BYU third-year guard Robert Wright III revealed at Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Days that there isn’t another coach in the country he’d want to play for than Kevin Young. The AP recently ranked BYU at No. 25 in its preseason poll.

Speaking with BYUtv Sports Nation, Wright, who began his career at Baylor before transferring to BYU last year, was asked about what brought him back to Provo, Utah, with three years of eligibility remaining:

“Ultimately, just the environment,” Wright said. “I didn’t really be at another place than (Young); he was the ultimate deciding factor. I didn’t wanna play for another coach… He’s coached guys that I kind of model my game after (and) looked up to, guys like Chris Paul. Just so much experience and just teaching me so much, it’s just great.”

Wright, name-dropping Chris Paul and the experience Young has coaching similar NBA-caliber talent, clearly built a connection with Young and his staff in his first season as a Cougar.

Teamed up with star AJ Dybantsa, drafted by the Washington Wizards in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, Wright contributed 18.1 points, 4.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds during his sophomore campaign; Wright briefly entered the portal and visited with Kentucky last spring.

Wright, a projected second-round pick in the same draft as Dybantsa, ultimately announced in June that he’d be returning to BYU to play another season under Young. Instead of losing Wright to Kentucky, BYU ultimately won the offseason battle, netting former commit Collin Chandler, a former four-star Utah high school standout, leaving Mark Pope for the Cougars.

The projected BYU starting five includes two veterans in Wright and Chandler; Bruce Branch III is a long-awaited five-star recruit at small forward; Former Utah and Clemson forward Jake Wahlin also returns to his hometown of Provo; 6-foot-10 center Jaxon Kohler, transferring home from Michigan State, adds another Utah native to the lineup.

No. 25 BYU tips off the season at home against Ohio State on Nov. 2.

After a wild Week 7 in the Big 12, Week 8 brings another loaded slate for the Big 12, featuring several critical conference matchups. From Houston heading to Salt Lake City to face Utah to UCF hosting BYU, we’re about to learn a lot more about several teams across the league. Some programs are looking to establish themselves as legitimate Big 12 contenders, while others are already fighting to avoid falling behind in the conference race.

Can BYU Avoid a Letdown?

It seems like anytime a team wins a big game; they tend to have a bit of a down performance the following weekend. And this week, I am looking directly at BYU as they are coming off a monster win over Notre Dame and head east to Orlando to take on UCF. Despite their 3-3 record and an injury list that seems like it’s seven pages long, the Knights have shown plenty of fight this season. The Bounce House is typically a tough place for opposing teams and with the Cougars coming in as the number two team in the country, I expect that place to be rocking. The question is, can BYU avoid the hangover and potential disaster on Saturday afternoon?

More: BYU vs. UCF Prediction and Preview

Will Texas Tech Start Fast?

Nobody was more shocked than me last week when it came to Texas Tech. For weeks, I have been saying that all of their slow starts were going to cost them a game this season if they continued to wait until the second half to wake up. Against Arizona State last weekend, we saw just how good the Red Raiders can be when they play for four full quarters. However, that was at home but now they head to Cincinnati to take on a struggling Bearcats squad. I just wonder which Texas Tech team will show up in the first half. The one we saw last weekend or the one in the prior games?

More: Texas Tech vs. Cincinnati Prediction and Preview

Is Utah the Real Deal?

As much praise as I have given the Utes this year, it is fair to wonder just how good Utah really is. While I do think they are the most complete team in the Big 12, their schedule up to this point hasn’t exactly been all that tough. In fact, they haven’t played a single team that has a record above .500 as Iowa State is the only team that is 3-3 with the others being well below average. But that all changes this weekend as a top 15 Houston team comes to town. Connor Weigman is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference, and their defense is probably the best they will see up to this point. This game will determine if Utah is a contender or a pretender.

Can TCU’s Defense Hold Up?

While TCU has one of the worst offenses in the Big 12, their defense is actually one of the best in the Big 12. As crazy as it may sound, their defense is a top three defense statically. This weekend, they will face the best offense they have seen this season with West Virginia. Michael Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook are two of the best players in the conference, and I am very interested to see if the Horned Frogs are going to be able to slow them down. It truly will be a clash of styles this weekend in Fort Worth.

