just three years, Lance Leipold took the Jayhawks from 2-10 to 9-4 with a bowl victory — only for them to regress in 2024.
The Jayhawks sprinted to a 48-3 victory over Lindenwood in Week 1 but stumbled on the road against Illinois in Week 2, at home against a red-hot UNLV team in Week 3, in Morgantown vs. West Virginia in Week 4, and in front of the Jayhawks faithful against TCU.
Jalon Daniels has completed less than 55% of his passes and thrown five TDs to seven INTs this year — if he doesn’t figure it out through the air, Kansas is in for a long season.
13) Cincinnati Bearcats
National Rank: 66
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 13 (no change)
Indiana transfer Brendan Sorsby was a revelation through two weeks, erupting vs. Towson and Pittsburgh through the air. But due to poor defense and play-calling in the second half, the Bearcats lost their first game against the Panthers.
Sorsby came back down to Earth some against a stout Miami (OH) defense, but Cincinnati got back into the win column. Yet, the entire team found its rhythm in Week 4, checking every box in a dominant win over Big 12 opponent Houston.
Sorsby threw another 400+ yards and four TDs against Texas Tech, but the Bearcats fell just short, missing a 51-yard field goal that would’ve made the score 44-44 and sent the game to overtime.
12) Arizona State Sun Devils
National Rank: 65
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 12 (no change)
The Sun Devils have had their way offensively in 2024, with Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt looking solid under center and Cam Skattebo pounding the rock, especially against Mississippi State in Week 2 (33-262-0).
Year 2 of the Kenny Dillingham era has gotten off to a fast start, but the Sun Devils were unable to keep the momentum rolling against Big 12 competition, losing 30-22 to Texas Tech in Week 4. Leavitt struggled through the air, with Skattebo the only real offensive threat, scoring two TDs on the ground and hauling in six receptions for 117 yards.
A home matchup against a floundering Kansas program should give Arizona State its first Big 12 win in Week 6.
11) TCU Horned Frogs
National Rank: 53
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 11 (no change)
TCU was in the national championship just two years ago, but that fact is already a distant memory. Considering the 65-7 final score against Georgia, it’s probably best for the Horned Frogs. Regardless, QB Josh Hoover flashed in his redshirt freshman season and has been even better so far in 2024.
The Stanford game wasn’t pretty, with the Horned Frogs losing two fumbles and committing seven penalties for 100 yards, including three straight 15-yard personal fouls in the first quarter.
But TCU’s lack of a dominant ground game was apparent in a heartbreaking loss to UCF in Week 3 and again in a 66-42 shootout loss to rival SMU. Even with three giveaways and zero takeaways, the Horned Frogs were able to defeat Kansas on their own turf.
10) West Virginia Mountaineers
National Rank: 49
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 9 (-1)
Head coach Neal Brown only had one winning season (6-4 in 2020) entering 2023, and his seat was heating up. A 9-4 campaign and Mayo Bowl victory later, he received a contract extension. Were the Mountaineers a one-year wonder?
Penn State throttled West Virginia 34-12 in Week 1, with the closest score being 0-0 through the first quarter. The Mountaineers got in the win column in Week 2 against a stout UAlbany team but reverted right back with a crushing 38-34 loss to Pitt.
A 15-point fourth quarter in Week 4 gave them the nail-biting win over Kansas, but with Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Arizona comprising their next four games, the road to another victory is nothing short of a gauntlet.
9) UCF Knights
National Rank: 47
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 7 (-2)
The Knights’ first year in the Big 12 was also their first losing season since 2016 (6-7). To avoid a repeat performance, Gus Malzahn paired 1,000-yard rusher RJ Harvey with Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson and Toledo RB Peny Boone.
New Hampshire and Sam Houston were little more than cannon fodder early in the season, but TCU forced the Knights to pull out all the stops. Although Jefferson hasn’t exactly impressed, he did toss three touchdowns with no turnovers against the Horned Frogs and led UCF on a game-winning TD drive.
8) Texas Tech Red Raiders
National Rank: 43
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 10 (+2)
Behren Morton thrived in Week 1, going 30 of 42 for 378 yards and five TDs. However, the defense allowed Abilene Christian to force overtime and end the night with 51 points.
That game should’ve been a warning sign for the Red Raiders, as they fell 37-16 to Washington State in the Mike Leach Legacy Bowl. Turning the ball over four times and going 1 for 5 on fourth downs didn’t help their cause, as the Red Raiders struggled to find any rhythm on offense.
However, they were able to beat up on North Texas in Week 3 — dropping 44 points on the Mean Green by the second quarter — knocked off an undefeated Arizona State squad in Week 4, and survived Cincinnati in Week 5.
The offense can clearly score, but the defense may hold the team back against stiffer competition.
7) Colorado Buffaloes
National Rank:
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 8 (+1)
All press is good press … unless you aren’t performing on the field. Deion Sanders and Colorado took the country by storm early last season but fell off their own hype train, stumbling to a 4-8 record.
The Buffaloes were able to avoid a repeat performance against FCS powerhouse North Dakota State in Week 1, hanging on to win 31-26 behind the right arm of Shedeur Sanders and the God-given two-way abilities of Travis Hunter. Still, the offensive line and running game looked shaky and reared their ugly heads against Nebraska in Week 2.
