Big 12 power rankings: Get set for Oklahoma State, Utah to fight for No. 1

Utah got past Utah State without injured quarterback Cameron Rising , and Oklahoma State crushed Tulsa with Alan Bowman throwing for five touchdowns. At the top of the Big 12 football power rankings, we're replacing the Utes with the Cowboys .

There doesn't seem to be a lot of separation between the two teams, but we'll find out soon enough because they square off Saturday in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

On to this week's power rankings.

1. Oklahoma State (3-0, 0-0)

Last week: 2

This week: Utah

What to know: Memo to Big 12 schedule-maker: Shouldn't your biggest games go at the end?

Related: What did Oklahoma State football prove vs Tulsa? Alan Bowman can beats teams if needed

2. Utah (3-0, 0-0 in Big 12)

Last week: 1

This week: at Oklahoma State

What to know: Second in the Big 12 in scoring defense, fifth in scoring offense. Who has a better combination?

More: US LBM Coaches Poll: Georgia shows weakness, but don't read too much into it

3. Kansas State (3-0, 0-0)

Last week: 4

This week: at Brigham Young

What to know: K-State 31, Arizona 7 was a non-conference game scheduled before the Pac-12 collapse. We can still draw conclusions.

4. Iowa State (2-0, 0-0)

Last week: 5

This week: Arkansas State

What to know: Iowa State might have an easier time with Arkansas State than Michigan did. Assuming Rocco Becht doesn't muck it up the way his Wolverines counterpart did.

5. Central Florida (3-0, 1-0)

Last week: 7

This week: Idle

What to know: Big 12 power rankings told readers last week to tune in to UCF-TCU. The Knights rallied from 21 points down to win 35-34 , so you're welcome.

6. Arizona (2-1, 0-0)

Last week: 3

This week: Idle

What to know: Who predicted Noah Fifita with one touchdown pass in a two-game stretch?

7. Kansas (1-2, 0-0)

Last week: 6

This week: at West Virginia

What to know: Lance Leipold's mastermind status due for a tuneup after losses to Illinois and UNLV.

8. West Virginia (1-2, 0-0)

Last week: 8

This week: Kansas

What to know: Blowing a 10-point lead in the last four minutes — to Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, of all games — will have the Neal Brown detractors grabbing their pitchforks.

9. TCU (2-1, 0-1)

Last week: 9

This week: at SMU

What to know: How to forget blowing the Big 12 opener? Fire up the Iron Skillet.

10. Texas Tech (2-1, 0-0)

Last week: 13

This week: Arizona State

What to know: With Wes Welker in the house , Texas Tech scored seven touchdowns in a less than 13-minute stretch of the first half against North Texas.

More: Texas Tech football: Grading a near 600-yard performance | Red Raiders' report card

11. Arizona State (3-0, 0-0)

Last week: 10

This week: at Texas Tech

What to know: There are teams every year starting 3-0 and finishing under .500.

More: How good is ASU's Cam Skattebo? Even Christian McCaffrey has taken notice

12. Brigham Young (3-0, 0-0)

Last week: 11

This week: Kansas State

What to know: Reality check coming for the Cougars .

13. Colorado (2-1, 0-0)

Last week: 12

This week: Baylor

What to know: Two great players can carry a basketball team a long way. Not so sure about a football team.

More: Colorado coach Deion Sanders wanted decisive Colorado State win after 'disrespect' from Rams

14. Baylor (2-1, 0-0)

Last week: 14

This week: at Colorado

What to know: Baylor honored its 1974 Miracle on the Brazos team Saturday. The current bunch could use some divine assistance.

15. Cincinnati (2-1, 0-0)

Last week: 15

This week: Houston

What to know: Beating Miami (Ohio) was not nothing, considering the RedHawks were 11-3 last year.

More: Takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats Victory Bell win over Miami RedHawks

16. Houston (1-2, 0-0)

Last week: 16

This week: at Cincinnati

What to know: Cougars got their first win for Willie Fritz in the Bayou Bucket game and finally mustered a little offense.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 power rankings: Get set for Oklahoma State, Utah to fight for No. 1