Unlike the other major sports of basketball, baseball, and softball, only two teams will get the chance to play for the Big 12 Football Championship in December.
Heading into Week 7, we will assess what we’ve seen through the first five weeks of the 2024 season and start to separate the contenders from the pretenders in the Big 12 race and, ultimately, the College Football Playoff.
Unlike Power Rankings, which are more prone to changing on a weekly basis, my intent with this weekly feature is to determine who the best five teams in the league are, regardless of their most recent result. Here are the top five teams in the Big 12 and a few squads on the bubble looking in.
1. Kansas State (4-1) – Last Week: 1
Week 6: BYE
Kansas State had the week off and maintained its spot atop this list heading into Week 7. Iowa State has certainly closed whatever gap there might’ve been between No. 1 and No. 2, but I would still take Kansas State on a neutral field with Iowa State at this point.
2. Iowa State (5-0) – Last Week: 2
Week 6: Iowa State 43, Baylor 21
Iowa State has always played sound defense under defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, but now the offense appears to be rounding into shape — and that’s scary. The 43-point performance was a higher total than Iowa State scored in all but one game last year and it is the most points allowed by Baylor all season. If Rocco Becht and the Cyclones’ running game continue to take strides this season, there’s nothing keeping them from making a run to Arlington.
3. Utah (4-1) – Last Week: 3
Week 6: BYE
Utah feels like a team that could go either way at this point, and it all depends on the health of their quarterback. The hard truth is that the Utes’ offense just isn’t explosive enough under Isaac Wilson for them to be a contender. With Cam Rising, Utah is probably at the top of this list, but until he returns — if he returns — Utah’s ceiling is probably right around here.
4. BYU (5-0) – Last Week: 4
Week 6: BYE
BYU is one of two remaining undefeated teams in the Big 12, and it still feels like we have a lot to learn about this team. The good news is we should start learning plenty about the Cougars going forward. Coming out of the bye, BYU will host Arizona and Oklahoma State, followed by road trips to UCF and Utah. That should tell us quickly whether this team is a contender or a pretender.
5. Colorado (4-1) – Last Week: 5
Week 6: BYE
I still have reservations about having Colorado this high on my list, and I nearly dropped them below Texas Tech after the Red Raiders beat Arizona in Tucson. However, they’ve proven through five games that their skill talent is more than good enough to cause matchup issues in this league. This week, they play Kansas State, which should help gauge where they truly stand in the league hierarchy.
On The Bubble
Texas Tech (5-1): After a solid win on the road over a good Arizona team, Jopey McGuire’s squad is starting to shape up as a team to watch in the Big 12 race. Their schedule is setting up nicely for a potential run to Arlington if their defense can start to take more strides.
West Virginia (3-2): After a 1-2 start, West Virginia has rattled off back-to-back wins to open up Big 12 play with a 2-0 record. This week’s 38-14 win over Oklahoma State — in Stillwater — might say more about the Pokes than it does the Mountaineers, but it’s still something this team can build on top of with home games against Iowa State and Kansas State on deck.
Arizona State (4-1): Welcome to the party, Sun Devils! Arizona State’s 35-31 comeback win over Kansas was probably the biggest win of Kenny Dillingham’s tenure, and it showed that this team is going to be a tough out for anyone it faces from here on out.
