Big 12 Power Rankings Going into Week 4

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We’re not even fully into Big 12 play yet, and parity is already reigning supreme in the league.

Here are my Big 12 Power Rankings heading into Week 4 of the 2026 college football season.

1. BYU (+1)

Record: 3-0
Week 3 Result: W, 41-23 at Colorado State
Week 4 Matchup: Bye

The Cougars were sort of on upset alert headed to what had been a good Colorado State squad, but BYU took care of business and makes its first appearance in the No. 1 spot of our rankings.

2. Texas Tech (+1)

Record: 3-0
Week 3 Result: W, 28-26 vs. Houston
Week 4 Matchup: vs. Sam Houston

Following their win against Houston, I pondered moving Texas Tech back up to the top spot and leaving the Red Raiders at No. 3, where they were last week. In the end, I split the difference.

It was a dreadful start to the game for Texas Tech, but as the game went on, quarterback Will Hammond looked better and better as Tech found a way.

With all that being said, Tech still doesn’t appear to be the dominant force it was last season.

3. Utah (-2)

Record: 3-0
Week 3 Result: W, 33-0 vs. Utah State
Week 4 Matchup: at Iowa State

The margins are thin up here with there not being a ton of games played yet, so it feels gross dropped Utah two spots after beating a team 33-0. But that says more about the wins from BYU and Tech.

4. Houston

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: L, 28-26 at Texas Tech
Week 4 Matchup: at Georgia Southern

Given it’s effort in Lubbock, Houston remains in the No. 4 spot and is the highest-ranked team with a loss in these here power rankings.

Conner Weigman was probably the MVP of that game against Tech despite the loss. If he keeps playing like that, the Cougars will be in contention for the league come the end of the season.

5. West Virginia (+7)

Record: 3-0
Week 3 Result: W, 38-27 vs. Virginia
Week 4 Matchup: vs. Oklahoma State

The biggest risers of the week, the Mountaineers went to a neutral site and took it to what was a ranked Virginia squad.

Stylistically, this team is unlike anything else in the Big 12, as quarterback Michael Hawkins and running back Cam Cook are each in the Top 4 in the league in rushing yards.

6. Kansas State (-1)

Record: 3-0
Week 3 Result: W, 31-20 vs. Tulane
Week 4 Matchup: at Cincinnati

Despite remaining unbeaten, the Wildcats slide one spot given West Virginia has a better win. The Wildcats have looked good this season but haven’t ran into a big test quite yet. Their trip to Cincy should be a fun one.

7. Oklahoma State

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: W, 59-0 vs. Murray State
Week 4 Matchup: at West Vriginia

The Cowboys remain the most difficult team to rank because what do you do with a team that has a three-game sample size that includes a loss to Tulsa and a win against Oregon?

I have OSU clumped with the Arizona schools, as all are 2-1, but I’m giving the Cowboys the nod for now because they have the best win.

8. Arizona State (-2)

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: W, 24-17 vs. Kansas
Week 4 Matchup: Bye

It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but the Sun Devils went across the pond and got home with a win, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

9. Arizona (-1)

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: W, 42-17 vs. Northern Illinois
Week 4 Matchup: at Washington State

Arizona is a hard team to place because the Wildcats have played one team with a pulse in BYU. They lost that game, but it was a tight contest in Provo. This week’s trip to Washington State will give Arizona a common opponent with Texas Tech and Houston.

10. Baylor

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: W, 36-19 vs. Louisiana Tech
Week 4 Matchup: vs. Colorado

The Bears’ win against Louisiana Tech was nothing to write home about, and their loss to Auburn took a bit of a hit this past weekend when the Tigers fell to Florida. For now, the Bears maintain the No. 10 spot because of how tight that Auburn game was, but that close-loss credit won’t last forever.

11. Cincinnati (-2)

Record: 3-0
Week 3 Result: W, 35-31 vs. Miami (OH)
Week 4 Matchup: vs. Kansas State

Cincy took the scenic route to 3-0, trialing Miami (OH) by 21 points at halftime before coming back and winning that game. The Bearcats have a real shot and climbing this ranking this weekend when K-State comes to town.

12. TCU (+3)

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: W, 31-7 vs. Arkansas State
Week 4 Matchup: at UCF

After publicly laying an egg against North Carolina to start the year, TCU has done just about all you could ask in games against Grambling and Arkansas State. Jaden Craig leads the conference in passing yards, and we’ll learn something about these Horned Frogs as they hop down to Orlando.

13. Iowa State (+3)

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: W, 55-7 vs. Bowling Green
Week 4 Matchup: vs. Utah

After an emotional loss in the Cy-Hawk game, the Cyclones came back and thumped Bowling Green last weekend. We’ll find out just how good Iowa State is this week when Utah comes to town.

14. UCF (-1)

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: W, 44-30 vs. Georgia State
Week 4 Matchup: vs. TCU

Georgia State didn’t go quietly into the night last week, but UCF managed to rebound from scoring 7 points on a rainy day in Pittsburgh to putting up 44 this past weekend.

This game against TCU this weekend could be big for either teams’ attempt at bowl eligibility.

15. Kansas (-1)

Record: 1-2
Week 3 Result: L, 24-17 vs. Arizona State
Week 4 Matchup: Bye

The Jayhawks have played two Power Conference teams relatively close the past two weekends but won neither of those games. They get an opportunity to regroup before hosting Middle Tennessee State next week.

16. Colorado (-5)

Record: 2-1
Week 3 Result: L, 41-7 vs. Northwestern
Week 4 Matchup: at Baylor

Last week was a less-than-ideal one to be a Buffalo. CU got hammered by Northwestern, and Coach Prime dismissed several players in the fallout. The Buffaloes have to manage that while traveling to Waco.