The latest Power 37 rankings from Andy Katz are out, and the Big 12 has eight teams on the list. Houston leads the charge at No. 2, followed by Arizona at No. 3, Texas Tech at No. 9, BYU at No. 11, Iowa State at No. 22, Kansas at No. 26, Kansas State at No. 31, and Baylor at No. 34.
This is the kind of lineup that is going to make league play absolutely brutal. Houston and Arizona sitting in the top three is a clear reminder that the road to the conference title is going to run through some of the most talented rosters in the country. Houston continues to dominate with its defense and physicality, while Arizona has size, shooting, and enough depth to outlast most teams in a long season.
Texas Tech landing at No. 9 is a nod to how far the Red Raiders have come under Grant McCasland. They’re efficient, disciplined, and can make games ugly for anyone on the schedule. BYU at No. 11 is earning respect quickly. The Cougars play fast, shoot well, and aren’t backing down from anyone on their schedule.
Further down the list, Iowa State at No. 22 has found an identity that leans on toughness and ball pressure. They’re not going to wow anyone with flash, but they’re a headache to play against and can turn games into a defensive slog. Kansas at No. 26 hasn’t lived up to the preseason hype, but nobody is writing them off. The roster still has the talent to make a late push once things click.
Kansas State and Baylor, closing out the Big 12’s presence at No. 31 and No. 34, are signs that depth will matter more than ever in the Big 12. Neither program is trending at its peak yet, but they’re both capable of knocking off teams ahead of them in the standings. That’s what happens in a league where nearly every night feels like a coin toss.
With eight teams in Katz’s Power 37, the Big 12 isn’t just deep. It’s stacked with programs that have already picked up key wins and aren’t far off from finding another gear. The margin for error is small, and the path to the top is crowded. That’s the kind of fight this league brings every season.