Will this Be it For Dave Aranda?

Just a couple of weeks ago I talked about Baylor potentially being undefeated in Big 12 play when the month of November arrives. Most of that was due to the play of quarterback DJ Lagway and how light their schedule was. But after their ugly 17-6 loss to TCU, I am starting to question if they can even make it out of this month without multiple losses. November was always going to be tough with BYU, Texas Tech, and Houston to end the year. But when you lose to TCU, the losses could start adding up quickly for Dave Aranda, who is on the hot seat. This weekend against Kansas feels like a must win for Baylor or else.

UCF Football was off last week, but one look at the team’s injury report for BYU on Saturday could fool you.

The Knights listed 10 players, including starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III and freshman running back Taevion Swing (162 yards), as questionable or worse on Thursday. Another six players – 4 defense, 1 offense, 1 special teams – are probable for the week’s top-10 home test vs. No. 2 BYU, which is hot off its nationally-regarded win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame in Provo.

BYU, led by sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier (1,257 passing yards), is just a 6.5-point favorite heading into Orlando, as Knights backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins is expected to make his fifth consecutive start for UCF on Saturday. It’s a messy injury report this week, with six different linemen – including OL combo Owen Spell and Tyler Gibson – in preparation for a BYU defense that held the Irish to 115 rushing yards and just 8-of-10 on third down last weekend.

Keyone Jenkins Tries to Lead UCF vs. BYU

It’ll be up to Jenkins, who left the game for UCF in the third quarter of the Houston loss, to test BYU through the air on Saturday with Barnett unavailable, and it’ll come as the senior backup grows comfortable as his team’s signal caller. The Scott Frost staff displays trust in Jenkins, but the payout hasn’t come in the win column following two Big 12 losses at Oklahoma State and Houston; Both losses saw Jenkins combine for 518 passing yards, 5 touchdowns and two interceptions on 53 attempts.

Jenkins will have his top two targets – wideout Josh Derry (304 yards) and tight end Dylan Wade – this week despite mounting injuries working against his offense. Cut down on the turnovers, and perhaps UCF can put itself into the fourth quarter of its BYU game this week, but a full 60 minutes isn’t something the Knights have provided themselves with in recent weeks, and the Cougars are extra vigilant now in their bid for the College Football Playoff amongst the national field.

BYU is pushing onward without its starting running back, LJ Martin, previously on pace to become the Big 12 leading rusher this season before an ankle injury sustained vs. TCU removed the star rusher from the lineup for an estimated 4-to-6 weeks; Preston Rex took 10 carries for 66 yards last week vs. Notre Dame.

To stay within such a low spread, UCF needs a big day out of Jenkins and the offense to keep pace with a BYU squad intent on keeping its perfect 3-0 Big 12 record intact. It’s hard to bet against the Cougars, but this home return for UCF after a week off certainly factors into the math as Frost and company look for a big one this weekend when the league’s frontrunners come to town.

The Big 12 Conference just passed the halfway point of the season, and the league race is really taking shape. Three teams remain undefeated both in Big 12 play and overall and are in the Associated Press Top 10 this week. Two other teams absorbed their first Big 12 loss of the season but are still in the race. The rest are in full-on chase mode.

So, who’s stock went up and who’s stock went down? Let’s look at the big movers across the league.

Stock Up

BYU Cougars

The BYU Cougars beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at home on Saturday, 28-24. Yes, the ending was controversial (someone still looking for that extra second?). But, remember this — the Cougars went into that game without their best running back, LJ Martin, due to injury. It was BYU’s second game without him. The emergence of Preston Rex at running back in this game might have been the most important development. Less reliance on quarterback Bear Bachmeier in the run game is a good thing.

BYU showed its toughness and resilience in this game. It also gathered a great “chip” when it comes to proving their worthiness for the College Football Playoff, whether they win the league or not.

Houston Cougars

Hey, in case you’re wondering, Conner Weigman can throw the football, too. As much as head coach Willie Fritz wants to run the ball, he trusted his fifth-year quarterback to sling it against Oklahoma State, and he threw for 343 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-32 win.

