It’s onto Week 4 of the Big 12 football season. Many teams have wrapped up their non-conference, and now it’s time to start rolling into conference play. Much will be learned this weekend as to where this conference is headed. But for now, it’s time for our third Power Rankings of the Big 12 season. A reminder on how I do these rankings: They are based on what you have actually done on the field, not what we think you will do throughout the remainder of the season. So, with that, here’s a look at our Week 4 Big 12 football power rankings for the 2025 season.
1. Iowa State Cyclones (Last Week: 1)
The Iowa State Cyclones are 4-0. Sure, they struggled against Arkansas State on the road last week. But it was their fourth game in a row after traveling to Ireland and playing overseas, then in Week 2 taking on their in-state rival, followed by a road trip before a bye against Arkansas State. They were tired, but their resume is still tops in the Big 12, hands down.
2. Utah Utes (Last Week: 2)
The UCLA win looks less impressive by the week, but heck, it’s still a Big Ten game, and then going on the road to play Wyoming can be a tricky spot for some teams, and it was never in down for the Utes. For now, they’re at No. 2.
3. TCU Horned Frogs (Last Week: 3)
TCU was off Week 2 after playing on Monday night vs. UNC in Week 1, and while their Week 3 game was against Abilene Christian, they still have the best and most dominant road win of the season so far in the league.
4. Arizona Wildcats (Last Week: 5)
Arizona continues to surprise, with a solid win at home vs. Kansas State on Friday night. While K-State is reeling, Arizona has really looked vastly improved through its first three games, and now they have to make it count in league play.
5. Baylor Bears (Last Week: 4)
Baylor moves down just because of what the teams above them did. Yeah, they blew out Samford, OK. But they have that tough loss to Auburn, followed by the comeback vs. SMU. So for now, they’re at No. 5.
6. Houston Cougars (Last Week: 10)
Houston is 3-0 for the first time in nearly a decade after beating Colorado to start conference play. The offense is vastly improved in Year 2 under Willie Fritz, and the defense is holding its own. I like where this team is trending.
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Last Week: 7)
Texas Tech is still my pick to win the Big 12, but its schedule remains too weak for me to rank it any higher. Oregon State is not Power 4 quality anymore. But, Utah this weekend changes the entire game in these power rankings.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers (Last Week: 13)
West Virginia is moving up after a great upset of Pitt on Saturday. I still don’t know how good this team can be, but enjoy the week, Mountaineers fans, and let’s see what happens.
9. Kansas Jayhawks (Last Week: 8)
Kansas had the week off after blowing a double-digit lead against Missouri. Now, it’s time for conference play against West Virginia this week in a game that will be very telling for both of these teams.
10. BYU Cougars (Last Week: 9)
BYU had the week off as it sits at 2-0 and travels to East Carolina. The Cougars’ defense looks nasty, while the offense has some questions. But they have three games in a row that look winnable against ECU, Colorado, and West Virginia.
11. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: 6)
I admit I probably had Cincinnati too high on this list last week, given their resume. They beat an FCS team 70-0 on Saturday, but as each week passes and other resumes improve, I can’t leave Cinci that high due to a loss to Nebraska, which hasn’t played anyone since the Bearcats.
12. Arizona State Sun Devils (Last Week: 14)
Arizona State moves back up after beating Texas State, but even that game saw the Sun Devils come out of the gates slowly. However, what really matters starts on Saturday with a road trip to Waco to take on the Bears. Game on.
13. UCF Knights (Last Week: 12)
UCF is 2-0 off a bye week and now welcomes in Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels. This is going to be fun, and a really interesting test for Scott Frost and the Knights.
14. Colorado Buffaloes (Last Week: 7)
Colorado does not look like a team that is developing as a program. The defense, especially up front, has a bunch of problems, as we saw vs. Houston, and the offense just has question marks after replacing its two superstars. This season might get ugly fast for Coach Prime.
15. Kansas State Wildcats (Last Week: 15)
Speaking of ugly, we are now in the ugly part of the Power Rankings, and no one deserves it more than K-State, which is one drive away from being 0-4. Take the bye week to regroup and do your best to try to get this season back on track.
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Week: 16)
Oklahoma State didn’t play, which means the good news is they didn’t lose. Now it’s time for Tulsa on Friday night. And depending on how that game goes, we could be on a full-blown “Gundy Watch” come Saturday morning.
