Editor’s note: Each week during the 2023 college football season, the Deseret News will release power rankings that take a look at the 16 teams that will make up the Big 12 Conference beginning with the 2024 season.
These rankings will not include Texas and Oklahoma — as those schools are leaving for the Southeastern Conference next year — but will include Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado, the four Pac-12 teams joining the league next season.
Just when you think you know who the ringleader is among the 16 teams that will make up the Big 12 next season, teams throw a curveball at you.
Two top-15 upsets and a blowout loss shook up the top of this week’s future Big 12 power rankings.
Here’s where everyone stands after Week 9 of the 2023 season.
1. Kansas (6-2, 3-2 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Climbed four spots.
- Last week: Beat then-No. 6 Oklahoma, 38-33.
- This week: Saturday at Iowa State, 5 p.m. MDT (ESPN).
The Jayhawks had a couple losses in recent weeks but jumped back into the Big 12 race with an upset of the Sooners that will shake up the College Football Playoff race. Now Kansas faces one of five teams that are tied atop the league standings with one loss. Can the Jayhawks finish the season strong?
2. Arizona (5-3, 3-2 Pac-12)
- Poll movement: Climbed two spots.
- Last week: Beat then-No. 11 Oregon State, 27-24.
- This week: Saturday vs. No. 20 UCLA, 8:30 p.m. (FS1).
For the second straight game, the Wildcats knocked off a top-25 team — this one was more impressive, as Arizona beat a Beavers team expected to contend for the Pac-12 title. That is the first time since 2014 the Wildcats have won back-to-back games against ranked opponents and sets up another key game against the Bruins.
3. Oklahoma State (6-2, 4-1 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Dropped one spot.
- Last week: Beat Cincinnati, 45-13.
- This week: Saturday vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m. (ABC).
The Cowboys have been rolling in conference play over the past month and have averaged 40.3 points per game in their four-game win streak. This all sets up a huge game against rival Oklahoma in the Bedlam Series, with the winner earning a leg up in a tight Big 12 race.
4. Kansas State (6-2, 4-1 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Dropped one spot.
- Last week: Beat Houston, 41-0.
- This week: Saturday at No. 7 Texas, 10 a.m. (Fox).
Over the past two weeks, the Wildcats have outscored their opposition 82-3 and have looked every bit of the defending Big 12 champions they are. That all sets up a gigantic matchup at Texas this week, one that could eliminate the loser from this year’s Big 12 race.
5. Utah (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12)
- Poll movement: Dropped four spots.
- Last week: Lost to then-No. 8 Oregon, 35-6.
- This week: Saturday vs. Arizona State, noon (Pac-12 Network).
The Utes came crashing down hard in a much-anticipated game between two top-15 programs — the Ducks rolled up 390 yards of offense against a Utah defense that had been stout all year. With “College GameDay” in town, there was a large spotlight on this game on a national scale, and Utah came out with its worst effort in quite some time.
With two losses in Pac-12 play, the Utes are, for the moment, on the ropes of being able to defend their league title. A matchup with 2-6 ASU looms next, before another game against a top Pac-12 contender — at Washington on Nov. 11.
6. Iowa State (5-3, 4-1 Big 12)
- Poll movement: No change.
- Last week: Beat Baylor, 30-18.
- This week: Saturday vs. Kansas, 5 p.m. (ESPN).
The Cyclones are flying under the radar a bit in the Big 12, even after their win over Baylor was their third straight in league play. Iowa State now hosts a hot Kansas team fresh off an upset of the Sooners in a matchup of two teams near the top of the league standings.
7. West Virginia (5-3, 3-2 Big 12)
- Poll movement: No change.
- Last week: Beat UCF, 41-28.
- This week: Saturday vs. BYU, 5 p.m. (FS1).
The Mountaineers used a grinding ground attack and four takeaways to muscle their way past the Knights. West Virginia is now 1-1 against Big 12 newcomers, with a chance to increase that win total with the Cougars coming to town.
