BYU’s opening-week blowout was enough to move the Cougars to the top of the Big 12 power rankings entering Week 2.
After rolling Utah Tech 63-7, BYU jumped from No. 2 to No. 1 in the composite rankings compiled by KSL Sports reporters Steve Bartle, Josh Furlong, Mitch Harper and Sean Walker. Texas Tech, last week’s No. 1, slipped to No. 2 after beating Abilene Christian 33-10.
The first week of Big 12 football delivered a little bit of everything. The league went 2-2 against Power Four opponents, with Colorado’s comeback win at Georgia Tech giving Coach Prime’s group an early boost. Cincinnati also made noise by beating Boston College 34-15 at home, with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark in attendance.
At the other end of the spectrum, Oklahoma State’s rough start only got worse. The Pokes fell 24-10 to Tulsa, and it marked the first time since 1951 that Oklahoma State has lost two straight to its in-state rival. For a program that had been talked up as a possible sleeper, the tone changed fast.
A lot of Week 1 was still about tune-up games against FCS teams, and several Big 12 offenses looked sharp doing it. Arizona State, BYU, Kansas State and Utah all put up huge numbers in their openers.
The top tier of the rankings stayed tight behind BYU and Texas Tech. Utah held at No. 3 after a 66-14 win over Idaho, Houston remained No. 4 after beating Oregon State 33-20, and Arizona State climbed one spot to No. 5 after a 70-7 rout of Morgan State. Kansas State also moved up, landing at No. 6 after a 71-3 win over Nicholls.
Arizona dropped from No. 5 to No. 7 despite a 35-7 win over Northern Arizona, while Cincinnati surged from No. 13 to No. 8 after its strong showing against Boston College. UCF rose two spots to No. 9 after a 73-6 win over Bethune-Cookman, and Colorado jumped five places to No. 10 after edging Georgia Tech 14-13.
Baylor sits at No. 11 after a 17-16 loss at Auburn, followed by Kansas at No. 12 after a 51-6 win over Long Island. West Virginia moved up to No. 13 after beating Coastal Carolina 31-24, and Iowa State climbed to No. 14 after a 38-10 win over SEMO.
TCU fell hard in the rankings, dropping from No. 8 to No. 15 after a bye week, while Oklahoma State tumbled to No. 16 after its loss to Tulsa.
The staff ballots showed some variation near the top, but BYU and Texas Tech were the clear lead contenders. Bartle put Texas Tech first and BYU second, while Furlong and Harper both had BYU at No.
- Walker went with Texas Tech on top and BYU second.
In Other News...
BYU's Arizona Rotations Suddenly Come With Two Big Concerns
BYUs snap counts against the Trailblazers offered a pretty clear look at how the Cougars are trying to manage their personnel as they head into Arizona. The offense leaned heavily on tight ends, using two of them as much as its top wide receivers, while the defensive side kept rotating up front in search of fresh legs and a steady pass rush. It was the kind of game that showed both the depth chart and the game plan, especially with certain players being asked to do a little more in key spots.
Legend Glasker appears headed for a bigger role, but the more immediate concern is how BYU covers for the losses and limitations that showed up in that game. Sione Moa left early because of injury, and Nusi Taumoepeau was on a limited snap count, which only adds to the pressure on the Cougars rotation at a time when they need dependable bodies on both sides of the ball. On defense, the challenge is especially clear: BYU needs enough push from the line to bother the quarterback without having to lean too hard on blitzing. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Fans Will Love Who's Behind Saturday's Pregame Flyover
A familiar show of pageantry is coming to LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, and this one carries a personal connection for Jimmy Winegardner. The BYU graduate and KC-135 pilot is set to handle the pregame flyover before the national anthem at the BYU-Arizona game, with kickoff slated for 1:30 p.m. MDT, adding a little extra buzz to a matchup already carrying plenty of interest.
For Winegardner, the moment has been years in the making, a chance to combine his military role with a place that still matters to him. The KC-135 crew will spend time on training flights around Utah Valley before approaching the stadium from the south, and for BYU fans, it should be a memorable arrival even before the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
BYU's Arizona Test Could Raise The Stakes Around Kalani Sitake
BYU heads into its game against Arizona with more than a conference test hanging over the night, even as fans are being urged to turn LaVell Edwards Stadium into a blue-and-white Stripe Out. The matchup offers another chance for the Cougars to show they can handle a meaningful early-season check, but it also comes with a familiar backdrop around the program: a coach who has kept the team competitive while navigating a school and sport in transition.
Kalani Sitakes future at BYU remains a live conversation because of the way he has spoken publicly about resources and support, especially after recent administrative changes around the program. In a college football landscape that keeps shifting under everyones feet, the Arizona game feels like more than a standalone date on the schedule, since performances like this can quietly shape how loudly those bigger questions get asked in the weeks that follow. [Read more 🡒]