Going into the second weekend of October, with Big 12 play now in full force, seven league programs have two wins in conference action and own the early upper hand on the other conference members.
There are still four teams who are unbeaten in Big 12 action: Texas Tech, Arizona State, Cincinnati and BYU.
At the moment, that makes them the de facto leaders in the clubhouse, following a Week 6 where the Bearcats made their case to be considered a league contender by beating Iowa State.
What will Week 7 hold for the conference?
There are top-billed games like Arizona State at Utah, as well as BYU at Arizona.
Texas Tech hosting Kansas could have some flavor to it, too.
Here’s how the Big 12 stacks heading into the next week of action.
1. Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 1 (no change)
- Last week: Beat Houston, 35-11
- Next game: Saturday vs. Kansas, 5:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)
The Red Raiders are a clear level (or two or three) above everyone else in the Big 12, and that was on display as Texas Tech rolled into Houston and handed the previously unbeaten Cougars their first loss by 24 points. While the Red Raiders left some points on the field by settling for a handful of field goals instead of scoring touchdowns, the outcome was never in doubt.
Kansas feels like one of those tricky teams that can keep things close or spring an upset — like they did multiple times late last season — but the Red Raiders get them at home this week. Plus, Texas Tech has a menacing defensive line that is sure to disrupt Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels.
2. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 3 (⬆️ 1)
- Last week: Bye
- Next game: Saturday at Utah, 8:15 p.m. MDT (ESPN)
Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll find out if the defending Big 12 champion Sun Devils will be serious contenders to repeat as league champs.
That starts with a game at Utah on Saturday. In this rivalry, the home team often has a noticeable advantage, like ASU did last year in Tempe. Following the road trip to Utah, the Sun Devils host Texas Tech the next week. That’s a loaded upcoming schedule.
3. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 9 (⬆️ 6)
- Last week: Beat No. 14 Iowa State, 38-30
- Next game: Saturday vs. UCF, 10 a.m. MDT (FS1)
The Bearcats came up with one of the biggest statement wins of the early conference season, beating the top-15 Cyclones after going up 31-7 late in the first half. By doing so, Cincinnati stamped itself as a serious Big 12 contender.
UCF is reeling a bit as it heads to Cincinnati this weekend. The Knights have lost two straight and have seen starting quarterback Tayven Jackson leave each loss early with an injury. Can the Bearcats take care of business and avoid a letdown?
4. BYU Cougars (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 4 (no change)
- Last week: Beat West Virginia, 38-24
- Next game: Saturday at Arizona, 6 p.m. MDT (ESPN2)
The good news for BYU is that the Cougars are undefeated and have won their first two Big 12 games.
BYU wasn’t sharp last week in a Friday night victory over West Virginia, and while the outcome was never in doubt, the Cougars left a lot to be desired. Perhaps that will be a blessing in disguise, if BYU can refocus as it heads into the most difficult stretch of its schedule.
That begins with a trip to Tucson to face an improved Arizona team after a difficult 2024 campaign. It precedes a home game against rival Utah, as well as road trips to Iowa State and Texas Tech. The Cougars will need to be at their sharpest as they face this part of the schedule.
5. Utah Utes (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 6 (⬆️ 1)
- Last week: Bye
- Next game: Saturday vs. No. 21 Arizona State, 8:15 p.m. MDT (ESPN)
There was good news coming from the Utes’ camp when coach Kyle Whittingham said that there were no season-ending injuries from the team’s win over West Virginia.
After a bye week to heal up a bit and prepare for the October grind of the schedule, Utah gets back into action against an Arizona State team that should challenge the Utes. The Sun Devils beat the Utes in Tempe last year en route to the Big 12 title, though Utah looks quite different this season — especially on offense.
Arizona State has been involved in two tight games thus far in Big 12 play, while Utah has been on the opposite ends of blowouts. Could the Sun Devils benefit a little on Saturday if the game comes down to the final minutes? Will Utah’s home-field advantage be a key factor? We’ll find out in what promises to be an entertaining matchup.
6. TCU Horned Frogs (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 5 (⬇️ 1)
- Last week: Beat Colorado, 35-21
- Next game: Saturday at Kansas State, 1:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)
TCU could have folded after falling behind 14-0 to Colorado at home, coupled with the fact the Horned Frogs had squandered a 17-0 lead on the road at Arizona State the week before. TCU, though, showed its strength in shutting down the Buffaloes after that tough early stretch and earned a vital win.
That sets the stage for another important Big 12 matchup for the Horned Frogs. Kansas State has won five of the last six games in its rivalry with TCU, though the Wildcats are hurting this season. Kansas State will be fighting to stay relevant, while the Horned Frogs battle to stay squarely in the title chase.
7. Iowa State Cyclones (5-1, 2-1 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 2 (⬇️ 5)
- Last week: Lost to Cincinnati, 38-30
- Next game: Saturday at Colorado, 1:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN)
While Iowa State losing to Cincinnati last week was tough, it’s been compounded by injuries piling up for the Cyclones. Both of their top cornerbacks, Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams, are out, and against the Bearcats, lead running back Carson Hansen left with a concussion.
The Cyclones stay on the road for a second consecutive week, where they’ll face a Colorado team looking for its first Big 12 win. There is desperation on both sidelines in this one. For Iowa State, it’s an important game to get things right.