The game was a coming out party of sorts for him. I don’t think anyone outside of the Big 12 knew he had that kind of arm. It will come in handy this week against Utah. College Gameday will be in town. Fritz gets a chance to show off his program and it’s a well-deserved one. They have momentum and a chance to shake up the Big 12 race.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

So … guess Texas Tech figured out the offense during the bye week. The Red Raiders went off for 53 points against Arizona State, scoring 43 of those points in the first half. Quarterback Will Hammond looked more comfortable. The offense looked more efficient. Tech did all of that without running back Cameron Dickey, who is out with a high ankle sprain.

The defense has been great all season. At times it’s been elite. If this is the Red Raiders’ offense moving forward, well good luck to the rest of y’all. It’s the sort of offensive explosion Tech has been waiting for against a power conference team.

Stock Down

Oklahoma State Cowboys

I’m not down on Oklahoma State as a whole. But the loss to Houston exposed some things, especially defensively. The secondary had its worst game of the season. Weigman torched them in part because of how porous that unit was. The defensive gave up more than 500 yards. Head coach Eric Morris will do some soul searching this week. The Houston game showed this defense has little margin for error.

That said, the offensive scored 32 points and scored points on four of their final five possessions of the game. Led quarterback Drew Mestemaker, that side of the ball is going to keep the Cowboys in every game they play the remainder of the season.

Baylor Bears

So … the Bears barely lose to Auburn to start the season, win four straight games, get a bye week and then get the Revivalry at home against TCU and … you do that? Six points? SIX POINTS? That’s six points more than I had and I didn’t even play. I felt like Baylor lost twice.

There was a clear path for the Bears to get to 6-0 before having to end the season with BYU, Texas Tech and Houston. Maybe Baylor still would have been 6-3 anyway. But head coach Dave Aranda could have had Baylor undefeated in league play in November and his team let it slip.

So are we back on hot seat watch or no?

Arizona State Sun Devils

That was a rough watch against Texas Tech. Arizona State made a move at quarterback, replacing Cutter Boley with Mikey Keene in the second half. That tells you everything about where the Sun Devils are at right now. The offense is sputtering. The defense is yielding points. They’ve beaten on power conference team — Kansas, which was in London.

I was wrong about this team. I thought Arizona State had a chance to contend in this league. That no longer looks to be the case.

No. 2 BYU heads to Orlando for a Week 8 Big 12 matchup against UCF after one of the biggest wins in program history. The undefeated Cougars are coming off a thrilling 28-24 victory over Notre Dame in Provo, but now must quickly turn the page for a road conference game against the Knights. Can BYU avoid the emotional letdown and keep its perfect season rolling, or can UCF pull off one of the biggest upsets of the Big 12 season? BYU and UCF kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT on FOX. Here’s our prediction, pick and preview.

BYU vs. UCF Odds

• Spread: BYU -6.5
• Over/Under: 43.5
• Moneyline: BYU -245/UCF +198

Odds as of Tuesday afternoon. Odds are subject to change.

The Biggest Question: Does BYU Have a Hangover Game?

The BYU Cougars are riding high after one of the biggest wins in program history, beating Notre Dame in Provo last week. Now, the question is: Can they avoid the hangover game on the road in humid Orlando against a rested UCF team coming off a bye week? In August, I gave you game-by-game predictions for the entire Big 12 schedule, and I predicted BYU would go 10-2, with a win over Notre Dame, and a loss to UCF. While I think that prediction is less likely today given UCF’s issues and injuries this year, it’s still a dangerous spot for the Cougars going into this game on Saturday.

BYU vs. UCF Prediction and Pick

Prediction: BYU 24, UCF 20

The BYU Cougars are 6-0 against the spread? Is this the weekend that come to an end? UCF has been an underrated 4-2 against the number so far this season, and they’re well rested, Keyone Jenkins gets a fifth-straight start in place of the injured Alonza Barnett and two more weeks getting reps with the 1’s, while Alex Grinch’s defense has been underrated thus far. They have a win over TCU, and had leads against Oklahoma State and Houston, before blowing these games in the second half. Do they finally get over the hump this week against the Cougars?

