Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: A League of Contenders, Chaos, and Clarity
As we barrel toward March, the Big 12 is giving us the kind of late-season drama that makes college basketball so irresistible. Saturday’s action in Tucson delivered a double-overtime dose of chaos, capped by Texas Tech outlasting Arizona in a thriller that shook up the top tier of the conference. That result, along with a flurry of head-to-head matchups, has turned this week’s power rankings into more of a puzzle than a pecking order.
Let’s break down the tiers, the trends, and what it all means as we close in on Kansas City.
Tier 1: The Contenders
- Houston (23-2, 11-1) | Last Week: 2
The Cougars are back on top, and they’ve earned it. With the longest winning streak in the conference and a defense that continues to suffocate opponents, Houston is peaking at the right time.
Their head-to-head résumé isn’t overwhelming, but they’re winning the games in front of them - and that matters most in February.
- Texas Tech (19-6, 9-3) | Last Week: 5
The Red Raiders took down Arizona in Tucson in one of the wildest games of the season, and that win vaults them into the No. 2 spot. This team has collected statement victories all year, and while the home loss to Kansas still stings, they’ve shown they can beat anybody, anywhere.
This group is built for March.
- Arizona (23-2, 10-2) | Last Week: 1
Back-to-back losses drop the Wildcats, but not too far. Saturday’s overtime battle with Texas Tech was a gut punch, but it doesn’t erase what Arizona has done this season.
Tommy Lloyd knows the road ahead is brutal, but Arizona is still very much in the national title conversation - they just need to steady the ship.
- Kansas (19-6, 9-3) | Last Week: 3
The Jayhawks are maddeningly inconsistent. They beat Arizona at home, then turned around and laid an egg at Iowa State.
Still, their 3-1 record in head-to-heads against top-tier teams speaks volumes. If Kansas can find some rhythm down the stretch, they’ll be a problem in both the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments - with or without Darryn Peterson.
- Iowa State (22-3, 9-3) | Last Week: 4
The Cyclones are a tough read. They crushed Kansas at home, then dropped a tight one at TCU.
Their upcoming schedule is a gauntlet, with multiple ranked opponents still to come. But this is a battle-tested group, and if they survive the next few weeks, they’ll be more than ready for the postseason.
- BYU (19-6, 7-5) | Last Week: 6
The Cougars stay in Tier 1, but they’re hanging on. A winless record against the top five and the season-ending ACL injury to Richie Saunders are major blows.
Still, BYU’s depth and offensive firepower keep them above the second tier - for now. Their next few games will tell us if they can stay afloat without one of their emotional leaders.
Head-to-Head Snapshot (Among Top 6):
- Kansas: 3-1
- Texas Tech: 3-2
- Houston: 2-1
- Iowa State: 1-1
- Arizona: 1-2
- BYU: 0-4
It’s tempting to lean heavily on head-to-head results, but in a league this deep, momentum and current form matter just as much. And right now, Houston and Texas Tech are surging.
Tier 2: The Bubble and the Battlers
- TCU (16-9, 6-6) | Last Week: 10
The Horned Frogs are heating up at the right time. A huge win over Iowa State and another over Oklahoma State have them trending toward the NCAA Tournament bubble.
They’ve won three straight and are playing with urgency - exactly what you want to see in mid-February.
- Cincinnati (14-12, 6-7) | Last Week: 11
Don’t look now, but the Bearcats are stringing wins together. After a rocky stretch, they’ve responded with three straight victories.
Wes Miller’s squad looks rejuvenated, and if they keep this up, they could sneak into the tournament conversation. The next two weeks are critical.
- West Virginia (16-9, 7-5) | Last Week: 12
The Mountaineers are quietly putting together a solid conference résumé. They’ve won four of their last five and are playing with confidence.
They don’t have the flash of the top-tier teams, but they’ve been consistent - and that counts for something in a league this unpredictable.
- UCF (17-7, 6-6) | Last Week: 8
The Knights have hit a wall, dropping three straight. They’re still in the tournament picture, but the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The good news? Five of their last six games are against unranked opponents.
If they take care of business, they’ll be fine. But the pressure is officially on.
- Oklahoma State (16-9, 4-8) | Last Week: 7
The Cowboys are trending in the wrong direction. A costly loss to Arizona State dropped them further out of the bubble picture, and the schedule doesn’t offer many easy outs.
They’ve got talent, but time is running out to put it all together.
- Colorado (14-12, 4-9) | Last Week: 9
The Buffaloes are reeling. A loss to Texas Tech added to their woes, and head coach Tad Boyle’s postgame comments haven’t helped the vibe around the program.
They’ve now dropped three straight and are clinging to relevance in a crowded middle tier.
Tier 3: The Strugglers
- Arizona State (13-12, 4-9) | Last Week: 14
The Sun Devils move up a spot this week after a gritty win over Oklahoma State. It wasn’t pretty, but it was meaningful.
ASU is still a long shot for postseason play, but they’re not going down quietly.
- Baylor (13-12, 3-9) | Last Week: 13
This season just hasn’t gone Baylor’s way. Scott Drew will need to regroup and retool in the offseason, because this campaign is quickly slipping into the rearview.
The Bears are struggling to find consistency on either end of the floor.
- Kansas State (10-16, 1-11) | Last Week: 15
Jerome Tang tried everything - early-morning practices, empowering players with scouting responsibilities - but nothing clicked. The result?
A loss to Houston and, ultimately, the end of Tang’s tenure. It’s been a rough ride for the Wildcats, and they’ll be starting over soon.
- Utah (9-16, 1-11) | Last Week: 16
The Utes continue to slide, now losers of seven straight. They’re not just losing - they’re getting outplayed in nearly every facet.
At this point, they’re playing spoiler more than anything else, and that’s a tough place to be in a league this competitive.
The Road Ahead
With less than a month to go before the Big 12 Tournament tips off in Kansas City, we’re looking at one of the most wide-open races in recent memory. Five legitimate national title contenders.
A second tier full of teams fighting for their tournament lives. And a bottom tier that’s still capable of springing an upset or two.
The next three weeks? Buckle up. This stretch run is shaping up to be the best we’ve seen in years.