There’s a new team atop the Big 12 according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
Following Week 6 of the college football season, Utah has jumped Texas Tech as the highest-rated Big 12 team in ESPN’s updated FPI rankings.
The Utes moved up two spots nationally to No. 10 with an FPI rating of 18.8 after beating Kansas 41-24 on Saturday. Utah remains undefeated at 5-0 and will travel to Colorado next weekend.
Texas Tech, which held the top spot in the Big 12 entering the weekend, remained No. 11 nationally with an FPI rating of 18.6. The Red Raiders were idle in Week 6 and will return home to face Arizona State next Saturday.
BYU also made a move after improving to 5-0.
The Cougars climbed two spots to No. 14 with an FPI rating of 15.7 following Friday night’s 24-10 victory over Iowa State. BYU now prepares for one of the biggest games in college football next weekend when No. 1 FPI team Notre Dame visits Provo.
But perhaps the biggest Big 12 mover was Houston.
Willie Fritz’s Cougars jumped seven spots from No. 25 to No. 18 after an impressive 35-16 road victory over Kansas State. Houston is now 5-1 and will host Oklahoma State next Saturday night in another important Big 12 matchup.
That gives the Big 12 four teams inside ESPN’s FPI Top 18:
ESPN FPI Ranked Teams After Week 6
No. 10 Utah — 18.8
No. 11 Texas Tech — 18.6
No. 14 BYU — 15.7
No. 18 Houston — 14.8
Interestingly, Oklahoma State did not crack ESPN’s FPI Top 25 despite improving to 4-1 with a 42-28 win over UCF.
With Utah, Texas Tech and BYU all still undefeated and Houston surging, ESPN’s computer models continue to view the top of the Big 12 favorably as the conference championship race approaches the midway point of the season.
