BYU Has A Huge Chance To Change The Big 12 Race

The Big 12’s pecking order is still getting sorted, but the race at the top is starting to sharpen.

BYU is back at No. 1 in the conference power rankings, with Utah right behind at No. 2.

That mirrors the conference’s current reality: only nine unbeaten teams are left in college football, and three of them belong to the Big 12. Two of those perfect teams are in Utah.

What stands out, though, is how steady the top of the league has been. The best teams have kept winning, week after week, and there hasn’t been quite the same kind of weekly chaos that usually makes these rankings such a headache. The question now is how long that holds.

For BYU, the next test is a huge one. The Cougars get Notre Dame in a nonconference matchup that matters far beyond just one Saturday night. It’s a major opportunity for BYU, and also a spotlight game for the Big 12 as a whole.

Here’s the composite Week 6 ranking from KSL Sports reporters Steve Bartle, Josh Furlong, and Mitch Harper:

1. BYU (5-0, 3-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 2 (Up 1)

Last game: BYU 24, Iowa State 10

This week: vs. Notre Dame | Saturday | 5:30 p.m. (MDT), ABC & KSL NewsRadio

2. Utah (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 1 (Down 1)

Last game: Utah 41, Kansas 24

This week: at Colorado | Saturday | 8:15 p.m. (MDT), ESPN

3. Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 3

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Arizona State | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. (MDT), FOX

4. Houston (5-1, 2-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 5 (Up 1)

Last game: Houston 35, K-State 16 (Road Win)

This week: vs. Oklahoma State | Saturday | 5:30 p.m. (MDT), FOX

5. Oklahoma State (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 4 (Down 1)

Last game: Oklahoma State 42, UCF 28

This week: at Houston | Saturday | 5:30 p.m. (MDT), FOX

6. Arizona (5-1, 2-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 6

Last game: Arizona 52, West Virginia 31 (Road Win)

This week: Bye

7. Baylor (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 7

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. TCU | Saturday | 5 p.m. (MDT), FS1

8. Cincinnati (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 9 (Up 1)

Last week: Bye

This week: at West Virginia | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), TNT

9. Iowa State (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 8 (Down 1)

Last game: BYU 24, Iowa State 10

This week: Bye

10. UCF (3-3, 1-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Up 2)

Last game: Oklahoma State 42, UCF 28

This week: Bye

11. Arizona State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 13 (Up 2)

Last game: Arizona State 30, Hawai’i 12

This week: at Texas Tech | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. (MDT), FOX

12. Kansas State (3-2, 0-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 11 (Down 1)

Last game: Houston 35, K-State 16 (Home Loss)

This week: vs. Kansas | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), FS1

13. Kansas (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 15 (Up 2)

Last game: Utah 41, Kansas 24

This week: at K-State | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), FS1

14. TCU (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 14

Last week: Bye

This week: at Baylor | Saturday | 5 p.m. (MDT), FS1

15. West Virginia (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 10 (Down 5)

Last game: Arizona 52, West Virginia 31 (Home Loss)

This week: vs. Cincinnati | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), TNT

16. Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 16

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Utah | Saturday | 8:15 p.m. (MDT), ESPN

The individual ballots show a little more disagreement near the top, even if BYU and Utah remain the clear headliners. Steve Bartle’s ballot puts Utah first and BYU second.

Josh Furlong and Mitch Harper both have BYU at No. 1 and Utah at No. 2.

Bartle’s ballot goes Utah, BYU, Texas Tech, Houston, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, UCF, K-State, Arizona State, Kansas, TCU, West Virginia and Colorado.

Furlong’s list has BYU, Utah, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Houston, Arizona, Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, UCF, Arizona State, K-State, Kansas, TCU, West Virginia and Colorado.

Harper’s ballot follows BYU, Utah, Texas Tech, Houston, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Baylor, Cincinnati, UCF, Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas, K-State, TCU, West Virginia and Colorado.

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