Utah football won two of the past three Pac-12 championship games, so the Utes are expected to pose an immediate threat in their new conference, the Big 12. After holding off putting the Utes atop the Big 12 power rankings, now seems like a good time to move them past previous No. 1 Oklahoma State.
Utah ranks No. 7 in the nation in scoring defense and total defense — granted, against mild competition — whereas Oklahoma State yielded 648 yards while winning a 39-31 , double-overtime thriller last week against Arkansas.
Here are this week's rankings.
1. Utah (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 3
This week: at Utah State
What to know: It wouldn't be college football season if the Utes weren't worried about Cam Rising's health. Really, though, being shoved like a bowling ball into the Gatorade coolers?
2. Oklahoma State (2-0, 0-0 in Big 12)
Last week: 1
This week: at Tulsa
What to know: Cowboys yielded three long drives for touchdowns to Arkansas and might have lost linebacker Collin Oliver for the season.
Related: How Oklahoma State football, Ollie Gordon II never panicked in 2OT win vs. Arkansas
Related: Updating Oklahoma State rankings in college football polls after Arkansas game
3. Arizona (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 2
This week: Friday at Kansas State
What to know: We're about to find out about Arizona, which has upcoming road games at Kansas State and Utah.
4. Kansas State (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 4
This week: Friday vs. Arizona
What to know: Wildcats won a game they maybe should have lost at Tulane.
Related: Kansas State football's culture won out in comeback road victory over Tulane
Related: Grading Kansas State football's performance vs. Tulane in its first road game
5. Iowa State (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 5
This week: Idle
What to know: Kyle Konrardy's game-winning 54-yard field goal gave the Cyclones their second straight victory in Iowa City.
Related: Hines: Iowa State football wins Cy-Hawk in historic fashion
6. Kansas (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 6
This week: Friday vs. Nevada-Las Vegas
What to know: Jalon Daniels will work out the kinks, but his career-high three interceptions in loss at Illinois give him four after two games.
More: Kansas football vs Illinois score: Jayhawks fall 23-17 to Fighting Illini
7. Central Florida (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 9
This week: at TCU
What to know: R.J. Harvey has topped 100 yards rushing in nine of his past 10 games.
8. West Virginia (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 8
This week: at Pittsburgh
What to know: A lot of people in college football could learn from WVU, which has neighborhood rivals Penn State and Pitt on the schedule two weeks apart.
9. TCU (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 11
This week: Central Florida
What to know: In a week with many underwhelming matchups, we suggest tuning in TCU-UCF, a virtual tossup.
10. Arizona State (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 13
This week: at Texas State
What to know: ASU's conquest of Mississippi State was the Sun Devils ' first against an SEC school.
More: Statement made: ASU football notches 1st win against SEC in program history
11. Brigham Young (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 14
This week: at Wyoming
What to know: Not sold on the Cougars just yet. But foiling the SMU offense enough to get Preston Stone benched is doing something.
12. Colorado (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 10
This week: at Colorado State
What to know: Coach Prime's team is 2-9 in its past 11 games.
13. Texas Tech (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 7
This week: North Texas
What to know: Red Raiders are last in the Big 12 in scoring defense, lead in penalties.
More: Texas Tech football's Joey McGuire second-guesses himself over 4th-down gambles
More: 5 takeaways from Texas Tech football's humbling loss to Washington State
14. Baylor (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 12
This week: Air Force
What to know: The Dequan Finn bandwagon hit a speed bump in the form of the Utah defense.
15. Cincinnati (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 15
This week: at Miami (Ohio)
What to know: And you thought Scott Satterfield was unpopular before the Bearcats blew that three-touchdown lead and lost to Pitt.
Related: Takeaways from Saturday's Cincinnati Bearcats disappointing loss to Pitt
16. Houston (0-2, 0-0)
Last week: 16
This week: Rice
What to know: Cougars almost sent the Sooner Schooner spinning. Almost.
More: OU football denies Houston upset bid, but Sooners 'deserved to lose' | 5 takeaways
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 football power rankings: Utah takes over top spot, Cam Rising scare notwithstanding
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