Big 12 Power Rankings updated after Week 13 of college football

The college football regular season is now over. With that, a lot of questions from around the sport have been answered. That includes a lot of questions within the Big 12.

In the end, nine of the 14 Big 12 schools earned bowl eligibility this season. One school has already moved on from its coach while another is making massive changes to its staff. Meanwhile, at the top of the conference, there is a team with a shot to make it to the College Football Playoff.

With that, the On3 Big 12 Power Rankings are back after Week 13 of action across the conference. These rankings are determined by several members of the On3 staff. They’re also designed to show where teams are at a given point in the season, rather than to go based on the standings or as a prediction of the future. At this point, after the regular season, these rankings are largely solidified with the knowledge of where each team is this season.

1. Texas Longhorns (11-1, 8-1)

Texas is one of two teams heading to the Big 12 Championship Game and will be favored to win it. This comes amid the Longhorns push for a spot in the College Football Playoff. It’s hard to say how the selection committee will act, but it seems like with a little help the Longhorns are still in a good position to make it to the Playoff.

Texas didn’t just beat Texas Tech in front of Commissioner Brett Yormark, the Longhorns dominated the Red Raiders. In what will be their last meeting for a long time, Texas ended with bragging rights. There was even an appearance by Arch Manning in the game, once it was well within hand.

2. Oklahoma Sooners (10-2, 7-2)

Oklahoma won’t be able to play for the Big 12 Championship Game thanks to their loss in Bedlam to Oklahoma State. However, the Sooners did beat Texas this season in what was an excellent bounce-back year after a frustrating 2022 season. So, it’s hard not to feel good about the direction of the Sooners going into the SEC.

One big change that’s coming is the offensive coordinator. Jeff Lebby is leaving for the Mississippi State job. So, it will be interesting to see how he is replaced and if Oklahoma can stay as effective on the offensive side of the ball moving forward.

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-3, 8-2) (+1)

The Cowboys needed to beat BYU to get into the Big 12 Championship Game. However, for the third week in a row, Oklahoma State started incredibly slowly. After trailing at the half, Oklahoma State turned it on in the second half and forced overtime where the Cowboys won and clinched a championship game berth.

After winning an emotional final Bedlam, Oklahoma State has struggled to consistently take care of business, UCF blew Oklahoma State out before Houston and BYU gave Oklahoma State early issues. Against Texas, a slow start won’t be something the Cowboys come back from so easily.

4. Kansas State Wildcats (8-4, 6-3) (-1)

Kansas State entered the final week with a longshot chance to make the Big 12 Championship Game. However, those chances were pretty quickly dashed. Still, the Wildcats entered a game against rival Iowa State with a lot to play for.

In a blizzard at home, Kansas State dropped an excellent game to Iowa State. The Cyclones were too explosive, particularly in the running game, for the Wildcats. Meanwhile, a late turnover by Will Howard proved to be incredibly costly for Kansas State.

5. West Virginia Mountaineers (8-4, 6-3)

Coming into the season, West Virginia was picked to finish last in the Big 12. That, clearly, didn’t happen and head coach Neal Brown is now likely to return as head coach in 2024. The Mountaineers even wrapped up the season with a two-game winning streak.

Still, there was some doubt for West Virginia against Baylor that not many people expected to see. After jumping out to an early lead, Baylor battled back to make it an uncomfortable close game. Still, in the end, West Virginia was able to win a close one.

6. Kansas Jayhawks (8-4, 5-4)

After a frustrating loss to Kansas State, Kansas was able to bounce back with a big win over the Cincinnati Bearcats. In the win, Kansas put up 49 points, largely because backup quarterback Jason Bean was able to return from injury, so the Jayhawks were no longer on their third string. Still, even without Bean, Kansas likely would have been in control here.

While there was hope Kansas could have finished better than 8-4, injuries did slow the Jayhawks down this season. However, it’s hard to undersell how successful this season was. For years, bowl eligibility seemed out of reach and now Kansas is one of the Big 12’s better programs and is consistently making it to bowl games. It’s been an incredible job by Lance Leipold.

7. Iowa State Cyclones (7-5, 6-3)

Matt Campbell has had success at Iowa State that very few people thought was possible over the years. Even with that, the 2023 season was undeniably one of his better coaching jobs. Amid gambling suspensions and injuries, Iowa State started slow but he transformed the team over the season to being one of the best teams within the Big 12, going 6-3 in conference play.

