Another week, another big matchup with conference race implications for the Big 12.
While most of the league will be participating in nonconference games this weekend, No. 22 Houston and No. 13 Texas Tech face off — on a Friday night, no less.
The contest between the Cougars and Red Raiders has been circled on the calendar for college football pundits for some time, and with both teams looking the part of Big 12 contenders, Friday’s game is shaping up as a vital one for the conference race.
It comes one week after then-No. 15 BYU rallied to earn a 28-17 win over Arizona last week at LaVell Edwards Stadium in the first Big 12 Conference matchup of the season.
Combine that with Utah looking especially strong in the early going of the 2026 season, and the upper tier of the league is forming already — though Oklahoma State is just toying around with that concept.
Here’s how the Big 12 stacks up through Week 2 of the 2026 season.
1. BYU Cougars (2-0, 1-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 1 (same)
- Last week: Beat Arizona, 28-17
- Next game: Saturday at Colorado State, 5:30 p.m. MDT (CBS)
The Cougars have the early jump on the rest of the conference, thanks to their league victory over Arizona last week.
The Wildcats came to Provo with a solid game plan and worked it to a 17-14 halftime lead, but BYU — to its credit — took control in the second half and outscored the visitors 14-0 in the final two quarters against an Arizona team that is expected to factor into the Big 12 chase.
BYU’s next challenge is going on the road for the first time this season and facing an old Mountain West rival that is looking better than previously expected, though the Cougars are still a noticeable favorite.
2. Utah Utes (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 3 (⬆️ 1)
- Last week: Beat Arkansas, 43-10
- Next game: Saturday vs. Utah State, 1:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)
For only the second time ever, an SEC school played Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium and, let’s be honest, it looked like one team was in another stratosphere compared to the other.
The Utes ran over, around and through their Power Four counterpart, behind a Kevin McGiven offense that kept finding inventive ways to get playmakers like Devon Dampier, Byrd Ficklin and Wayshawn Parker on the field together and making defenders second-guess where the ball was going.
Two years ago when Utah played at Utah State, the Aggies actually led by 11 in the second quarter before the Utes’ offense got rolling. While crazy things can happen in rivalry games, Utah should have an easier time putting Utah State away this time around.
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 2 (⬇️ 1)
- Last week: Beat Oregon State, 35-24
- Next game: Friday vs. No. 22 Houston, 6 p.m. MDT (Fox)
The Red Raiders were challenged on the road by Oregon State and were even down three in the fourth quarter before putting the game away with two late touchdowns. Texas Tech hasn’t looked nearly as dominant this year as it did a season ago, but the Red Raiders are unbeaten and still in good position to make another College Football Playoff run.
That pursuit takes a major step this week, as Texas Tech hosts Houston, one of the primary challengers in the Big 12 race. This is one of the biggest games on the Red Raiders’ favorable schedule this season.
4. Houston Cougars (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 4 (same)
- Last week: Beat Southern, 77-6
- Next game: Friday at No. 13 Texas Tech, 6 p.m. MDT (Fox)
Willie Fritz has the program on the rise, and that continued with a dominating win over their FCS opponent last week. Going back to the start of the 2025 season, the Cougars have won 12 of their past 15 games.
It’s all led up to a giant opportunity for Houston this week, as the Cougars travel to face defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech in a Friday night matchup. There is a common opponent: both teams have played and beaten Oregon State this year, Houston by 13 and Texas Tech by 11.
5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 16 (⬆️ 11)
- Last week: Beat then-No. 6 Oregon, 39-31
- Next game: Saturday vs. Murray State, 5 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)
What a rollercoaster first two weeks of the season for Oklahoma State and Eric Morris, and it necessitated a leap back up the Big 12 power rankings. One week after a head-scratching 14-point loss to Tulsa, the Cowboys responded by knocking off previously top 10 Oregon.
