Big 12 Power Rankings Going into Week 3

Through two weeks and few common opponents, power ranking Big 12 teams still feels a bit like throwing darts at a board.

Here’s how I’d list the conference’s members entering Week 3.

1. Utah (+2)

Record: 2-0
Week 2 Result: W, 43-10 vs. Arkansas
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Utah State

For the first time this year, there’s a change at the top.

Arkansas is in a rough spot as a program, but the Razorbacks are still earning SEC media rights money. They went to Salt Lake and got thumped 43-10 with the Utes throwing for 301 yards and running for another 140.

Through two games, Utah has scored the second-most points among Big 12 teams (109) while being one of five teams to allow 24 or fewer points.

2. BYU

Record: 2-0
Week 2 Result: W, 28-17 vs. Arizona
Week 3 Matchup: at Colorado State

Perhaps BYU deserves the top spot since its win against Arizona is better than the Utes’ win against Arkansas, but the Cougars will have time to further prove themselves.

That game against the Wildcats was a tight one with the big play being a fourth-down stuff for BYU.

The Cougars have a sneaky good game against a solid Colorado State squad this weekend.

3. Texas Tech (-2)

Record: 2-0
Week 2 Result: W, 35-24 at Oregon State
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Houston

I think a world still exists where Texas Tech flips the switch and becomes the team to beat in the league like we all thought the Red Raiders were, but its been sort of a sleepy two weeks to start the year.

After beating Abilene Christian 33-10, the Red Raiders went to Oregon State this past weekend and won 35-24.

Those games being closer than anticipated have seen some question marks pop up around the Red Raiders, but they could shut all that up this weekend with a game against the next team on our rankings.

4. Houston (+2)

Record: 2-0
Week 2 Result: W, 77-6 vs. Southern
Week 3 Matchup: at Texas Tech

After their own win against Oregon State, the Cougars throttled Southern 77-6 this past weekend. Houston’s 110 points scored leads the league through two weeks.

Similar to Texas Tech, we’ll know a lot more about the Cougars after Friday night’s game in Lubbock.

5. Kansas State

Record: 2-0
Week 2 Result: W, 34-7 vs. Washington State
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Tulane

K-State has allowed a Big 12-low 10 points this season, while their 105 points scored ranks third in the league behind Houston and Utah.

In his first two games as a Wildcat, OSU transfer Rodney Fields Jr. has carried 27 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

6. Arizona State (-2)

Record: 1-1
Week 2 Result: L, 48-20 at Texas A&M
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Kansas

The Sun Devils’ loss in College Station was closer than the score might suggest, but the reality is they lost by four touchdowns.

A pair of fourth-quarter pick-sixes were the reason it looked worse than it was.

Bouncing back will obviously be important, but Arizona State will have to do so in London, as that’s where the Sun Devils play Kansas this week.

7. Oklahoma State (+9)

Record: 1-1
Week 2 Result: W, 39-31 vs. Oregon
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Murray State

What the heck do you do with a team that lost to Tulsa and beat Oregon?

I’ve placed the Pokes one spot below where they were in the preseason, but they’ve definitely had the most variance within the league thus far. OSU has shown it could be the best team in the conference, and it could also be one of the worst.

8. Arizona (-1)

Record: 1-1
Week 2 Result: L, 28-17 at BYU
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Northern Illinois

Given BYU is considered a contender in the league and the Wildcats went to Provo and played the Cougars close, Arizona drops just one spot.

The next two weeks should be an opportunity for the Wildcats to stat pad a bit before hosting Cincy to start October.

9. Cincinnati (-1)

Record: 2-0
Week 2 Result: W, 62-10 vs. Western Carolina
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Miami (OH)

Speaking of Cincy, the Bearcats drop one spot thanks solely to the Cowboys beating the Ducks.

It’s been the ideal start to the year for Cincinnati, comfortably beating ACC Boston College in Week 1 before dominating their FCS foe last week.

10. Baylor (+1)

Record: 1-1
Week 2 Result: W, 44-3 vs. Prairie View A&M
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Louisiana Tech

After playing Auburn close to start the year, the Bears took care of business this past weekend.

I’m not sure how much more we’ll learn about the Bears this week, but this is a big tune-up before they open Big 12 play with Colorado on Sept. 26.

11. Colorado (-1)

Record: 2-0
Week 2 Result: W, 52-21 vs. Weber State
Week 3 Matchup: at Northwestern

Speaking of those Buffs, they could become the first Big 12 team with two Power Conference wins this season should they go to Northwestern and grab a Big Ten pelt.

12. West Virginia (+1)

Record: 2-0
Week 2 Result: W, 52-7 vs. UT-Martin
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Virginia

We’ll learn a bit about the Mountaineers this week as they head to Charlotte to do battle with a ranked Virginia squad.

West Virginia has two of the league’s Top 5 rushers through two weeks, in quarterback Michael Hawkins (199 yards) and Cam Cook (194 yards).

13. UCF (-4)

Record: 1-1
Week 2 Result: L, 12-7 at Pitt
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Georgia State

It’s tough to tell how much to take from the Knights’ loss up in Pittsburgh because it was a rather wet day, but scoring seven points, no matter the circumstance, is less than ideal.

14. Kansas (-2)

Record: 1-1
Week 2 Result: L, 38-21 vs. Missouri
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Arizona State

Kansas’ Border War bout with Missouri was close through halftime before the Tigers were able to open it up a bit.

I’m interested to see how Lance Leipold’s group builds off that performance while playing in London.

15. TCU (-1)

Record: 1-1
Week 2 Result: W, 63-7 vs. Grambling
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Arkansas State

It would’ve felt weird dropping TCU to the bottom of this power ranking after a 56-point win, but I got close. Among these bottom four teams, I think TCU’s loss (to North Carolina) is the worst.

Still, it was a good bounce back that the Horned Frogs will have to build off of against Arkansas State.

16. Iowa State (-1)

Record: 1-1
Week 2 Result: L, 16-13 at Iowa
Week 3 Matchup: vs. Bowling Green

The Cy-Hawk game was your classic Cy-Hawk defensive slugfest that the Cyclones couldn’t quite get on the right side of. Still, it was a strong performance from Iowa State and might proved that no one can be taken lightly in the Big 12 this season.