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Big 12 football power rankings enter week 10

Posted on by Pranco
Big 12 football power rankings enter week 10

A pecking order is being built in the Big 12. According to the advanced analytics, it is a four-way race between BYU, Iowa State, Kansas State and Colorado for the Big 12 title. The Big 12 was already chaotic, with less than half of its conference games played. Today we update our Big 12 power rankings ahead of week ten.

Balance: 8-0
Next opponent: Utah

BYU gets the top spot for having the best resume and record in the Big 12. BYU’s win over Kansas State is its best win in league play by a wide margin. The Cougars are as well positioned as they can be heading into November.

Iowa State Football

October 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defenseman Jontez Williams (3) celebrates after his interception to seal the game against the UCF Knights at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones defeated the Knights 38 to 35. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images / Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Balance: 7-0
Next opponent: Texas Tech

Iowa State had a close call against UCF two weeks ago. The Cyclones are the other undefeated team in the Big 12, ranking just behind BYU in the power rankings. The Cyclones were probably the most consistent team in the conference.

In its history, Iowa State has never been able to get over the hump. The Cyclones have never won an outright conference championship. If this is their year, they will have to survive kicking games like this week against Texas Tech.

Balance: 7-1
Next opponent: Houston

Kansas State survived a scare against rival Kansas last week. The Wildcats have a fairly favorable schedule the rest of the way with games against Houston, Arizona State and Cincinnati before traveling to Iowa State. They could be 10-1 when they take on Iowa State in Week 12.

Colorado football

October 26, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) prepares to pass in the second half against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory credits: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Balance: 6-2
Next opponent: Texas Tech

Colorado continues to pile up wins and hang around in the conference title race. The Buffaloes are a good football team that is a few games away from being undefeated in conference play. As of now, the schedule from Colorado is favorable. They are a real threat to steal a spot in the conference championship game. Colorado and Texas Tech face off next Saturday in what will likely be one of Colorado’s toughest remaining games.

Balance: 5-3
Next opponent: Colorado

Cincinnati was essentially eliminated from the Big 12 title race with their loss in Colorado. The Bearcats are 3-2 in Big 12 play and they have a brutal schedule over the next four games. They have to play Kansas State and Iowa State. For the time being, they deserve a place in the top five, but there is a big gap between the top four and the rest.

Balance: 5-2
Next opponent: Oklahoma State

Arizona State’s offense struggled without Sam Leavitt in the lineup. It appears Leavitt will play against Oklahoma State on Saturday. They are still 5-2 and have a great chance at a bowl game.

Balance: 5-3
Next opponent: Texas Tech

TCU is incredibly challenging to predict. One week they allow 66 points to SMU and the next week they hold Utah to 7 points. They also have one of their worst losses in conference play against Houston. The Horned Frogs are 3-2 in conference play, so they deserve a spot in the middle of the pack, but no team in the Big 12 has been more inconsistent than TCU this season.

Balance: 4-4
Next opponent: Cincinnati

West Virginia could have established itself as a Big 12 championship contender against Iowa State and Kansas State over the past two weeks. Instead, the Mountaineers weren’t exactly competitive in either match. They have talent on the roster and they have played a brutal schedule, but this is not the year for the Mountaineers. The priority for Neal Brown is to get to a bowl game and save his job.

Baylor Football

October 26, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears cornerback Caden Jenkins (8) is called for pass interference on a pass attempt to Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling (1) during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory credits: Chris Jones-Imagn images / Chris Jones-Imagn images

Balance: 4-4
Next opponent: TCU

Baylor was a much better team with Sawyer Robertson at quarterback. We’ve said over the past two weeks that it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bears had a bit of a runaway. Now they have won two straight games and have a chance to make it three against TCU. There is a legitimate opportunity for Baylor to return to a bowl game.

Balance: 5-3
Next opponent: TCU

Texas Tech’s luck has run out in recent weeks. The Red Raiders have never been as good as their record indicated, but the losses only started piling up in recent weeks. They are in danger of losing their third straight game at Iowa State this weekend.

Balance: 3-5
Next opponent: Kansas State

Houston isn’t a good football team, but they did manage to win two conference games against TCU and Utah. These two wins earn them a spot in the top 11.

Balance: 3-5
Next opponent: Arizona

There are four teams that are 1-3 in Big 12 play. UCF is the most dangerous of those four and they proved that a few weeks on the road at Iowa State. UCF’s rushing attack is legit, but they were held in check by BYU last week.

Balance: 3-5
Next opponent: UCF

Arizona is getting worse seemingly every week. They are in a bad place right now.

Balance: 2-6
Next opponent: Iowa State

Kansas is much better than their record indicates, but until they can win a close game, they don’t deserve to be better than 14th in the power rankings. They will likely be eliminated from the bowl after their next game against Iowa State.

Utah football

October 26, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Utah Utes running back Micah Bernard (2) runs with the ball and scores a touchdown during the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory credits: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Utah’s offense may be the worst in the Power Four. Until they figure things out on that side of the ball, every game will be a challenge to win. They are coming off losing games against TCU and Houston.

Balance: 4-4
Next opponent: BYU

Balance: 3-5
Next opponent: Baylor

Oklahoma State has the talent to beat a lot of teams in this conference, but it hasn’t worked out. They played much better after a bye week against BYU, but fell back into old habits against Baylor. The Cowboys are winless in conference play at 0-5.