Week 2 didn’t just shake up the Big 12 - it gave the league a new headliner.
Oklahoma State’s 39-31 win over Oregon was the result that jumped off the board, and it comes with a four-spot rise in these updated power rankings. The Cowboys’ offense delivered against a top-10 opponent in one of the weekend’s biggest upsets, and that kind of performance changes how the conference looks through two weeks.
Texas Tech stayed put at No. 1 after its 35-24 win at Oregon State, while BYU also held steady after edging Arizona 28-17. Houston remained unchanged after its 77-6 rout of Southern, and Kansas State didn’t move after a 34-7 win over Washington State.
Utah moved up one after beating Arkansas 43-10, and Cincinnati climbed one spot thanks to a 62-10 win over Western Carolina. Colorado also rose one after a 52-21 win over Weber State.
Arizona took a hit after the loss at BYU, sliding one spot, while Arizona State dropped one after falling 48-20 at Texas A&M. Baylor slid two despite a 44-3 win over Prairie View A&M, and TCU fell one after its 63-7 win against Grambling. West Virginia stayed in place after a 52-7 win over UT Martin.
At the bottom end of the movement, Kansas actually moved up one spot despite a 38-21 loss to Missouri, while UCF dropped three after a 12-7 loss at Pitt. Iowa State stayed put even after a 16-13 loss at Iowa.
Here’s the full updated Big 12 picture after Week 2:
Texas Tech Red Raiders (35-24 win at Oregon State) -- No change
BYU Cougars (28-17 win vs. Arizona) -- No change
Houston Cougars (77-6 win vs. Southern) -- No change
Utah Utes (43-10 win vs. Arkansas) -- Up 1
Arizona Wildcats (28-17 loss at BYU) -- Down 1
Kansas State (34-7 win vs. Washington State) -- No change
Cincinnati Bearcats (62-10 win vs. Western Carolina) -- Up 1
Arizona State (48-20 loss at Texas A&M) -- Down 1
Colorado Buffaloes (52-21 win vs. Weber State) -- Up 1
Oklahoma State (39-31 win vs. Oregon) -- Up 4
Baylor Bears (44-3 win vs. Prairie View A&M) -- Down 2
TCU Horned Frogs (63-7 win vs. Grambling) -- Down 1
West Virginia (52-7 win vs. UT Martin) -- No change
Kansas Jayhawks (38-21 loss vs. Missouri) -- Up 1
UCF (12-7 loss at Pitt) -- Down 3
Iowa State (16-13 loss at Iowa) -- No change
In Other News...
Colorado Depth Chart Battle Is Starting To Get Real Fast
Colorados home opener offered a little bit of everything, from explosive playmaking to the kind of sloppiness that tends to keep a depth chart in motion. Two receivers and a running back each went past 100 yards, Joseph Williams led the way with 123 yards and two touchdowns, and freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne even found the end zone on a run after coming in at quarterback. Elliott Arnold also announced himself with a made 52-yard field goal on his first college try, giving the Buffaloes another useful glimpse at just how much competition is showing up across the roster.
The downside, of course, was impossible to miss, with Colorado piling up 13 penalties for 107 yards and leaving plenty of room for improvement in spots where coaches will be looking for cleaner execution. Multiple quarterbacks got into the game, which only adds to the sense that several roles are still being sorted out, and the early returns suggest the next few weeks could be shaped as much by the competition for snaps as by the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Julian Lewis Just Gave Colorado Fans A Bigger Reason To Believe
Julian Lewis gave Colorado something to hang onto beyond a routine win over Weber State, and the early returns were hard to ignore. The freshman was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week after throwing for 366 yards and four touchdowns in the Buffaloes 52-21 victory, a performance that also produced multiple school records, including the most passing yards in the first quarter and the highest pass efficiency rating in a game with at least 20 attempts.
What makes the outing even more intriguing is how intentional it was. Head coach Deion Sanders said the plan centered on Lewis as a passer, and Lewis has yet to throw an interception in his college career. For Colorado, that combination of production, control and room to grow is exactly why this one felt like more than just a one-game burst. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados 2027 QB Plan Just Got More Complicated
Colorados quarterback board for the 2027 class has taken another turn with Cameron Pooley of Mater Dei High School giving the Buffaloes a verbal commitment after a Boulder visit during a home game. The offer came from director of player personnel Darrien Darden-Box, and Pooleys pledge gives the Buffs an early piece to build around as they keep shaping the future of the position.
Even with Pooley on board, the picture is hardly settled. Colorados quarterback room for 2027 is still thin, and the staff is also weighing four-star recruit Andre Adams as part of its long-range plan. For a program trying to keep its options open at the most important spot on the field, the next move could matter as much as the first commitment did. [Read more 🡒]