Week 8 shook up the Big 12, but not in a way that helped Colorado. The Buffaloes were routed 57-24 by Oklahoma State on Saturday night, then watched the conference’s ranking picture settle with five teams still landing in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll.
Utah made the biggest climb among Big 12 teams in the updated poll, rising four spots to No. 5 after rallying at home to knock off ranked Houston. BYU slid six places to No. 9 after an overtime road loss at UCF, while Texas Tech tumbled nine spots to No. 14 after falling to Cincinnati. Houston dropped three spots to No. 19 after its loss to Utah, and Arizona checked in at No. 21 as the final ranked Big 12 team.
Oklahoma State, despite its statement win over Colorado, stayed just outside the top 25. The Cowboys picked up 120 votes, the most of any unranked team. Cincinnati was next among teams receiving votes with 49, and UCF earned one vote.
The rest of the poll also saw plenty of movement near the top. Miami stayed No.
1, Ohio State held at No. 2, and Georgia moved up to No. 3.
Indiana, Utah, Notre Dame, UCLA and Kentucky rounded out the top 10 behind them.
Texas was the week’s biggest riser, climbing seven spots to No. 11 after beating Ole Miss. On the other end, Iowa and USC each fell 10 spots, landing at No. 24 and No. 25.
Here is the full US LBM Coaches Poll as we head into Week 9.
In Other News...
Kansas State Heads To Boulder With Less Margin Than Fans Expected
The early read on Kansas States trip to Boulder suggests a tighter matchup than some around the Big 12 might have expected, with Colorado getting the benefit of playing at home and the game drawing attention for how evenly matched the two sides look on paper. For Buffaloes fans, that makes this one feel less like a simple measuring-stick game and more like a chance to see whether home-field advantage can help tilt things in their direction.
What makes the opener especially interesting is how much of the conversation comes back to execution. Both teams have enough offensive talent to make this one uncomfortable for the other side, and the betting market is already signaling that small details could matter more than reputations. The number attached to the game leaves plenty of room for movement, but for now it sets up a conference matchup that should carry real stakes from the opening kick. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders And Colorado Are Facing A Much Bigger Problem
Colorados season has gone from frustrating to alarming in a hurry. The Buffaloes dropped their fifth straight game Saturday, falling 57-24 to Oklahoma State to slip to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12, and the final score only underscored how quickly a competitive first half can unravel when things start going sideways.
Deion Sanders has already made clear he sees the problem as bigger than play-calling or weekly adjustments. After signing a contract extension in 2025, he is now trying to steer a team that has not won a Big 12 game since October 2025 and has lost nine straight conference games, with Sanders stressing that the players have to want success for the university and for themselves. The challenge now is not just stopping the slide, but figuring out whether this group can still summon the buy-in and urgency needed to change it. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Kansas State Problem That Just Got Harder To Read
Kansas States quarterback picture is still unsettled heading into its meeting with Colorado, and that alone makes the matchup harder to sort out. Avery Johnson has been working through an injury, and coach Collin Klein said the Wildcats are continuing to monitor his recovery while also keeping tabs on the rest of the room.
The uncertainty does not stop with Johnson. Blake Barnett and Jacob Knuth are both part of the conversation, and Kleins latest update offered no easy read on who will take the first snap against the Buffaloes. For Colorado, the scouting report may end up coming down less to a name on the depth chart than to which version of Kansas State actually shows up. [Read more 🡒]