Iowa State ended the season with a big win during a snowy Farmageddon game. In particular, running back Abu Sama was spectacular. He rushed for 276 yards on 17.2 yards per carry and three touchdowns in the win. That win gave Iowa State a winning record this season.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-6, 5-4)

Texas Tech struggled to put up much of anything against Texas, losing 57-7. After a close game against UCF the week before they get bowl eligible, it almost seemed like they had left everything in the tank in that game. Still, it did get the Red Raiders bowl eligible and that means they’ll get one more game this season.

Unfortunately, it’s hard not to be at least slightly disappointed by the Texas Tech season. Many people thought the Red Raiders could make a run at the Big 12 Championship Game and build on last season. However, for a lot of reasons, including injuries, that didn’t happen in the end.

9. UCF Knights (6-6, 3-6) (+1)

UCF fans will look back on this season with a lot of questions about what could have been. Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech were close calls that most Knights fans will feel UCF should have won. With those wins, it would have been an entirely different season. Instead, UCF went into the final week needing a win to make a bowl. The Knights got it against Houston.

Now, there is a good argument that UCF had the best season among the new Big 12 teams. The Knights are the only of those schools that’s going to a bowl game and by the end of the season, there seemed to be growth and more consistency on both sides of the ball for UCF. Now, the Knights await their bowl destination.

10. TCU Horned Frogs (5-7, 3-6) (-1)

Last season, TCU played for the national championship. This season, the Horned Frogs won’t be going to a bowl game. That much was decided with a loss in the final game of the season to Oklahoma. The Horned Frogs put up a good fight but, in the end, the Sooners offense was too explosive.

Now, Sonny Dykes has a challenge on his hands. Going back to the Playoff wasn’t likely, but missing a bowl game wasn’t supposed to happen either. So, which version of TCU will Dykes put on the field next season, the unbeaten one or the one with a losing record?

11. BYU Cougars (5-7, 2-7)

BYU had a chance to make it to a bowl game if the Cougars could beat Oklahoma State to end the season. For a half, at least, it looked like BYU was going to pull off that upset and make a bowl. However, Oklahoma State came alive and came back to win the game in overtime. With that, BYU’s first Big 12 season ended on a five game losing streak.

There are a lot of reasons for that losing streak. Injuries and depth issues took their toll. The schedule also got a lot harder. Still, after an excellent start to the season, it’s going to be hard to go into the long offseason without making a bowl game.

12. Houston Cougars (4-8, 2-7)

Houston wrapped up its first Big 12 season with a loss to UCF in Orlando. A 2-7 record in conference is going to sting heading into the offseason. It’s going to be a long offseason too, with plenty of questions to answer about how Houston avoids another disaster moving forward.

Houston has made one major decision, firing Dana Holgorsen after the UCF game. Clearly, there had been a growing disconnect there and after the last two seasons were both disappointments, the Cougars decided to make a change for the future. Now, the question becomes who replaces Holgorsen.

13. Cincinnati Bearcats (3-9, 1-8)

Much like Houston, Cincinnati had a disastrous first season in the Big 12. For most of the season, the Bearcats simply looked overmatched by the Big 12 opponents who were already in the conference. In fact, the only conference win for Cincinnati came against Houston.

Scott Satterfield hasn’t made friends in his first season with the Bearcats. This offseason and his 2024 season must show improvement. After all, Cincinnati is a proud program that expected to be better than 3-9 this season.

14. Baylor Bears (3-9, 2-7)

Head coach Dave Aranda will return for the 2024 season. However, he’s returning after several changes to the staff are being made. Among those changes are going to be a new offensive coordinator while Aranda is taking over as the defensive play caller. It’s a move made with the knowledge that he’ll be on a short leash.

Even with that hanging over Baylor, the Bears nearly upset West Virginia on Saturday. Had Baylor pulled it off, it would have been their second major come from behind victory in Big 12 play. So, at the very least, the Bears played hard to the end.

Still, there’s one more Big 12 game to be played this season. That’s the conference championship game between Texas and Oklahoma State. Beyond just winning the Big 12, there is a chance that a trip to the College Football Playoff is on the line for the Longhorns in what should be a massively important game.