I believe UCF can keep this game closer than people expect, and I’ll mostly call this pick a “situational play” for all the reasons I’ve mentioned so far in this column. And if you’re looking for another interesting tidbit, UCF is Top 25 in the country in turnover margin this season. BYU is currently ranked No. 80. At home, rested off a bye, playing a team coming off a historic win, could a mistake or two turn this game in favor of UCF? Or at least a cover? It’s very possible.

One interesting betting-market trend is the lack of movement toward BYU. Despite the Cougars entering as the higher-profile team, sportsbooks have generally held the spread between six and 6.5 points and have shown little interest in moving the number through the key touchdown range. That could indicate respect for UCF, particularly at home, where the Knights are capable of turning this into a competitive four-quarter game.

BYU wins. UCF covers.

ESPN College GameDay‘s trip to Provo wasn’t just a memorable weekend for BYU. It was also a historic one for the network.

College GameDay averaged 3 million viewers for Saturday’s show from BYU ahead of the Cougars’ showdown against Notre Dame, making it the most-watched episode of the 2026 season and the third-most-watched regular-season edition in the show’s history, according to ESPN PR.

The audience was also up 7% compared to the 2025 season average through the first seven weeks.

And viewers stuck around as kickoff approached. The final hour of the show averaged 3.9 million viewers, which ESPN said was up 67% compared to the competition.

The massive television audience capped off a huge weekend in Provo, where College GameDay made its first trip to BYU since 2009. The Cougars then delivered on the field, beating No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 in one of the biggest victories in program history.

BYU has since climbed to No. 2 in the AP Top 25, its highest ranking since its national championship season in 1984.

The numbers also provide another data point for the Big 12 as the conference continues trying to increase its national profile and television value. And ESPN isn’t leaving Big 12 country just yet.

After the massive audience in Provo, College GameDay is headed about 45 miles north to Salt Lake City for Week 8, where No. 10 Utah will host No. 14 Houston in another game with major Big 12 Championship implications.

What a weekend it was for the Big 12. Five of the nation’s top 10 teams lost in Week 7, but the Big 12’s top contenders all survived and, in some cases, thrived. The result? Three Big 12 teams now sit inside the top 10 heading into Week 8, giving the conference plenty of momentum as the second half of the season begins.

Let’s dive into some Week 7 overreactions and look ahead to what’s next in the Big 12.

The Big 12 Is the Best Conference in College Football Right Now

The results are in, and the Big 12 has a legitimate argument as the nation’s top conference.

BYU’s win over Notre Dame vaulted the Cougars to No. 2 in the rankings. Texas Tech dominated Arizona State and climbed to No. 8. Utah survived a late-night battle with Colorado and landed at No. 10. Meanwhile, Houston jumped to No. 14 after knocking off a top-20 Oklahoma State team.

The ACC has only one team in the top 10 and top 15 with Miami sitting at No. 1. The SEC has just two top-10 teams. The Big Ten and Big 12 each have three teams in the top 10, but with BYU checking in at No. 2, the Big 12 gets the nod.

Will that still be true next week? Maybe not. But after seven weeks, no conference can match the combination of depth and top-end rankings the Big 12 currently possesses.

Kansas Might Be the Worst Team in the Big 12

Kansas entered the Sunflower Showdown desperately needing a breakthrough.

Instead, the Jayhawks suffered another frustrating collapse.

Kansas State erased a halftime deficit by scoring the final 17 points of the game to secure a 35-24 victory, extending its winning streak in the rivalry to 18 straight games. Once again, Kansas struggled to finish, something that has become an unfortunate trend.

There are still opportunities ahead for Lance Leipold’s team, but right now it’s fair to wonder whether Kansas has fallen to the bottom of the conference standings.

West Virginia Is the Most Entertaining Team in the Big 12

No team in the conference is more fun to watch than West Virginia.

The Mountaineers don’t play much defense, but they make up for it with explosive offense and high-scoring games. Every West Virginia game has gone over the posted total this season, and each contest has featured at least 55 combined points.

