UCF remained at No. 4 in the latest Big 12 power rankings, heading into their conference home opener against Colorado on Saturday. The Knights were tied with Oklahoma State, which lost to Utah last week.
The unbeaten Utes received 15 possible 16 first-place votes from a media panel that regularly covers the league.
Iowa State climbed to No. 2 this week, while BYU made the biggest jump of the week from ninth to third and received the other first-place vote.
1. Utah Previous ranking: 1 Points: 255 (15 first-place votes) Record: 4-0 (1-0 Big 12) Last week: beat No. 14 Oklahoma State, 22-19 This week: vs. Arizona Comment: Utah’s defense held Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II to 11 rushing attempts, 42 rushing yards and 3.8 yards per carry. Did you know? With the Ute’s win over OSU, Isaac Wilson became the first true freshman quarterback in program history to beat an AP Top 25-ranked opponent. — Jason Batacao, The Salt Lake Tribune
2. Iowa State Previous ranking: 5 Points: 229 Record: 3-0 (0-0 Big 12) Last week: beat Arkansas State, 52-7 This week: at Houston Comment: The Cyclones are tied for 10th nationally — and lead the Big 12 — in turnover margin at 1.33 per game. Four different Iowa State players boast at least one interception this season (Darien Porter, Jeremiah Cooper, Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon). Porter leads the Cyclones with two picks and has also blocked a punt. Did you know? Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is tied with Dan McCarney for the most wins in program history and the Cyclones seek a 4-0 start for the first time since 2000. Iowa State won nine games that season — and McCarney was the head coach. — Rob Gray, The Cedar Rapids Gazette
Step aside, Deion, this is UCF’s ‘Primetime’ moment | Commentary
3. BYU
Previous ranking: 9 Points: 215 (one first-place vote) Record: 4-0 (1-0 Big 12) Last week: beat No. 13 Kansas State, 38-9 This week: at Baylor Comment: BYU blitzed Kansas State, scoring four touchdowns in less than six minutes of gameplay. The defensive identity BYU’s been building — creating turnovers and turning it into points — showed up for the first time in Big 12 play. Did you know? BYU is 4-0 for the first time since 2021 when the Cougars were an independent. — Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune
T4. Oklahoma State Previous ranking: 3 Points: 203 Record: 3-1 (0-1 Big 12) Last week: lost to No. 12 Utah, 22-19 This week: at No. 23 Kansas State Comment: Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman remains the starter despite being sidelined for most of the second half. He seems to struggle when behind schedule, which remains challenging for the Cowboys, considering the team hasn’t rushed for more than 60 yards against a Power Five opponent this season. Did you know? Oklahoma State safety recorded his first two interceptions in the first half on Saturday. Now, only seven players in the country have more this entire season. — Tyler Waldrep, Tulsa World
T4. UCF Previous ranking: 4 Points: 203 Record: 3-0 (1-0 Big 12) Last week: Open date This week: vs. Colorado Comment: UCF has started 3-0 for the second consecutive season and is looking to win its first four games for the first time since 2018. The Knights are preparing for their first-ever meeting against Colorado. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff Show will mark the occasion by broadcasting live from the Central Florida campus. Did you know? UCF leads the nation in rushing (375.5 yards per game) thanks to the hot start by running back RJ Harvey , who has 448 yards in three games. — Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel
If UCF can ‘seize the moment’ on national stage vs. Colorado, that can pay dividends with recruits, too
6. Kansas State
Previous ranking: 2 Points: 179 Record: 3-1 (0-1 Big 12) Last week: lost to BYU, 38-9 This week: vs. No. 20 Oklahoma State Comment: BYU scored 21 points off three K-State turnovers in Saturday night’s loss. Last year, K-State surrendered only 27 points off 12 turnovers the entire season. Did you know? The Wildcats will try to win back-to-back games at home versus Oklahoma State for the first time since the 2012 and 2014 seasons. — Tim Everson, The Manhattan Mercury
7. Arizona Previous ranking: 7 Points: 142 Record: 2-1 (0-0 Big 12) Last week: Open date This week: at No. 10 Utah Comment: Arizona had an open date following its blowout loss to Kansas State in Manhattan, but the UA faces arguably its toughest challenge: a Top 10 Utah team that lost to the Wildcats by four touchdowns in Tucson last season. Utah excels at everything Arizona struggles, including running the ball, rushing defense, and penalties. It could be another long night for Arizona. Did you know? The remaining opponents on Arizona’s schedule have a combined 25-10 record. Houston is the only team with a losing record left on Arizona’s schedule. Arizona has to play three current unbeaten teams — Utah, BYU and Central Florida — on the road. — Justin Spears, Arizona Daily Star
8. Texas Tech Previous ranking: 13 Points: 130 Last week: beat Arizona State, 30-22 This week: vs. Cincinnati Comment: On the surface, it looks like Texas Tech has shed its first two weeks of embarrassment on defense and now has each of its preseason goals very much in sight with winnable games in three of their next four contests, starting with this week’s matchup against Cincinnati. Did you know? Texas Tech is allowing 3.6 yards per carry against running backs this season, which will be tested against Cincinnati’s Corey Kiner. — Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
