We update the Big 12 Football Power Rankings every week. Week 3 is in the books with some exciting games versus in-state rivals.
Big 12 Football Power Rankings
16. Houston (1-2, 0-0 conference) ((–))
Houston 33-Rice 7,
This was the game that Houston needed. If anything to build the confidence of the team. The Cougars offense finally found a groove, keeping Rice out of the endzone until a single minute was left in the game. Houston quarterback Donovan Smith threw for 142 yards and a touchdown, also rushing for two scores.
The offense was disciplined, committing no turnovers in the game. Special teams stepped up as well, returning a 75 yard punt for a touchdown in the first quarter. After that, the team could not be stopped. The defense held Rice to just 159 total yards and forced two turnovers.
Next game: Saturday at Cincinnati
15. Cincinnati (2-1, 0-0 conference) ((–))
Cincinnati 27-Miami (OH) 16
The Bearcats had a nice win against their in state rival Miami. Cincinnati never trailed in the game and capitalized in the game early on. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby threw for 186 yards and a touchdown.
The Bearcats really leaned on the run game though, with starter Corey Kiner rushing for 126 yards and a touchdown. But second string running back Evan Pryor was able to come in and score on a 65 yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The defense made a major stand, holding Miami to just 24 rushing yards. They also had an interception and a fumble recovery to help them seal the game. Cincinnati hosts Houston at home next week for their first Big 12 game of the year.
Next game: Saturday vs Houston
14. Texas Tech (2-1, 0-0 conference) ((–))
Texas Tech 66-North Texas 21
The Texas Tech Red Raiders had a major bounce back game before starting conference play in a week. Tech went up 52-0 before halftime, tying a school record for the most points in a half. Quarterback Behren Morton completed 15/19 passes for 274 yards, a touchdown, and a rushing touchdown. He found four different receivers for scores. Running back Tahj Brooks also returned this week, rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown.
The defense also stepped up in a major way. They forced three turnovers, including one for a touchdown. North Texas had to answer for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech scored five touchdowns in just over six minutes in the second quarter for a total of 35 points. Tech fans are happy to have a solid win under their belt before facing Arizona at home for the first conference game of the year, and that moves them up in our Big 12 football power rankings.
Next Game: Saturday vs Arizona
13. Kansas (1-2, 0-0 conference) ((-5 Spots))
Kansas 20-UNLV 23
The Jayhawks now have two straight losses to unranked teams. This week the turnovers hurt Kansas and UNLV was able to capitalize on them.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels only had 12 completions for 153, two interceptions, and two rushing touchdowns. The UNLV defense was able to get to Daniels for sacks twice and brought pressure to the quarterback to force the bad throws and interceptions. and threw for 141 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Running back Devin Neal rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
The defense is what hurt the Jayhawks the most, giving up 181 yards on the ground, including 124 yards to the UNLV quarterback, Matthew Sluka. Because of that performance, they suffered a severe drop in these Big 12 football power rankings.
Kansas starts their Big 12 play at West Virginia on Saturday.
Next Game: Friday at West Virginia
12. West Virginia (1-2, 0-0 conference) ((-3 Spots)
West Virginia 34-Pittsburgh 38
Another big in-state rivalry, but this time it didn’t go in favor of the Big 12 team. The West Virginia Mountaineers faced another tough test and came out on the losing side of it. Quarterback Garrett Greene threw for 210 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He completed just half of his passes and threw two crucial interceptions and special teams had a field goal blocked for a touchdown.
The game was an exciting back and forth affair. Pitt scored a touchdown with 1:27 left in the fourth quarter and gave the Mountaineers a chance to score, but the offense was not on the same page.
West Virginia hosts the 1-2 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday at home.
Next Game: Saturday vs Kansas
11. Arizona State (3-0, 0-0 conference) ((–))
Arizona State 31-Texas State 28
The Arizona State Sun Devils had a tough game on a Thursday night. Both teams played well, but had some costly turnovers on both sides. The game was tied at halftime, and each team traded touchdowns in the third quarter to keep it tied at 28 points. Arizona State’s field goal with six minutes left in the game ended up being the winning score.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 246 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He found his favorite receiver Jordyn Tyson for a long 52-yard pass in the first half for one of the longest plays of the day. And once again, Cam Skattebo had a good game thanks to the two touchdowns on the ground. Arizona State faces off against Texas Tech for their first in conference matchup on Saturday.
Next Game: Saturday at Texas Tech
10. Colorado (2-1, 0-0 conference) ((+2 Spots))
Colorado 28-Colorado State 9
After an embarrassing game a week ago, Colorado bounced back to defeat Colorado State for their seventh straight win against their in-state rival. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite receiver Travis Hunter reeled in two of those and had 100 yards on the game.
Colorado controlled the game after Colorado State scored a field goal in the first. The offensive line stepped up after Sanders was sacked six times a week ago, allowing only one sack this week against the Rams. The defense was able to force four turnovers, forcing two fumbles and getting two interceptions. The Buffaloes face Baylor for their first in-conference game of the year.
Next Game: Saturday vs Baylor
9. TCU (2-1, 0-1 conference) ((-2 Spots))
TCU 34-UCF 35
The Horned Frogs lost in a heartbreaker on a final play. Quarterback Josh Hoover played a solid game, throwing for 402 yards and four touchdowns. Their rushing game was severely lacking though, only rushing for 58 yards.