Even more impressively, the Mountaineers’ last three games have all produced more than 80 total points.

West Virginia may not win the conference, but if you’re looking for drama and fireworks, they’re must-watch television every Saturday.

With the overreactions out of the way, let’s look ahead to Week 8.

BYU Is on Letdown Alert

BYU just secured one of the biggest wins in program history by knocking off Notre Dame.

Now comes the difficult part.

The Cougars travel to Orlando to face UCF, a team coming off a bye week and eager to play spoiler. BYU is a touchdown favorite and the more talented team, but emotional victories often lead to dangerous situations the following week.

Adding to the challenge is the fact that the Holy War against Utah is looming in the coming weeks, a game that could have major Big 12 Championship implications.

BYU cannot afford to overlook the Knights, even if UCF doesn’t have Alonza Barnett at quarterback. If the Cougars want to remain in the College Football Playoff conversation, this is a game they simply have to handle.

Arizona Has a Chance to Stay in the Race

The schedule gets much tougher for Arizona down the stretch.

The Wildcats still have road games against Texas Tech and a home showdown with Utah remaining. Before that, though, they host Iowa State in a crucial conference matchup.

Both teams are coming off a bye week, meaning preparation shouldn’t be an issue. Arizona enters as a double-digit favorite and has an opportunity to remind everyone that it remains a legitimate player in the Big 12 race.

Take care of business at home, and the Wildcats will keep themselves firmly in the conversation.

Game of the Week: No. 14 Houston at No. 10 Utah

This one has all the ingredients of a Big 12 classic.

Houston enters fresh off a three-point victory over Oklahoma State, while Utah is trying to build on a narrow 27-24 win over Colorado.

The stakes are enormous.

A Houston loss would leave the Cougars with defeats against both Texas Tech and Utah, making the path to Arlington significantly more difficult due to tiebreaker implications. A win, however, would place Houston directly in the thick of the conference title race with a favorable remaining schedule.

Utah faces similar pressure. Defend home field, and the Utes strengthen their position near the top of the standings. Lose, and suddenly the margin for error disappears.

This game could go a long way toward shaping the Big 12 Championship picture.

Final Thoughts

Week 8 offers another loaded slate of Big 12 action.

From Texas Tech’s road trip to Cincinnati in the early window to Houston and Utah battling under the lights in Salt Lake City, there will be no shortage of intrigue across the conference.

If Week 7 taught us anything, it’s that the Big 12 race is far from settled. And that’s exactly what makes it so much fun.

The Big 12 once again proved its basketball depth with the release of the 2026-27 AP Preseason Top 25 Poll, placing six teams in the rankings and another just outside the poll.

Defending Big 12 champion Arizona leads the way at No. 5 nationally after winning both the conference regular-season and tournament championships last season. Tommy Lloyd’s program has quickly become one of the nation’s most consistent powers, and voters clearly expect the Wildcats to remain squarely in the national title conversation.

Houston checks in at No. 10, continuing Kelvin Sampson’s remarkable run of success. The Cougars have become one of the sport’s most reliable programs, and with JoJo Tugler returning to anchor another elite defensive unit, Houston is expected to once again challenge for a Big 12 crown.

Perhaps the biggest surprise from a conference perspective is Kansas landing at No. 17. While Bill Self welcomes No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes to Lawrence, the ranking reflects lingering questions following an inconsistent stretch by the Jayhawks’ standards. Still, history suggests writing off Kansas in October is usually a mistake.

Just behind the Jayhawks are Iowa State at No. 18 and Texas Tech at No. 19. The Cyclones are expected to benefit from the return of veteran guard Tamin Lipsey, while Grant McCasland‘s Red Raiders continue to build momentum after assembling another talented roster through the transfer portal.

BYU rounded out the conference’s ranked teams at No. 25, giving Kevin Young another preseason Top 25 squad as expectations continue to rise in Provo. Meanwhile, TCU narrowly missed the rankings, receiving votes and positioning itself as another potential NCAA Tournament contender.

