Big 12 Power Rankings Going into Week 8

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We’re getting to the point in the year where some triangles are starting to develop among three teams who have wins against one another.

Last weekend was a chaotic slate of college football, shown by the fact that only one team has remained in the same spot in my updated Big 12 Power Rankings. Take a look.

1. BYU (+1)

Record: 6-0
Week 7 Result: W, 28-24 vs. Notre Dame
Week 8 Matchup: at UCF

BYU reclaims the top spot by giving the Big 12 a massive win against Notre Dame.

The Cougars have to avoid some traps in the meantime, but their Holy War game at Utah on Nov. 7 is shaping up to be epic.

2. Texas Tech (+1)

Record: 6-0
Week 7 Result: W, 53-25 vs. Arizona State
Week 8 Matchup: at Cincinnati

Texas Tech looked as good as it has in some time while blowing out Arizona State. Whether that’s on Tech or on Arizona State (who has been blown out often of late), I guess we’ll wait and see, but in the meantime, the reigning champs move up a spot in my rankings.

3. Utah (-2)

Record: 6-0
Week 7 Result: W, 27-24 at Colorado
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Houston

The Utes had a sleepy performance in Boulder this past week. I still think they’re a good team, but they haven’t been tested by another one of the league’s contenders. That changes this week.

4. Houston

Record: 6-1
Week 7 Result: W, 35-32 vs. Oklahoma State
Week 8 Matchup: at Utah

I got a firsthand look at just how good Houston is on Saturday. The Cougar offense is balanced, methodical and punishing. After that early season loss to Tech, the Cougars have to create their own breaks from here on. They did that against Oklahoma State and will have to do it again against Utah.

5. Arizona (+1)

Record: 5-1
Week 7 Result: Bye
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Iowa State

After losing to BYU way back in Week 2, the Wildcats have been steady, beating their past four opponents by an average of 20 points a game. They slide up on their bye week with the Cowboys’ taking their second loss.

6. Oklahoma State (-1)

Record: 4-2
Week 7 Result: L, 35-32 at Houston
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Colorado

There were ifs, ands, and buts that came with the Pokes’ loss in Houston, but the fact is, they lost. Get one more stop in the second half or score more than three points in the first, and OSU would’ve moved up. But now the Cowboys will have to get their momentum rolling again.

7. Kansas State (+3)

Record: 4-2
Week 7 Result: W, 35-24 vs. Kansas
Week 8 Matchup: at Arizona State

K-State bounced back from a home loss to Houston with a win in the Sunflower Showdown. It ended a two-game losing streak for the Wildcats, who will hit the road the next two weekends.

8. Iowa State (+1)

Record: 3-3
Week 7 Result: Bye
Week 8 Matchup: at Arizona

With teams crumbling around them, Iowa State slides up during its bye week. We’ll see if the Cyclones can be a landmine for a Big 12 hopeful this week. All three of the Cyclones’ losses are to teams currently in the Top 15.

9. Baylor (-2)

Record: 4-2
Week 7 Result: L, 17-6 vs. TCU
Week 8 Matchup: at Kansas

I thought Bears were mammals and thus didn’t lay eggs, but here we are. That was a gut punch of a loss for a team that has otherwise been a pleasant surprise this season. We’ll see if that offense can get back on track in Lawrence.

10. West Virginia (+3)

Record: 4-3
Week 7 Result: W, 45-42 vs. Cincinnati
Week 8 Matchup: at TCU

The Mountaineers halted a three-game skid and vaulted up in the rankings with others falling around them. It’d be a lot easier on them if their defense had a pulse, but the Mountaineers are must-see TV with all the points being scored in their games.

11. Cincinnati (-3)

Record: 4-2
Week 7 Result: L, 45-42 at West Virginia
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Texas Tech

The team the Mountaineers beat: Cincinnati tumbles down a bit after two straight losses now. It doesn’t get much easier for the Bearcats moving forward, as their next three games are against Texas Tech, Utah and Houston.

12. Arizona State (-1)

Record: 3-3
Week 7 Result: L, 53-25 at Texas Tech
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Kansas State

The Sun Devils’ fall has been sudden. They’ve now lost three games by at least four touchdowns this season. Their wins are against Morgan State, Kansas and Hawai’i.

13. UCF (-1)

Record: 3-3
Week 7 Result: Bye
Week 8 Matchup: vs BYU

UCF slides a spot in its off week. The Knights have been stingy but haven’t exactly captured that signature moment just yet. Could they have BYU in a trap game this week?

14. TCU (+1)

Record: 3-3
Week 7 Result: W, 17-6 at Baylor
Week 8 Matchup: vs. West Virginia

The Horned Frogs got back in the win column — on their rival’s field, no less. TCU hasn’t been scoring a ton, which is on the opposite end of the spectrum of their Week 8 opponent West Virginia.

15. Colorado (+1)

Record: 2-4
Week 7 Result: L, 27-24 vs. Utah
Week 8 Matchup: at Oklahoma State

The Buffaloes have looked stingier the past few weeks, but they are on a four-game losing streak. It’s not the toughest close to the season, so maybe there is time to make things look more respectable. But in the meantime, CU is hanging out in the basement.

16. Kansas (-2)

Record: 2-4
Week 7 Result: L, 35-24 at Kansas State
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Baylor

The Jayhawks haven’t beaten a Power Conference team to this point in the season. They were up 17-7 on K-State in the first quarter this past weekend, but it was all downhill from there.