It’s onto Week 14 of the Big 12 football season. Week 13 was highlighted by some of the top Big 12 teams back in action trying to make a conference championship game. 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 13 Big 12 football power rankings for the 2025 season.
1. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Last Week: 1)
The Red Raiders enjoyed a bye week as they get ready for West Virginia this weekend. NO reason to move them off of the No. 1 spot. Win out, and they’re a lock for the College Football Playoff, obviously. Even a loss in the Big 12 Championship Game, and they should be in. We haven’t seen a team dominate like this in the Big 12 in years.
2. BYU Cougars (Last Week: 2)
BYU went on the road and got a great win at Cincinnati to put themselves in the driver’s seat, along with Texas Tech, to make the Big 12 Championship if they can seal the season with a win against UCF next weekend. The Cougars keep getting better as true freshman QB Bear Bachmeier is getting more confident by the week and running back LJ Martin had a season-best in rushing yards with a pair of touchdowns. Add in that defense and this team is College Football Playoff worthy.
3. Arizona (Last Week: 6)
Arizona moves up into our Top 3 after a dominant win over Baylor. They have won four in a row, play nasty defense, and continue to develop their running game. This team is as fun to watch as any in the Big 12, and for a week they get into our Top 3 for the first time this season. And they don’t have a bad loss since Iowa State going on two months ago now. What a turnaround for Brent Brennan.
4. Arizona State (Last Week: 5)
Arizona State moves up one spot after demolishing Colorado on the road. Arizona State owned the fourth quarter as the Sun Devils have won three in a row behind Jeff Sims at quarterback. The fact that this team is still in contention for a Big 12 Title appearance without Sam Leavitt is a testament to Kenny Dillingham and this coaching staff.
5. Utah Utes (Last Week: 3)
Utah moves down two spots because they played their worst game of the season vs. K-State, giving up a program-record 293 rushing yards to Joe Jackson and nearly 500 for the game. Yes, they won, but they got a break or two along the way and did not look like a Playoff-caliber team, so I’m moving them down a couple of spots this week.
6. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: No. 4)
Cincinnati put up a good fight vs. BYU and had it not been for multiple missed field goals, things may have been different against the Cougars on Saturday. The Bearcats lost, and are out of the Big 12 race, but it’s been a much-needed season for Scott Satterfield, who can say he had the team in contention for a Big 12 title appearance in Week 13, which any Cincinnati fan should have signed up for before the season.
7. Iowa State Cyclones (Last Week: No. 8)
Iowa State has now won two in a row after their four-game losing streak. Iowa State rolled KU on Saturday on Senior Day in what was Rocco Becht’s best game in two months. Iowa State’s season has not gone as planned, but to think a down year could end up being eight wins is a testament to what Matt Campbell has built in Ames.
8. Kansas State Wildcats (Last Week: 9)
I’m moving K-State up just because they went to Salt Lake City and played the best game of any team in SLC this side of Texas Tech. And then they collapsed late. Yes, it was a loss, but when you rush for 500 yards at Utah, you get some respect in my book.
9. TCU Horned Frogs (Last Week: 10)
TCU moves up after beating Houston on Saturday. It was an inconsistent game, as TCU scored 14 points in impressive fashion in the first quarter, and then the offense went ice cold as they had to hang on for a 17-14 victory. But still, it was a big win for Sonny Dykes after a couple of rough games vs. Iowa State and BYU.
10. Houston Cougars (Last Week: 5)
Houston may be dropped more than you think they should, but they’ve played bad football for a month now. Losses to West Virginia and TCU, and then needing a comeback win vs. UCF to hang on for a victory. It has not been an impressive November for Houston, who entered the month with a great chance to make the Big 12 Championship Game. That is now a distant memory.
11. Baylor Bears (Last Week: No. 11)
Dave Aranda was announced to be returning in 2026, and he rewarded the loyalty of his administration by getting blasted at Arizona. Granted, BU had a halftime lead, but their second half performance, especially on offense, was abysmal. They had negative yards in the third quarter. This team, a favorite to win the Big 12 in the preseason, now needs to beat Houston to make a bowl game.
12. Kansas Jayhawks (Last Week: 12)
Kansas stays at No. 12 after coming off the bye week and getting crushed at Iowa State. Kansas’ defense struggled mightily while the offense made too many mistakes. Now, KU has to beat Utah to avoid missing a bowl game for a second-straight season.
13. West Virginia Mountaineers (Last Week: 13)
The West Virginia Mountaineers keep making strides and enjoyed a bye week. IF they give Texas Tech a game on Saturday, it would be an incredible way to end Year 1 under RichRod 2.0. But I won’t hold my breath.
14. UCF Knights (Last Week: 14)
UCF nearly allowed Oklahoma State to come to town and get a win. It would have been a wildly disheartening loss for the Knights. But they rallied to avoid disaster and stay at No. 14 this week in the Power Rankings.
15. Colorado Buffaloes (Last Week: 15)
Colorado was back in action hosting Arizona State. And while they hung in for three quarters, the Sun Devils rolled them in the final 15 minutes as CU lost by 25. JuJu Lewis looked more comfortable than I expected considering he was behind a rough offensive line going up against a solid defensive line. But that was one of the few bright spots.
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Week: 16)
Oklahoma State played one of their better games of the season, but still lost on the road to UCF, blowing a 14-0 first half lead and losing 17-14. I thought the Pokes were on the verge of winning their first Big 12 game in two years, but alas, it was not meant to be.