T9. Arizona State Previous ranking: 6 Points: 125 Record: 3-1 (0-1 Big 12) Last week: lost to Texas Tech, 30-22 This week: Open date Comment: The Sun Devils came up short in their second trip to Texas in as many weeks. The defense held the Red Raiders 14 points and 200 yards under their season averages, but the offense never got going full throttle with uncharacteristic penalties complicating things. This was a week freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt looked like a freshman quarterback. Did you know? ASU entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in turnover margin and had just one turnover the previous three games combined with Leavitt’s first quarter interception just the second giveaway of the season for the Sun Devils. — Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic
UCF coach Gus Malzahn has always been a big fan of Colorado’s Deion Sanders
T9. Colorado Previous ranking: 10 Points: 125 Record: 3-1 (1-0 Big 12) Last week: beat Baylor in overtime, 38-31 This week: at UCF Comment: In a wild return to the Big 12 – after 13 years in the Pac-12 – Colorado rallied to tie Baylor on the last play of regulation with a Hail Mary pass and then won it in overtime with a forced fumble at the goal line. Stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter were great once again, but they had plenty of help as CU won a conference opener for the first time since 2020. Defensively, the Buffs remain stout after halftime, giving up just 19 second-half points this year. Did you know? Colorado has held three consecutive opponents to less than 350 yards in total offense. It’s the first time a CU defense has done that since the middle of the 2016 season. — Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera
11. West Virginia Previous ranking: 12 Points: 109 Last week: beat Kansas, 32-28 This week: Open date Comment: The Mountaineers get a much-needed open week before a three-game stretch that includes No. 20 Oklahoma State, No. 18 Iowa State and No. 23 Kansas State. Coach Neal Brown said one key area that needs improvement is ball security. West Virginia is minus-5 in turnover margin this season, which is tied for 118th nationally. Did you know? Since 1980, West Virginia is 215-30-1 when scoring 30 points or more in a game. – Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle
12. Cincinnati Previous ranking: 15 Points: 93 Record: 3-1 (1-0 Big 12) Last week: beat Houston, 34-0 This week: at Texas Tech Comment: The Bearcats had their most complete game under Scott Satterfield as they jumped out to a comfortable 24-0 halftime lead on the Cougars, then were able to play their bench in the fourth quarter on their way to the 34-0 victory. Brendan Sorsby was 12-for-15 passing with two touchdown tosses to Xzavier Henderson in the first half and a third-quarter touchdown run. It was Satterfield’s first Big 12 win at Nippert Stadium. Did you know? The shutout of the Cougars was Cincinnati’s first since beating Navy 42-0 on Nov. 3, 2018, and their first Power Four shutout since blanking Virginia Tech 16-0 in 1995. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer
13. TCU Previous ranking: 8 Points: 58 Record: 2-2 (0-1 Big 12) Last week: lost to SMU, 66-42 This week: at Kansas Comment: TCU fell to their crosstown rival for the first time since 2021 and is at risk of dropping below .500 for the first time this season as they travel to face Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium this weekend. Did you know? TCU is just 3-8 in its last 11 games against P4 opponents. — Jamie Plunkett, Horned Frog Blitz
14. Baylor
Previous ranking: 11 Points: 52 Record: 2-2 (0-1 Big 12) Last week: lost to Colorado in overtime, 38-31 This week: vs. No. 22 BYU Comment: Baylor’s overtime loss to Colorado will sting for a while. After playing some of their best football for 59 minutes and leading into the final seconds, the Bears gave up a Hail Mary to the Buffs with no time on the clock to go to overtime, where they fumbled the potential game-tying touchdown at the goal line. Baylor will have to respond on Saturday when it welcomes red-hot BYU to McLane Stadium, which is 2-0 this season. Did you know? The Bears had eight sacks in the loss to Colorado, their most in a game since finishing with 10 in the 2021 Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss. — Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Heral d
15. Kansas Previous ranking: 14 Points: 42 Record: 1-3 (0-1 Big 12) Last week: lost to West Virginia, 32-28 This week: vs. TCU Comment: The Jayhawks gave up a lead in the fourth quarter for the third consecutive week, this time in dramatic fashion as WVU scored on back-to-back touchdown drives in the final minutes. Whatever emphasis KU’s defense may have placed on finishing out games hasn’t yet produced results. Did you know? The last time KU played TCU, both teams were unbeaten and ranked and KU hosted ESPN’s “College GameDay.” — Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World
16. Houston Last week: 16 Points: 16 Record: 1-3 (0-1 Big 12) Last week: lost to Cincinnati, 34-0 This week: vs. No. 18 Iowa State Comment: Houston continued its offensive struggles, becoming the first Power Four school to be shut out this season. Coach Willie Fritz says Donovan Smith will remain the starter, although backup Zeon Chriss is expected to see action against Iowa State as the Cougars search for a spark. Houston ranks near the bottom in every major offensive statistical category, including 13.0 points per game. Did you know? The 52 points are the fewest through four games for Houston since 1995. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle
Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
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