8. Baylor Bears (4-2, 2-1 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 7 (⬇️ 1)
- Last week: Beat Kansas State, 35-34
- Next game: Oct. 18 at TCU, 10 a.m. MDT (ESPN2)
While the Bears’ defense is one of the worst in the Big 12 and Baylor’s offense can keep it in almost any game, both sides came to the rescue in leading them to a comeback win over Kansas State. After going into the fourth quarter trailing 31-17, Baylor took a one-point lead with a touchdown drive (and a two-point conversion), followed by a 66-yard pick-six. Then the Bears countered a late Wildcats field goal with one of their own to win.
Can Baylor show this kind of perseverance on the road next weekend at TCU? The Bears, who are idle this week, could make serious gains in the Big 12 race if they pull off the road win.
9. Arizona Wildcats (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 10 (⬆️ 1)
- Last week: Beat Oklahoma State, 41-13
- Next game: Saturday vs. No. 18 BYU, 6 p.m. MDT (ESPN2)
Arizona has largely taken care of business in the first half of the season, beating the teams they are supposed to beat soundly, including blasting the Cowboys last week. The only hiccup came in a 25-point loss at Iowa State.
Now, the challenge ramps up with a top-20 BYU team going to Tucson. The Cougars have the lowest strength of schedule in the league so far, per ESPN’s Football Power Index, but they are one of two remaining unbeaten teams. It’s a chance for the Wildcats to flex their muscles and pick up a signature win.
10. Kansas Jayhawks (4-2, 2-1 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 11 (⬆️ 1)
- Last week: Beat UCF, 27-20
- Next game: Saturday at No. 9 Texas Tech, 5:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)
Much like Arizona, Kansas is winning the games it should win this season. They’ve also been oh-so-close to victories in their losses to Missouri and Cincinnati. Last week, the Jayhawks successfully rallied past UCF.
The next test, though, is the biggest one of the season for Kansas. The Red Raiders are rolling and have the league’s top offense and defense. The defense, in particular, is scary good. Texas Tech is only giving up 11.2 points per game.
11. Houston Cougars (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 8 (⬇️ 3)
- Last week: Lost to No. 11 Texas Tech, 35-11
- Next game: Saturday at Oklahoma State, 10 a.m. MDT (TNT)
Houston’s unbeaten streak came to an expected end last week when Texas Tech rolled into town and rolled out with a 24-point win that could have been more. The Cougars showed glimpses against the Red Raiders, but not the consistency and starting quarterback Conner Weigman left with a reported concussion.
Houston has already matched its win total from the past two seasons and is in a strong position to make a bowl this year, and maybe do more. The Cougars need to win the games they are supposed to win, like this week against Oklahoma State, to speed up the rebuild process.
12. Kansas State Wildcats (2-4, 1-2 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 12 (no change)
- Last week: Lost to Baylor, 35-34
- Next game: Saturday vs. TCU, 1:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)
Just when it looked like Kansas State might have a turnaround victory, that went up in flames. The Wildcats led Baylor by 14 points going into the quarter and were driving with a chance to again make it a two-score game, but a pick-six ruined that chance and Kansas State left with its fourth loss in the first half of the season.
Kansas State’s four losses have all been one-score games. What will it take to get over the hump, though, and could the Wildcats do that at home against a TCU squad that looks like an upper-tier team in the conference?
13. UCF Knights (3-2, 0-2 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 13 (no change)
- Last week: Lost to Kansas, 27-20
- Next game: Saturday at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. MDT (FS1)
Two weeks ago, things were looking solid for UCF as it came out of non-conference play with an unbeaten record. In Big 12 play, though, the Knights have come out on the losing end twice in games that have been more competitive than many in their first two years in the league.
The schedule isn’t doing them any favors this weekend, as they get a Cincinnati team fresh off a victory over then-No. 14 Iowa State. The Bearcats will be a bear to face — and it’s on the road, no less. Plus, the Knights’ quarterback, Tayven Jackson, has been dealing with injuries the past two games. Can they get some consistent QB play?
14. Colorado Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 14 (no change)
- Last week: Lost to TCU, 35-21
- Next game: Saturday vs. No. 22 Iowa State, 1:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN)
The Buffaloes have arguably faced the most difficult first half of the season in the Big 12, and right now, it has Colorado two games under .500. For two straight weeks, the Buffaloes have gotten out to a 14-0 lead against a conference opponent, only to lose both that momentum and the game.
Colorado already has more Big 12 losses this season than they had all last year. If the Buffaloes want to turn it around this week, they’ll have to do so against an Iowa State team stinging from its first loss of the season.
15. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-4, 0-3 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 15 (no change)
- Last week: Lost to No. 23 BYU, 38-24
- Next game: Oct. 18 at UCF, 11 a.m. MDT (TNT)
It’s a good time for a bye for the Mountaineers. Even though West Virginia found itself behind by two or more scores for much of the game at BYU, the Mountaineers put forth a much better effort in Provo than they had the previous two weeks.
The bye week should give Rich Rodriguez and his team the chance to heal up and get themselves ready for the back half of the year. The schedule is difficult, though, with West Virginia’s most winnable games on the road and teams like TCU, Houston, Arizona State and Texas Tech on the docket.
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-4, 0-2 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 16 (no change)
- Last week: Lost to Arizona, 41-13
- Next game: Saturday vs. Houston, 10 a.m. MDT (TNT)
Oklahoma State is 0-2 in the post-Mike Gundy era, after the Cowboys were blown away by Arizona on the road. That’s going to be the challenge each week through the remainder of a turbulent 2025 season.
Next up is a Houston team that was dealt its first loss by Texas Tech. Can Oklahoma State at least give themselves a chance to take advantage against a Cougars team that may come in a little flat?