BYU’s unbeaten start now sits at the top of the Big 12 pecking order.
A 24-10 home win over Iowa State on Friday night pushed the Cougars to No. 1 in this week’s rankings, and they did it without running back LJ Martin. BYU still found enough offense and kept the Cyclones to 10 points, which is enough to separate it from the pack for now. The reward is a massive matchup against Notre Dame.
Utah stays right behind the Cougars at No. 2 after handling Kansas 41-24 at home to keep its own perfect record intact. BYU’s latest win gave the Cougars the edge this week, but the Utes have kept rolling and now head to Colorado with another chance to stay near the top.
Texas Tech was idle in Week 6 and slips to No. 3, not because of anything it did wrong, but because BYU and Utah keep stacking wins. The Red Raiders are still unbeaten and still very much in the race, and a visit from Arizona State gives them a chance to reclaim some of that top-tier shine.
Houston made one of the loudest moves of the week. The Cougars went on the road and beat Kansas State 35-16, then jumped two spots in the rankings. Now they get Oklahoma State in a game that could shake up the upper half of the conference again, especially with the Cowboys sitting just behind them.
Oklahoma State didn’t lose this week - it beat UCF 42-28 at home to stay unbeaten in Big 12 play - but Houston’s rise pushed the Cowboys down a spot. That makes Saturday’s trip to Houston feel even bigger, with the rankings and the field about to line up directly against each other.
Arizona also kept climbing after putting together one of the weekend’s biggest offensive statements. The Wildcats beat West Virginia 52-31 on the road and moved up a spot before heading into their bye. That kind of scoring burst is exactly why TCU people have reason to take notice before the Frogs visit Tucson in November.
Baylor didn’t play in Week 6, but the Bears still slid two places as other teams added wins around them. They’re 4-1 overall and unbeaten in conference play, and the next test is a rivalry game against TCU in the Revivalry.
Cincinnati spent the week off and moved up one place, giving the Bearcats a little more room near the middle of the standings. The upcoming trip to West Virginia should say plenty about where they really stand.
Iowa State’s loss at BYU nudged the Cyclones down a spot. They couldn’t consistently pressure the undefeated Cougars, and now they get a bye to sort it out.
Kansas State dropped a game to Houston, 35-16, and is still looking for its first conference win. The Wildcats actually move up one place because UCF slid, but there’s no hiding the need for a response. Kansas comes to town in the Sunflower Showdown, and both teams enter at 0-2 in Big 12 play.
Arizona State bounced back with a 30-12 win over Hawai‘i. The result strengthens the Sun Devils’ overall record while leaving them at 1-1 in the conference, and it earned them a two-spot climb. Texas Tech is next, which will be a far tougher measure.
UCF lost for the second straight conference game, falling 42-28 at Oklahoma State. The Knights kept themselves within range offensively, but they couldn’t match the Cowboys and now head into a bye.
West Virginia had a rough night in a 52-31 home loss to Arizona and has now dropped its first three conference games. The defense has to stiffen up, and quickly, with Cincinnati coming to town next.
TCU stayed put at No. 14 during its bye after opening Big 12 play with two losses. The Horned Frogs head to Baylor needing the extra week to turn into something more productive on the field. A rivalry win would be a badly needed reset, and freshman Ace Theus has given them at least one encouraging thing to build on.
Colorado remains at No. 15 after its bye and is still chasing its first conference win. Utah comes to Boulder next, and the Buffaloes will need a much sharper outing to have any shot at an upset.
Kansas rounds out the list after a 41-24 loss at Utah. The Jayhawks are still searching for their first conference victory, but they get a chance to change that Saturday at Kansas State in a game that sends both teams into the Sunflower Showdown at 0-2 in Big 12 play.
For TCU, the coming stretch doesn’t offer much room to breathe. Baylor is first, and after that the Frogs will keep running into opponents that can make the rest of the schedule much harder to navigate unless they start finishing closer games the right way.
In Other News...
TCU Has One Chance To Reset Before Baylor Changes Everything
TCU is trying to keep the mood upbeat after its loss to BYU, even with the result making the road ahead much trickier in the Big 12 race. The Horned Frogs are treating this week as a reset point, leaning on a defense that has given them a chance to stay in games while the offense works to find more consistency before the matchup with Baylor.
Senior players KaMorreun Pimpton and Hudson Hooper both sounded confident that the group can respond and close the season in a better place than it started this stretch. The challenge now is turning that optimism into cleaner execution, because the margin for error is shrinking and Baylor is waiting at a point in the schedule where one more slip can change the conversation quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Heads Into TCU With Momentum And One Big Question
As Baylor heads into the week off before seeing TCU, Dave Aranda made it clear the Bears still see room to grow even after the recent stretch that has built some momentum. During his weekly media availability, Aranda focused on the teams ongoing improvement, stressing the value of using the bye week well while keeping the current rhythm intact and continuing to sharpen the details that matter in conference play.
Aranda also touched on the health of key pieces, noting encouraging signs up front and better movement from quarterback DJ Lagway. Those updates matter in a matchup like this, where protection and mobility can shape everything Baylor wants to do, but the biggest question now is how much of that progress carries over once the Bears return to action against the Horned Frogs. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Faces A Rivalry Threat That Could Hit Big 12 Hopes Hard
Baylors trip to face TCU carries more weight than a typical rivalry game, even with the Bears installed as the favorite. The matchup has the feel of a measuring stick for both programs, with Baylor trying to keep its Big 12 position intact and TCU leaning on the kind of defensive edge that can make a favorite uncomfortable on the road.
For the Horned Frogs, the stakes are obvious even without much room for error in league play, and that is part of what makes this one so intriguing. Baylor can ill afford a slip if it wants to stay in the title conversation, while TCU has enough on its side to make this a game that could turn quickly if the Bears are forced into a tight fourth-quarter fight. [Read more 🡒]