Drew Mestemaker looked like a Heisman contender in tearing up the Oregon defense and the talk that Oklahoma State could factor into the Big 12 race — if it can establish consistency — is alive once again. Following a game against an FCS opponent this weekend, the Cowboys will start league play Sept. 26 at West Virginia.
6. Kansas State Wildcats (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 7 (⬆️ 1)
- Last week: Beat Washington State, 34-7
- Next game: Saturday vs. Tulane, 10 a.m. MDT (ESPN2)
Kansas State, one of four Big 12 schools with a first-year coach, has looked good in the first two weeks of the 2026 season. After smashing FCS opponent Nicholls in the opener, the Wildcats followed that with a dominant win over the Pac-12’s Washington State.
This next game should be an interesting litmus test for just how far Colin Klein’s team has come in the opening quarter of the year. Tulane made it to the College Football Playoff last season, though it’s 1-1 so far in 2026 and hasn’t looked the part of a Group of 6 playoff contender thus far.
7. Arizona Wildcats (1-1, 0-1 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 5 (⬇️ 2)
- Last week: Lost to then-No. 15 BYU, 28-17
- Next game: Saturday vs. Northern Illinois, 8:30 p.m. MDT (TNT)
Arizona came out strong against BYU last week and took the fight to the Cougars over the first two quarters, eventually taking a 17-14 lead into halftime while consistently winning the field position battle. BYU responded by controlling possession in the second half and taking advantage of a few Arizona mistakes to earn the win.
It’s a missed opportunity for Brent Brennan’s squad, though it showed that Arizona should still be considered one of the top Big 12 programs if they can shore some things up. After a couple more nonconference games, the Wildcats get into the meat of their league schedule starting in October.
8. Cincinnati Bearcats (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 8 (same)
- Last week: Beat Western Carolina, 62-10
- Next game: Saturday vs. Miami (Ohio), 1:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)
Through two weeks, the Bearcats haven’t really been tested. They blew out Western Carolina last weekend after beating a moribund ACC program, Boston College, by 19 to open the 2026 season — hardly enough evidence to really show how competitive Cincinnati might be once league play rolls around.
This week will wrap up the nonconference portion of the season for the Bearcats, as they host a 1-1 Miami (Ohio) squad. Then the real season — conference play — begins, and it’s one where Scott Satterfield’s program will need to show some growth.
9. Colorado Buffaloes (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 10 (⬆️ 1)
- Last week: Beat Weber State, 52-21
- Next game: Saturday at Northwestern, 5:30 p.m. MDT (Fox)
This year’s version of the Colorado football program already looks more fun than last season, when the Buffaloes slogged their way to a 3-9 record. The Buffaloes followed up their Week 1 win over Georgia Tech with an offensively entertaining victory over FCS school Weber State.
Can Colorado make it 3-0 going into Big 12 play? The Buffaloes are the only league team playing two Power Four schools in nonconference play, both on the road — kudos to Deion Sanders. The Wildcats are coming off a bye after pulling away late to beat FCS power South Dakota State by 16 in Week 1.
10. Arizona State Sun Devils (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 6 (⬇️ 4)
- Last week: Lost to then-No. 10 Texas A&M, 48-20
- Next game: Saturday vs. Kansas (London), 10 a.m. MDT (FS1)
For three quarters, Arizona State and its new quarterback, Cutter Bolley, hung tough with the top-10 Aggies. The Sun Devils were only down 24-20 going into the fourth, but Texas A&M won going away with a 24-0 quarter that included two pick-sixes.
Conference play kicks off for Arizona State this week, though it’s happening overseas — the Sun Devils’ Big 12 opener with Kansas is taking place in London. Can the Sun Devils, the 2024 Big 12 champions, contend for the league crown again? That campaign starts this week.
11. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 13 (⬆️ 2)
- Last week: Beat UT Martin, 52-7
- Next game: Saturday vs. No. 25 Virginia, 5:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)
Like a couple other teams around the Big 12, it’s tough to know what to make of West Virginia at this point in the season. After fending off a late charge by Coastal Carolina in the opener, the Mountaineers cruised to a win over an FCS opponent last weekend.
This week’s matchup is easily the toughest nonconference test for West Virginia and should give a better answer as to what kind of team Rich Rodriguez has. The Cavaliers, behind quarterback Beau Pribula, are heavy favorites over the Mountaineers.
12. Iowa State Cyclones (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 14 (⬆️ 2)
- Last week: Lost to then-No. 21 Iowa, 16-13
- Next game: Saturday vs. Bowling Green, 10 a.m. MDT (ESPNU)
Iowa State and first-year coach Jimmy Rogers really played with Big 12 fans’ heart strings last week, as the underdog Cyclones stayed within striking distance against rival Iowa before ultimately losing on a last-minute field goal. The Big 12 really could have used another signature nonconference win.
The final tuneup for Iowa State before conference play ramps up is a matchup against 0-2 Bowling Green. Following that, the Cyclones host No. 17 Utah in their conference opener, two weeks before playing at No. 11 BYU.
13. Baylor Bears (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 11 (⬇️ 2)
- Last week: Beat Prairie View A&M, 44-3
- Next game: Saturday vs. Louisiana Tech, 2 p.m. MDT (ESPNU)
One week after missing a golden opportunity to earn a victory over the SEC’s Auburn — losing when they failed to convert a late two-point conversion attempt — Dave Aranda’s club earned an easy win over its FCS foe with backup Nate Bennett replacing an ailing DJ Lagway.
It’s worth monitoring when Lagway, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is able to return. This week, the Bears wrap up nonconference play with a home game against the Sun Belt’s Louisiana Tech.
14. TCU Horned Frogs (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 15 (⬆️ 1)
- Last week: Beat Grambling, 63-7
- Next game: Saturday vs. Arkansas State, 6 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)
Let’s continue the running trend — there was really nothing to learn from TCU bouncing back from its season-opening loss to North Carolina by drubbing an overmatched FCS opponent last week. At least Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig looked far more poised this time, throwing for 391 yards and four touchdowns while completing 24 of 31 passes.
The final matchup for the Horned Frogs before league play begins is a home game against 1-1 Arkansas State. Then TCU hits the road to take on UCF in the Big 12 opener the next week, before hosting No. 11 BYU.
15. UCF Knights (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 9 (⬇️ 6)
- Last week: Lost to Pittsburgh, 12-7
- Next game: Saturday vs. Georgia State, 5 p.m. MDT (ESPN+)
The good vibes from UCF’s season-opening thumping of an FCS opponent dissipated when the Knights fell to Pittsburgh last week, and more importantly, lost their starting quarterback. Alonza Barnett III is expected to miss “multiple weeks” with a hamstring injury, according to various reports.
How much will that injury impact UCF’s fortunes as they kick off Big 12 play following their nonconference finale this weekend? The Knights have a difficult stretch to open conference action — their first four Big 12 games include hosting TCU, playing at Houston and Oklahoma State, then hosting No. 11 BYU.
16. Kansas Jayhawks (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)
- Previous ranking: No. 12 (⬇️ 4)
- Last week: Lost to then-No. 23 Missouri, 38-21
- Next game: Saturday vs. Arizona State (London), 10 a.m. MDT (FS1)
Kansas was no match for Missouri in the latest edition of the Border War — after the teams went into halftime tied 14-14, the Tigers pulled away in the second half. Jayhawks quarterback Isaiah Marshall, in particular, had a rough night, completing just 13 of 30 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Following that uninspiring effort, Kansas starts Big 12 play with a trip across the pond to face Arizona State in London. Though ESPN Analytics gives the Jayhawks a 46.5% chance to win, it feels like the Sun Devils are the clear favorite here in the Big 12 opener for both schools.
