It’s onto Week 10 of the Big 12 football season. There were upsets in Week 9 of the Big 12 schedule, blowouts and more. So with that, let’s dive into this week’s Big 12 football power rankings. 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 10 Big 12 football power rankings for the 2025 season.
1. BYU Cougars (Last Week: 1)
The BYU Cougars were down 14 points and then lost their star running back LJ Martin in Ames. But Bear Bachmeier said, “I’ve got this.” This was the best win for BYU this season. They’re 8-0, more balanced in some ways than they were in 2024, and should be getting more national attention than they currently are getting.
2. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: No. 2)
The Cincinnati Bearcats remain at No. 2 after blasting the Baylor Bears at home in one of the better defensive performances the team has had this season. They forced Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson into his worst game of the season, while rushing for over 250 yards. This team keeps getting better.
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Last Week: 4)
The Red Raiders got back on track after their loss to Arizona State and crushed Oklahoma State while pitching a shut out in the process. Tech did lose back up QB Will Hammond for the season, but the good news is Behren Morton is expected back vs. K-State this weekend. But now, he needs to stay healthy.
4. Houston Cougars (Last Week: 7)
The Cougars keep moving up after going on the road and getting their best win of the season against Arizona State, who was fresh off its upset of Texas Tech. Houston’s defense was absolutely electric against Sam Leavitt, while Connor Weigman is getting more confident by the week. It’s getting exciting in Houston!
5. Utah Utes (Last Week: 5)
The Utah Utes stay at No. 5 after blasting Colorado on Saturday night. The Utes debuted true freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin, who certainly looked the part for one night. What is it about true freshman quarterbacks in the state of Utah named after an animal? Bear, Byrd… who’s next? Utah State needs a QB named Armadillo, or something.
6. Arizona State (Last Week: 3)
Arizona State followed up its best game of the season vs. Texas Tech with a dud of a performance against Houston. While the team didn’t have star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson for the game, that’s not the sole reason for their struggles. The defense was suspect after a great game vs. Texas Tech, and Sam Leavitt was on the run most of the night.
7. Kansas State Wildcats (Last Week: 8)
Kansas State smoked Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown and moves up one slot as they start to look like the team that we thought they could be in the preseason. And they’re doing it all without Dylan Edwards, who feels like a distant memory at this point. There is still a path to Arlington for K-State, but a win this weekend is needed. It also makes their Baylor loss that much more painful.
8. TCU Horned Frogs (Last Week: 6)
TCU beat West Virginia, but boy it was not pretty. For a second-straight game, TCU just couldn’t finish a game cleanly. They let Baylor back into their game last week, and at the end of the game on Saturday, West Virginia was suddenly putting a scare into the Horned Frogs. The team is talented, but they need to get better at closing, especially against lesser competition.
9. Iowa State Cyclones (Last Week: No. 10)
The Iowa State Cyclones moved up one slot after their loss, but mostly because of what happened to some of the teams below them. Iowa State has now lost three in a row, and I know some Colorado fans will be upset since the Cyclones recently loss to the Buffaloes, but I’ll save that explanation for later in the column. They put up a fight vs. BYU, and if not for a couple of bounces, would’ve been in a position to win the game.
10. Arizona Wildcats (Last Week: No. 12)
Arizona didn’t play, but moves up two spots because of the two teams below them. The Wildcats travel to play Colorado this Saturday, in what will be a telling game for both teams.
11. Baylor Bears (Last Week: No. 11)
Baylor stays at No. 11. It wasn’t a pretty game for Baylor taking on Cincinnati, but I don’t have a reason to move them any lower at this point. But the disappointing football from the Bears has already lead to changes on the coaching staff this week.
12. Colorado Buffaloes (Last Week: 9)
I don’t care that Colorado beat Iowa State two weeks ago. Look at these stats below. -18 total yards on the first half when coming off a bye week, while giving up 398 yards?! Unthinkable. This was a butt whooping, and Colorado simply didn’t show up in this one.
13. Kansas Jayhawks (Last Week: 13)
Kansas got off to a quick 7-0 start in the Sunflower Showdown, and then it was all downhill from there in a 41-17 loss to the Wildcats, losing now 17 a row in the series. The KU Faithful are not happy with how the last season and a half has played out in Lawrence, and Saturday just opened up more wounds.
14. UCF Knights (Last Week: 14)
UCF enjoyed a bye week and sits comfortably in this No. 14 slot. The Knights travel to Baylor in a game that looks winnable.
15. West Virginia Mountaineers (Last Week: 15)
WVU gave TCU a bit of a scare late in the game, but ended up with a home loss. They fought hard, but given they are a week removed from getting smoked by UCF, I couldn’t move them up, despite the team playing hard.
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Week: 16)
Oklahoma State played a football game, and lost, again. In blowout fashion, again. And this time, they were shut out.
