The 2024 college football season is underway and the Big 12 starts a new era with 16 teams in the conference. Week 7 of the Big 12 football season was a lighter one, with several teams on bye weeks, but the week wasn’t without upsets and drama.
Here’s a reminder on how I’ve done this for year or for those of you who are new at Heartland College Sports: It’s about how your team looked and how it played, not always about if your team won or lost. And last week’s rankings have little impact on this week’s. That’s what makes this fun. These are also not predictions for the way the season will end, just a Power Rankings based on performances by a team to date.
1. Iowa State Cyclones (Last Week: 1)
For the first time this season, we have a No. 1 team repeat for a second-straight week, and it’s the Iowa State Cyclones, who beat West Virginia on the road 28-16 on Saturday. The Iowa State defense continues to shine, while the offense finds its footing under Rocco Becht’s leadership. This team is 6-0 for the first time since … 1938. Unbelievable and what a start to the season.
2. BYU Cougars (Last Week: 2)
BYU maintains the No. 2 spot this week after blasting Arizona at home 41-19. Speaking of defense, BYU is playing some of the best in the Big 12 and the country, right up there with Iowa State. And their offense also continues to come into its own. These two teams at the top have more in common than we probably realize, and it’s fun to see it being led on the defensive side of the ball.
3. Kansas State Wildcats (Last Week: 4)
Go on the road and win a late-night game over Colorado at Folsom Field and Kansas State gets to move up one spot to No. 3 this week in the Power Rankings. Avery Johnson had his moment on Saturday that may very well define his future as the quarterback at Kansas State, and as a result, K-State is right in the thick of the Big 12 race.
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Last Week: 3)
Texas Tech moves down one slot just because of what the teams above them did this past weekend, while the Red Raiders had themselves a bye week. Tech is back at it this weekend facing a struggling Baylor team.
Related: Big 12 Football Week 7: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
5. Colorado Buffaloes (Last Week: 3)
Hey, Colorado was right there at the end and had the lead late against Kansas State. And don’t forget they were doing it all without a Heisman frontrunner and two-way player in Travis Hunter, who got injured in the first half and did not return. There are actually a lot of positives to take from this game as the Buffaloes continue to prove they’re going to be a tough out in the Big 12 this season.
6. Arizona State Sun Devils (Last Week: 9)
Arizona State gets another impressive, and unexpected, win, this one over Utah. The Sun Devils remain one of the biggest surprises in college football this season and Kenny Dillingham’s star keeps rising for the program. For Arizona State, their defense continues to stand out, while Cam Skattebo remains the workhorse on offense for a team that is in the mix heading into the second half of the Big 12 season after being picked last in the preseason Big 12 poll.
Related: Will Kenny Dillingham Get Poached from Arizona State?
7. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: 9)
The Cincinnati Bearcats went on the road and beat UCF. They had issues at times, but I will say that any road win in this league is one worth giving credit to. Their wins aren’t the greatest (UCF, Houston, Miami (OH), Towson), but their losses are by a combined four points (Pitt, Texas Tech). And by the way, their two losses are against two teams a combined 11-1.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers (Last Week: 8)
West Virginia stays at No. 8 this week. Their loss to Iowa State was a disappointing one, as WVU continues to beat the teams they’re supposed to beat, but will lose to the teams they’re predicted to lose to. That’s fine, but it means Neal Brown is still in search for some of those program-defining wins. This weekend vs. Kansas State is another opportunity.
9. Arizona Wildcats (Last Week: 7)
Arizona continues to be a confusing team because it’s the offense that has not yet found its footing, despite incredible talent across the board. Arizona is in the bottom third of scoring in Big 12 play, which is not something any Big 12 fan would have predicted before the season. And the better the competition, the worse Arizona looks. Not good.
10. Utah Utes (Last Week: 7)
Utah keeps sliding after losing its second-straight game, and not looking good at all in the process. Cam Rising returned and was incredibly ineffective, throwing three interceptions, and the defense can’t stop the run in Big 12 play, giving up nearly five yards per carry. Plus, their best win doesn’t look all that impressive anymore (at Oklahoma State). There are issues for the Utes the rest of the way.
11. UCF Knights (Last Week: 10)
The Knights’ struggles continued, this time at home to Cincinnati. The defense actually played OK, but now the entire offense is looking for its identity. UCF doesn’t know who its quarterback is going forward. The rushing game has taken a step back because there’s no QB to beat a defense down the field consistently. For a team that had Big 12 aspirations, the season is fading fast.
12. Houston Cougars (Last Week: 12)
We now start a stretch of Big 12 teams who were all on a bye week. For most of these teams, they desperately needed it. Houston is coming off a win against TCU and now tries to keep that momentum going two weeks later against Kansas.
13. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Week: 13)
Oklahoma State is another team that had a perfectly-timed bye week based on how bad this team has been the last couple of weeks. Will Mike Gundy move off of Alan Bowman at QB? There’s speculation, but the issues for the Pokes go beyond the QB.
14. Baylor Bears (Last Week: 14)
Dave Aranda’s future remains in some jeopardy, although that’s mostly noise from fans. There have not been any credible reports suggesting that Aranda is in immediate danger of losing his job. Aranda remains well liked, but he does need to start winning some games.
15. TCU Horned Frogs (Last Week: 15)
TCU had a much-needed bye week after an ugly Friday loss against Houston. Now, they hit the road to take on a struggling Utah team on Saturday night.
16. Kansas Jayhawks (Last week: 16)
The Jayhawks are another team that enjoyed a bye week, which for KU is a good thing because it means they couldn’t blow a second half lead. KU is back at it this week against Houston looking for win No. 2 of the season.
