For all the talk about the SEC and Big Ten separating themselves from the rest of college football, there’s at least one number the Big 12 can feel pretty good about after Week 3 of the season.
The Big 12 currently owns a 5-7 record in non-conference games against Power Four opponents, which gives the league a better winning percentage in those games than the Big Ten, which sits at just 4-9. The Big 12’s record is also ahead of the ACC at 6-9.
No, 5-7 isn’t anything to throw a parade over. But considering how much of the offseason conversation revolves around the SEC and Big Ten becoming college football’s “Power Two,” it’s certainly worth noting that the Big Ten hasn’t backed up that perception particularly well in its biggest non-conference games so far.
Here are the records against Power Four opponents through Week 3:
- SEC: 10-2 (.833)
- Big 12: 5-7 (.417)
- ACC: 6-9 (.400)
- Big Ten: 4-9 (.308)
- American: 1-10 (.091)
- MAC: 1-15 (.063)
- Conference USA: 0-6
- Mountain West: 0-7
- Pac-12: 0-11
- Sun Belt: 0-12
The SEC is clearly in a league of its own so far in the 2026 season. At 10-2 against Power Four competition, there really isn’t much of an argument to be made against what that conference has accomplished through the first three weeks.
But behind the SEC? Things get much more interesting.
The Big 12 was 4-6 in these games following Week 2 before West Virginia’s 38-27 victory over No. 25 Virginia helped the league improve its record this weekend. Meanwhile, Colorado’s 41-7 loss to Northwestern prevented the conference from having an even better Week 3 showing.
The Big 12 has had its share of disappointing results already, including Kansas losing to Missouri and Arizona State falling to Texas A&M. But it has also picked up meaningful wins, including Utah over Arkansas, Oklahoma State over Oregon and West Virginia over Virginia.
And while conference perception isn’t going to be decided by a dozen September games, these results do matter.
The Big Ten may have more money, bigger television contracts and significantly more national hype, but through three weeks, the Big 12 has actually performed better against Power Four non-conference competition.
That’s at least one number Big 12 fans should keep in their back pocket the next time the “Power Two” conversation comes up.
