Week 1 of the 2026 college football season is officially in the books, which means it’s time for our first full edition of the Big 12 football power rankings.
The opening weekend gave us our first real look at every team across the conference, with some Big 12 teams making strong early statements, others surviving closer-than-expected games, and a few already raising some serious questions about what lies ahead.
As always, these rankings are based on what each team has accomplished on the field so far this season. They are not a projection of where I believe teams will finish, nor are they necessarily a ranking of which teams I think are the most talented. Results, opponent quality, and how a team has actually performed matter most.
With that in mind, here are the Big 12 football power rankings after Week 1 of the 2026 college football season, from No. 1 to No. 16.
No. 1: Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado went on the road and got a Power 4 win over a very solid opponent. They did it with a strong defense, solid special teams (other than giving up the kickoff return for a score), plus clutch offensive play down the stretch when it mattered. This is the best win in the Big 12, hands down, so based on how I do my rankings (what you’ve actually done), CU is No. 1.
No. 2: Cincinnati Bearcats
Hey, it’s a Power 4 win. Who else can say that in the Big 12 right now? That’s what I thought. And Cincinnati didn’t just beat Boston College; they dominated and easily covered the spread in this game. They owned the game in the trenches as well. This team might be set up to exceed expectations in 2026, if that line play holds up.
No. 3: Baylor Bears
Yes, they lost to Auburn, but going (basically) on the road to Atlanta and having the stones to go for two after scoring a touchdown to try and win the game… what’s not to like? The defense is vastly improved under Joe Klanderman, and if DJ Lagway can be more consistent, something surprising may be cooking in Waco.
No. 4: UCF Knights
Unlike some of the other FCS opponents faced by Big 12 teams, Bethune-Cookman was at least average last season. You can’t say that about a lot of the teams that Big 12 teams played in Week 1. And UCF was absolutely dominant in this game. They could’ve pushed 100 points if they wanted to.
No. 5: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Maybe some of you will be surprised by this, since Texas Tech didn’t exactly blow out (by their standards) ACU. But the Wildcats are not a pushover FCS team. They went 9-5 overall last season and 7-1 in their league. A win is a win, and this team is still the most talented, top to bottom, in the league, until proven otherwise.
No. 6: West Virginia Mountaineers
If WVU played the second half like they played the first half, they probably would have been Top 3 this week. But, the final 30 minutes were not pretty. In fact, Rich Rodriguez called it “embarrassing”. Coastal Carolina outscored them 24-7. And while they won the game, it didn’t need to come down to an onside kick. They’re getting docked here for the inconsistency of this game.
No. 7: Houston Cougars
Houston is another team that was hoping for a more convincing win, but had to sweat out a one-score game in the fourth quarter to pull away for the 33-20 victory. You’ll take it, and the competition was decent enough, however, JaMarcus Shephard has a lot of building up to do with that program.
No. 8: Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State played a bad Nicholls team, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t really impressed with Colin Klein’s debut in all three phases of the game. If they can keep that up, my 4-8 prediction for this team will look foolish, which I know many of you are hoping will come true. And I don’t blame you. I hope I’m wrong, too.
No. 9: Arizona Wildcats
Arizona handled Northern Arizona, who actually was above .500 last season at the FCS level, something many Big 12 opponents couldn’t say in 2025. So while it wasn’t the dominant win for some Big 12 teams, the respectability of the opponent, relatively speaking, is worth something here.
No. 10: Arizona State Sun Devils
Morgan State is not a good program, but Arizona State beat ’em so bad they went to a running clock in the fourth quarter. They dropped 50 by halftime and could’ve pushed a hundred. Now, let’s go test this team at Kyle Field. I can’t wait. And there’s no non-conference game in the Big 12 I’d rather win this week.
No. 11: Kansas Jayhawks
Hey, KU looked respectable. And Isaiah Marshall looks to be a perfect fit for Andy K’s offense. If we get back to that era of KU football, from just a couple of seasons ago, with a defense that has more push up front, KU might have something brewing.
No. 12: Utah Utes
They dominated a bad Idaho program that went 4-8 last season. You have to love the way the team played, how Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin looked, and the rest of the offense and defense. But take it with a grain of salt, given the opponent.
No. 13: BYU Cougars
Yes, they absolutely dominated Utah Tech… who went 2-10 last season. This was likely the worst FCS team any Big 12 team played this weekend. That’s why they’re No. 13 on my list this week. That’s it. I have to differentiate these next few teams somehow, so I’m doing it based on simply what they did and who they played. It’s Week 1, don’t overcomplicate this or look for a reason to be offended. The Power Rankings will shift dramatically after Week 2.
No. 14: Iowa State Cyclones
Yes, they won by 28. But combine the competition of Southeast Missouri State with some of the question marks on offense and a lack of big and explosive plays against a weak opponent, and I have the same concerns I had before the season.
No. 15: TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs went to Dublin and didn’t look impressive against what I believe is a fairly mediocre North Carolina team. They’ve had a week off and now have two cupcakes until league play begins. Hopefully Sonny Dykes has figured some things out.
No. 16: Oklahoma State Cowboys
Sorry, Pokes, but that was UGLY against Tulsa on Saturday. And while I was high on the Cowboys going into the season, they deserve this No. 16 spot after Week 1.