The poll highlights a changing but still formidable Big 12 hierarchy. Arizona enters the season as the league’s highest-ranked team, but with six ranked programs and multiple others capable of making a run, the conference race again appears set to be the deepest and most competitive in college basketball.

2026-27 College Basketball Preseason Top 25

1. Florida

2. Duke

3. Illinois

4. UConn

5. Arizona

6. Michigan State

7. Texas

8. Tennessee

9. Virginia

10. Houston

11. Louisville

12. Arkansas

13. St. John’s

14. Miami

15. Gonzaga

16. Michigan

17. Kansas

18. Iowa State

19. Texas Tech

20. Alabama

21. USC

22. UCLA

23. Kentucky

24. Vanderbilt

25. BYU

Week 7 of the 2026 Big 12 football season was a historic week for the Big 12. BYU shocked Notre Dame, Houston and Oklahoma State played down to the wire, there was a walk-off win for West Virginia vs. Cincinnati, and the Big 12 now has three teams ranked inside the Top 10 of the AP Poll.

As we move deeper into October, the gap between the top and bottom of the Big 12 is becoming clearer. But figuring out the order near the top? That’s getting more difficult by the week.

So, after another wild Saturday across the conference, here’s where all 16 teams stand in our Big 12 Football Power Rankings after Week 7.

1. BYU Cougars (Last Week: No. 1)

BYU, you have the best win in college football after beating Notre Dame on Saturday night. And as a result, you remain No. 1 in our Power Rankings, and it’s not all that close. Bear Bachmeier should be a household name for college football fans, BYU deserves to be the favorite to win the Big 12, and the Big 12 should be a serious contender for two teams to make the College Football Playoff this year.

2. Houston Cougars (Last Week: No. 5)

This will be controversial, but I am giving Houston the nod over Texas Tech for No. 2 this week. The quality of win vs. Oklahoma State last week, compared to Tech boat racing a really bad Arizona State team is why I am giving the edge to UH. Houston’s Strength of Schedule is No. 44, while Texas Tech is No. 82. The two teams have played head-to-head, with Texas Tech winning by two, but at this point, that game was a month ago, and since then, Houston has been more consistent and beaten much better competition.

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Last Week: 4)

Texas Tech finally looked like the team we thought they could be this season with a dominant victory over Arizona State. But, was this game more about a get-right game for Tech or is Arizona State just that bad. They’ve lost their two Big 12 games by a total score of 108-44. For now, I’m putting Tech in the No. 3 slot.

4. Utah Utes (Last Week: No. 2)

The Utes continue to play with fire. Yes, they’re 6-0, but the resume is underwhelming, and Saturday night vs. Colorado did not help the cause. They dominated the first half, Colorado has more penalty yards than total yards, but somehow the Buffaloes led the game in the third quarter. Utah won, but something just feels a bit off the last couple of weeks.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Week: No. 3)

The Oklahoma State Cowboys went to Houston and could not get the stops when they needed them, and also found themselves digging another first-half hole, and had to make a second-half comeback, which has become a too-frequent issue for the Pokes. They can’t keep needing second-half comebacks, especially as the competition improves. It bit them on Saturday.

No. 6: Arizona Wildcats (Last Week: No. 6)

Arizona continues to be the team that is quietly not getting enough attention. But they are ranked in the Top 25 this week following their bye week. Now, it’s home to Iowa State before a huge road game at Texas Tech next week.

No. 7: Iowa State Cyclones (Last Week: No. 9)

We now get into the messy part of the Power Rankings. Iowa State was off, but I’m moving them up. They have 3 losses, but they’re to BYU, Utah and Iowa. They also have a win over West Virginia, who just beat Cincinnati. So off the bye week, I’m sliding the Cyclones up to No. 7. But I admit, it’s a mess starting here.

No. 8: West Virginia Mountaineers (Last Week: No. 11)

West Virginia slides up three spots after beating Cincinnati on a walk-off field goal on Saturday. WVU is 1-3 in the league, but they have three losses to teams all ranked ahead of them in the Power Rankings. If only this team could find a semblance of a defense…

No. 9: Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: No. 8)

Cincinnati led for most of the game in Morgantown, except for when it mattered most. They put together a really good game, outgaining WVU, but they also couldn’t slow down Michael Hawkins Jr. to save their life. Now, they’re home to take on Texas Tech, which sets up all kinds of storylines ahead of Week 8.

