Big 12 Power Rankings updated after Week 10 of college football

November is here and with that, the college football season is in its final stretch. That began with a thrilling Week 10 and in the wake of that week the Big 12 Power Rankings, with the assistance of the On3 Massey Ratings.

The On3 Massey Ratings – which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated high school sports team rankings since 1995 – rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

With all of that in consideration, here’s a look at the most recent Big 12 Power Rankings following Week 10.

1. BYU Cougars (8-0, 5-0)

The BYU Cougars are the last remaining team in the Big 12 following Week 10. With that, they’re in an excellent position to both go to the conference championship game and the College Football Playoff. They’ve gotten to that point, largely, thanks to their excellent defensive effort this season. BYU is giving up just 19.6 points per game, which is 24th in the country in scoring defense. 

BYU is coming off its bye week. With that, the Cougars should be rested for their run through the final four games of the season. That starts with a massive rivalry game against the Utah Utes on the road next Saturday.

2. Iowa State Cyclones (7-1, 4-1)

Iowa State had been playing with fire for a couple of weeks and the Cyclones were finally upset in a game against Texas Tech in Week 10. With that, the Cyclones took their first loss of the season, though they’re still very high in the Big 12 Power Rankings.

Iowa State now finds itself in an interesting position for the Big 12 Championship Game. With a 4-1 record in conference play, Iowa State now has the same record as Colorado. Those two don’t play one another this season. So, now there’s a chance that the standings come down to tiebreakers.

3. Kansas State Wildcats (7-2, 4-2)

Kansas State is now sitting at third in the Big 12 Power Rankings. That comes after the Wildcats suffered one of the biggest upsets that the conference has seen all season long, losing to Houston. In a 24-19 game, the Wildcats gave up 14 points in the fourth quarter that the offense wasn’t able to answer. That gave Kansas State a second conference loss.

A second loss in conference play puts Kansas State in a difficult spot to make the conference championship game. There are now three teams ahead of the Wildcats in the standings. That includes Iowa State, who Kansas State has the chance to beat in the future, and Colorado, who Kansas State has already beaten. Still, for that to matter, Kansas State needs to avoid any other mistakes and get some help in the form of a Colorado loss.

4. Colorado Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1)

The Colorado Buffaloes are coming off a bye week in Week 10. That went just about as well as it possibly could have for the Buffaloes, with Iowa State and Kansas State both losing. That, in turn, put a Big 12 Championship Game appearance within reach for Colorado.

In each of their final four games, Colorado will likely be expected to win. Assuming the Buffaloes are able to win out, then making the conference championship game is going to come down, largely, to the play of Iowa State. The two won’t have a head-to-head result, which means the next step is to compare the two based on win percentage against all common conference opponents.

5. Arizona State Sun Devils (6-2, 3-2)

One of the best surprises of the season has been Arizona State. The Sun Devils came into the 2024 season with very low expectations. However, in year two under Kenny Dillingham, they’ve surpassed those expectations and more. Now, the Sun Devils are going bowling.

In Week 10, Arizona State put together a dominant win over Oklahoma State. It was an excellent bounce back after losing on the road to Cincinnati ahead of the bye week. Now, the Sun Devils will look to finish strong, starting with a home game against UCF.

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-3, 4-2)

Texas Tech pulled off a pretty major upset in Week 10 over Iowa State in a pretty great way to bounce back from a win over TCU. That win was largely thanks to the play of running back Tahj Brooks, who had 122 rushing yards and a score.

With that, the Red Raiders have made it to bowl eligibility. That win also puts them in an interesting position for the Big 12 conference race. At 4-2 in conference play, Texas Tech has the head-to-head over the Cyclones and will have a chance to beat Colorado. That makes the Red Raiders a real contender.

7. West Virginia Mountaineers (4-4, 3-2)

The West Virginia Mountaineers had a bye week in Week 10. Coming out of that week off, the Mountaineers are actually in a position to make a push if enough chaotic results were to happen ahead of them in the Big 12. However, to get there, West Virginia would likely need to win out.

At 4-4 with four games left, West Virginia has to win at least two to get to bowl eligibility. That starts with a road trip to Cincinnati, the closest team to the Mountaineers in the Big 12. It’s also a game both teams are circling as a key to win.

8. Baylor Bears (5-4, 3-3)

The Baylor Bears have been showing a ton of improvement throughout the season. At one point, the Bears were 2-4 and it looked like things were going the wrong way in Waco. Since then, however, Baylor has won three straight games, including the recent exciting win against TCU, putting Baylor in a good position for the rest of November.

With three conference losses, making the Big 12 Championship Game isn’t realistically on the table. However, at 5-4 this season and three games remaining, making a bowl after a very slow start looks like it’s going to happen. That starts with a bye week followed by a road trip to West Virginia.

9. TCU Horned Frogs (5-4, 3-3)

The TCU Horned Frogs have had an up-and-down season this year. After a rocky stretch at the end of September and into early October, the Horned Frogs seemed to turn things around. However, November got off to a rocky start, dropping a game to Baylor. Now, with three games left, TCU needs to get at least one more win to go bowling.

In the loss to Baylor, TCU once again relied on its passing attack. That starts with the connection between Josh Hoover and Jack Bech. Once again, Bech led TCU in receiving with 98 yards receiving and two touchdown catches.

10. Cincinnati Bearcats (5-3, 3-2)

After dropping a road game in Boulder in Week 9, the Cincinnati Bearcats had a bye week in Week 10. With that, the hope is that the Bearcats will be rested for the final stretch of the season, with the Bearcats one win away from bowl eligibility. That final stretch starts with a home game against West Virginia.

For Cincinnati, this team has taken a major step forward in their second Big 12 season and their second under Scott Satterfield. Continuing to build on that throughout November is going to be massive for the Bearcats.

Rest of Big 12 Power Rankings

11. Utah Utes (4-4, 1-4)
12. UCF Knights (4-5, 2-4)
13. Houston Cougars (4-5, 3-3)
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-6, 0-6)
15. Kansas Jayhawks (2-6, 1-4)
16. Arizona Wildcats (3-6, 1-5)

In Week 11, there are going to be six Big 12 games and 12 teams in action. That includes three ranked teams hitting the road and a pair of rivalry games. With that, there’s the potential for more chaos going into next week and another shakeup in the Big 12 Power Rankings.