TCU was up 28-7 early in the third quarter on the hands of Hoover and his go-to targets, Savion Williams who had a touchdown and Jack Bech, who had 200 receiving yards and a touchdown. But the big play of the game came to a last minute 58 yard kick, which went wide right for the final play of the game. This was the first Big 12 football game for both teams and unfortunately the Horned Frogs came up short to start the conference play, and find themselves losing a couple of spots in our power rankings.
Next Game: Saturday vs SMU
8. Baylor (2-1, 0-0 conference) ((+5 Spots))
Baylor 31-Air Force 3
The Baylor Bears were glad to have a win under their belt after a tough game a week ago. Quarterback Dequan Finn was injured this week. In his place, backup Sawyer Robertson started this game.
Robertson threw for 248 yards and had a rushing touchdown with no interceptions. Meanwhile, running back Bryson Washington had his first touchdown of his college career. He rushed for 106 total yards and averaged 8.8 yards per carry.
Although Air Force controlled time of possession, the Bears offense was clicking in the second half. Both teams had some trouble with turnovers. Airforce throwing an interception and losing two fumbles from their running back John Busha. Baylor also lost three fumbles on the game. The Bears will need to step up before going to Colorado on Saturday.
Next Game: Saturday at Colorado
7. BYU (3-0, 0-0 conference) ((-3 Spots))
BYU 34-Wyoming 14
The BYU Cougars are 3-0 to start their year. They faced off against their rivals Wyoming and extended their win streak against them to 10 games.
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns. The offense racked up 458 total yards on the day, committing only one turnover. They also controlled the time of possession handedly.
The big play came at the opening of the second half, when Keelan Marion ran for a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. After that, the Cougars took control and stayed in control. BYU is going into Big 12 play undefeated, but has their first real test versus a highly ranked Kansas State team.
Next Game: Saturday vs Kansas State
6. Arizona (2-1, 0-0 conference) ((-1 Spot))
Arizona 7-Kansas State 31
Nothing seemed to go right for the Wildcats. Quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 268 yards, and an interception. The single touchdown on the day came at the hands of running back Quali Conley for a one yard score. Arizona had a total of 324 yards on the day, which was on par with Kansas State’s 393.
However, the offense was stagnant for most of the day and had a single drive where they had 30 yards in penalties. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had 138 yards, including a long pass for 38 yards on a drive that ended up with an interception. With Arizona not completely out in the race, they have a bye week to regroup before true Big 12 conference play.
Next Game: Bye week
5. UCF (3-0, 1-0 conference) ((+1 Spot))
UCF 35-TCU 34
The Golden Knights started Big 12 conference play with a bang. The team came back from a three touchdown deficit and three blocked field goals to win the game against the Horned Frogs.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson completed 13 of 22 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Their star player, running back RJ Harvey, rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the second half. Jefferson also found receiver Kobe Hudson for a 20 yard touchdown with :36 seconds left in the game.
TCU was able to run several plays to get into a manageable field goal range, but the kick missed wide right. The Golden Knights are sitting pretty for a week atop the Big 12 while they move into their bye.
Next Game: Bye week
4. Iowa State (2-0, 0-0 conference) ((-1 Spot))
Bye Week
The Cyclones have a bye this week before facing off against Arkansas State on Saturday.
Next Game: Saturday vs Arkansas State
3. Oklahoma State (3-0, 0-0 conference) ((+1 Spot)
Oklahoma State 45-Tulsa 10
The Cowboys stepped up after a heart-pounding win against Arkansas in double overtime a week ago. Quarterback Alan Bowman put on a clinic, throwing for 396 yards and five touchdowns. He spread the ball around, finding four difference receivers for those scores. Two of those scores went to junior wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who had 174 yards to go along with the touchdowns.
The running game is something that needs work, however. Ollie Gordon was once again stifled at the line. He had just 41 yards on 10 carries, averaging 2.4 yards per carry.
On the other side of the ball, the run defense did a poor job of stopping the big plays. Tulsa rushed for 116 total yards and a touchdown, but the Oklahoma State pass defense was able to hold them scoreless. The Cowboys face a tough matchup at home on Saturday against Utah for a top 15 matchup.
Next Game: Saturday vs Utah
2. Utah (3-0, 0-0 conference) ((-1 Spot))
Utah 38-Utah State 21
The Utah Utes faced off against their in-state rival, Utah State. The big storyline for the Utes though was the injury to quarterback Cam Rising, who left at the end of the second quarter in the previous game with a hand injury. Rising sat out this week and Isaac Wilson (brother of NFL quarterback Zach Wilson) started in his place.
Wilson threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns for his first start in collegiate play. The Utes controlled time of possession, 37 to just 22 minutes for Utah State. Utah scored twice in the fourth quarter, the pad their lead against Utah State. Next week, Utah faces their first tough test against Oklahoma State in Stillwater for a top 10 matchup.
Next Game: Saturday at Oklahoma State
1. Kansas State (3-0, 0-0 conference) ((+1 Spot))
Kansas State 31-Arizona 7
Arizona was completely outmatched against Kansas State. Although Arizona is now in the Big 12, this is considered a non-conference game for both teams.
KSU Quarterback Avery Johnson threw for two touchdowns in the game, while running back DJ Giddens had a rushing touchdown. The big play came on special teams, with a punt returned for a touchdown. Both teams had a sloppy game though, racking up almost 100 yards in penalties, a Kansas State missed field goal, and an Arizona interception. Kansas State makes their trip to BYU on Saturday.
Next Game: Saturday at BYU
Erika Brown
Erika Brown is a fantasy football writer for The League Winners. A journalism graduate from Oklahoma State University, she enjoys watching OkState football games and writing about college football.