No. 10: UCF Knights (Last Week: No. 10)

UCF was on a bye this week, but remains in the No. 10 slot in the Power Rankings. The Knights will get a crack at BYU this weekend, which … could be a letdown game for the Cougars?

No. 11: Kansas State Wildcats (Last Week: No. 12)

Death, taxes and a K-State win in the Sunflower Showdown. Kansas State moves up to No. 11 after beating Kansas on Saturday for the 18th-straight time. What else can you say? This series has been dominated one way for nearly two decades. There are soon-to-be KSU players who haven’t been alive for a KU win over K-State in football. Just wild.

No. 12: TCU Horned Frogs (Last Week: No. 16)

TCU’s defense remains one of the more underrated defenses in college football this season, and that was on display in a 17-6 win over Baylor on Saturday. The Horned Frogs get out of the basement thanks to a road win over their biggest rival. Well deserved.

No. 13: Baylor Bears (Last Week: No. 7)

Baylor plummets this week after being a sizable favorite against the Horned Frogs and losing this game at home in a poor showing for Dave Aranda’s squad. This is the kind of loss that gets Dave Aranda back on the hot seat, unless the Bears turn things around quickly this weekend at Kansas.

No. 14: Colorado Buffaloes (Last Week: No. 13)

Colorado falls one spot here. They played a very solid second half against Utah, but it doesn’t change the fact that this team still has a ton of issues, like penalties, that have just been problematic ever since Deion Sanders got the job. At some point, that’s just a problem that has to fall on the head coach, and not the players.

No. 15: Kansas Jayhawks (Last Week: No. 15)

Kansas went to Manhattan and blew a 17-7 lead to fall to Kansas State for an 18th-straight time. Kansas’ schedule only has one ranked team left on it (No. 2 BYU) and if they can’t get some wins here, it’s just a bad look for Lance Leipold in trying to convince the fan base he can get this program back to where it was just a few short years ago.

No. 16: Arizona State Sun Devils (Last Week: No. 14)

Arizona State, welcome to the basement. And it’s well deserved after losing their last two Big 12 games 108-44. The team is a mess on defense. They now have a quarterback controversy. And nothing seems to be working. 2024 feels like a long time ago.

The Big 12 was one of the biggest beneficiaries of a chaotic Week 7 across college football. The latest AP Top 25 Poll was released Sunday, and BYU made the biggest statement for the conference, soaring from No. 8 to No. 2 following its 28-24 win over Notre Dame. The Cougars received 20 first-place votes and now sit behind only No. 1 Miami.

It’s BYU’s highest ranking since its 1984 national championship season and comes after the Cougars entered Saturday’s game as 10.5-point underdogs against the Fighting Irish. BYU is now 6-0 for the third consecutive season.

But BYU isn’t alone near the top for the Big 12.

Texas Tech moved up two spots to No. 8 after dismantling Arizona State 53-25. The Red Raiders also received one first-place vote and remain undefeated.

Utah also moved up one spot to No. 10 after surviving a scare at Colorado, 27-24. That gives the Big 12 three teams inside the Top 10 with BYU, Texas Tech and Utah.

Houston was another big winner, jumping six spots from No. 20 to No. 14 after beating Oklahoma State 35-32. The Cougars are now 6-1 and have their highest AP ranking since reaching No. 11 during the 2016 season.

Oklahoma State wasn’t as fortunate. The Cowboys fell completely out of the Top 25 following their loss to Houston after spending three consecutive weeks ranked.

However, the Big 12 replaced Oklahoma State with another team, as Arizona entered the poll at No. 25. The Wildcats were idle this weekend but have won four straight games since losing to BYU.

The Big 12 now has five ranked teams: No. 2 BYU, No. 8 Texas Tech, No. 10 Utah, No. 14 Houston and No. 25 Arizona.

And Week 8 will immediately put those rankings to the test, with No. 14 Houston traveling to face No. 10 Utah in another massive Big 12 showdown.