8. TCU (4-4, 2-3 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Climbed one spot.
- Last week: Bye week.
- This week: Thursday at Texas Tech, 5 p.m. (FS1).
The Horned Frogs are reeling, with three losses in their last four games, including a 38-point loss in their game before the bye. Now, TCU faces the Red Raiders before matching up against future SEC members Texas and Oklahoma in two of their final three games.
9. Colorado (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12)
- Poll movement: Climbed one spot.
- Last week: Lost to then-No. 23 UCLA, 28-16.
- This week: Saturday vs. No. 16 Oregon State, 8 p.m. (ESPN).
The Buffaloes kept things close against the Bruins for a while, but UCLA put Colorado away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a game where Shedeur Sanders was sacked seven times. The Beavers provide yet another stiff conference challenge for Deion Sanders’ squad.
10. BYU (5-3, 2-3 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Dropped two spots.
- Last week: Lost to then-No. 7 Texas, 35-6.
- This week: Saturday at West Virginia, 5 p.m. (FS1).
For the second time in three weeks, the Cougars were on the losing end of a blowout on the road. BYU’s offense looked anemic yet again, while BYU’s defense at least kept it a two-score game into the fourth quarter against the Longhorns.
Now the Cougars head out east to West Virginia for their third road game in four weeks. The Mountaineers bounced back from two straight losses with a nice win over UCF. Can BYU at least make it competitive?
11. Texas Tech (3-5, 2-3 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Climbed one spot.
- Last week: Bye week.
- This week: Thursday vs. TCU, 5 p.m. (FS1).
The Red Raiders come out of a bye week with a short week before facing fellow struggling Texas program TCU. The opportunities to move closer to bowl eligibility are starting to dry up for Texas Tech, making this almost a must-win.
12. Baylor (3-5, 2-3 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Dropped one spot.
- Last week: Lost to Iowa State, 30-18.
- This week: Saturday vs. Houston, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+).
The Bears’ up-and-down season took another dip with a double-digit loss to the Cyclones, putting Baylor one loss closer to postseason elimination. Thankfully for the Bears, they have another Big 12 newcomer on their schedule next, and a chance to get closer back to .500.
13. Arizona State (2-6, 1-4 Pac-12)
- Poll movement: Climbed two spots.
- Last week: Beat Washington State, 38-27.
- This week: Saturday at No. 18 Utah, noon (Pac-12 Network).
It’s been a long time coming for the Sun Devils to get their first win over an FBS team this season, and ASU did it by rolling up some strong offensive numbers against the Cougars. The Sun Devils face another ranked opponent next in the Utes but have been competitive in recent weeks.
14. Houston (3-5, 1-4 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Dropped one spot.
- Last week: Lost to Kansas State, 41-0.
- This week: Saturday at Baylor, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+).
One week after staying within a touchdown against top-10 Texas, the Cougars came out and laid a goose egg in a blowout loss against the Wildcats. Baylor has been arguably the worst Big 12 legacy program this season — can Houston make a game of it?
15. UCF (3-5, 0-5 Big 12)
- Poll movement: Dropped one spot.
- Last week: Lost to West Virginia, 41-28.
- This week: Saturday at Cincinnati, 1:30 p.m. (FS1).
The Knights have shown they can stick around with Big 12 opponents — and that happened again against the Mountaineers, as UCF trailed by just three heading into the fourth quarter. The Knights need to finish a game strong, though, and this week may be its best chance against fellow league newcomer Cincinnati.
16. Cincinnati (2-6, 0-5 Big 12)
- Poll movement: No change.
- Last week: Lost to Oklahoma State, 45-13.
- This week: Saturday vs. UCF, 1:30 p.m. (FS1).
The Bearcats’ league-worst losing streak hit six games in the lopsided loss against the Cowboys. Cincinnati’s best chances for a conference win in its inaugural Big 12 season will come over the next two weeks, with fellow league newcomers UCF and Houston up next.