Sanders was sacked four times in the first half and hit several more times, which is not what Coach Prime wants to see as his son is one season away from hearing his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Give credit where credit is due, as the Buffs have ignored the outside noise and won three straight. Despite being 12.5-point road dogs to UCF, Colorado shocked the Black Knights, owning a 34-14 lead midway through the third quarter. The Big 12 is wide open, and Coach Prime has his program in the thick of it.
6) Oklahoma State Cowboys
National Rank: 38
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 5 (-1)
The Cowboys haven’t won a Big 12 title since 2011. Fresh off a 10-4 campaign that ended with a conference championship loss, can Mike Gundy lead his program back to the peak of the mountain?
Defeating back-to-back FCS National Championship winner South Dakota State in Week 1, outlasting Arkansas in double overtime in Week 2, and manhandling Tulsa had Oklahoma State sitting pretty in a highly competitive Big 12. But Utah and Kansas State brought them crashing back to reality over the last two weeks.
Despite the wake-up call from the Utes, the Cowboys couldn’t bring down the Wildcats, as K-State corraled Ollie Gordon and exposed Alan Bowman at the same time.
5) BYU Cougars
National Rank: 30
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 6 (+1)
BYU hasn’t had back-to-back losing seasons since 2003-2004. Entering the 2024 campaign, it appeared the Cougars were in danger of that streak ending. Yet, they are coming off five straight victories and are real contenders in the Big 12.
Watching QB Jake Retzlaff is not for the faint of heart, but he has some dual-threat ability, and the defense has the talent to buoy the team. The unit proved as much by holding Kansas State to just six points midway through the third quarter in Week 4 and jumping out to a 31-14 halftime lead over Baylor in Week 5.
4) Arizona Wildcats
National Rank: 25
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 3 (-1)
Jedd Fisch jumped ship for the Washington job, taking several coaches and players with him. Yet, QB Noah Fifita, OT Jonah Savaiinaea, WR Tetairoa McMillan, LB Jacob Manu, and CB Tacario Davis all decided to stay for new head coach Brent Brennan.
The Wildcats began the year 2-0, but both of their victories (vs. New Mexico and Northern Arizona) provided more questions than answers. Well, those questions came to roost against Kansas State, as the other Wildcats scored 31 unanswered after Arizona posted a TD on the opening drive of the game.
The bye week proved fruitful, as the ‘Cats upset Utah in Salt Lake City. It wasn’t pretty, but it was exactly the gritty win Arizona needed to return to the Top 25.
3) Kansas State Wildcats
National Rank: 24
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 4 (+1)
The Wildcats have one of the most explosive backfields in the country and rode it to three straight victories.
However, Avery Johnson runs hot and cold accuracy-wise. His 64.2% completion rate, 7.3 yards per attempt, and 6:1 TD-to-INT ratio looked impressive on paper entering Week 4, but he had missed a few wide-open receivers and gotten lucky with a few turnover-worthy throws.
It all came to a head against BYU last Saturday night. Johnson and the ‘Cats were down 31-6 midway through the third, largely thanks to his sub-50% completion rate and two INTs, one of which was right between the numbers of a linebacker.
With RB DJ Giddens running wild against Oklahoma State in Week 5, Johnson was able to hit a few well-timed shots downfield, generating a 35-13 lead at the end of the third quarter. Still, if Johnson can’t win with his arm on a down-to-down basis, Kansas State’s hopes of a Big 12 title will be on life support.
2) Iowa State Cyclones
National Rank: 20
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 2 (no change)
Entering his ninth season, Matt Campbell is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the conference. The Cyclones surprised many by posting a winning record last year, and now they return nearly every starter on both sides of the ball.
That continuity gives Iowa State a leg up on the competition, but the roster is still young. If QB Rocco Becht takes a step forward in his development, this team could reach double-digit wins.
The Cyclones welcomed 30.5-point underdog North Dakota to Ames, Iowa, and only won 21-3. Becht and the aerial assault were fine, but the running game couldn’t generate 100 yards against their FCS opponent, which could be a concern. The unit then averaged just 3.2 yards per carry against Iowa, but with the Hawkeyes owning one of the best defenses in the country, it’s forgivable.
Becht, along with Cade McNamara’s poor play on the other side, led Iowa State to the 20-19 upset over their ranked in-state rival in Week 2 and has them in prime position in the Big 12. Quick victories over Arkansas State and Houston should generate confidence leading into the heart of the Big 12 schedule.
1) Utah Utes
National Rank: 16
Last Week Big 12 Rank: 1 (no change)
Following back-to-back 10-4 campaigns, the Utes fell to 8-5 last year without the services of their starting QB and TE, but Cameron Rising and Brant Kuithe picked up where they left off, combining for four catches, 69 yards, and three TDs against Southern Utah.
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The joy was short-lived, as Rising suffered an apparent throwing hand injury against Baylor in Week 2. The Utes still won and pulled off two more victories over Utah State and Oklahoma State with Isaac Wilson at the helm, but without Rising in the lineup, their ceiling is only so high — as seen in the Week 5 Pac-12 … I mean, Big 12 … loss to Arizona.
Without Rising’s veteran presence, the offense has lacked the explosiveness needed to compete at the highest level, jeopardizing their Big 12 title hopes.
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