Big 12 Power Rankings updated after Week 13 of college football

The Big 12 enters the final week of the season in relative chaos, with nine teams still having a shot at the conference championship game. That’s after Week 13 was a crazy one around the conference and, with that, the conference’s power rankings were also shaken up, with the help 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.

Keeping all of that in mind, here’s a look at the Big 12 Power Rankings after Week 13:

1. Iowa State Cyclones (9-2, 6-2)

After stumbling at the start of November and losing two games in a row, Iowa State has now won two games in a row. The most recent of those came against Utah. It can’t be understated how nine wins is an accomplishment at Iowa State. This is just the fourth time it’s happened in program history and the second time under Matt Campbell.

At this point, Iowa State has not played any of the four teams tied at 6-2 in Big 12 play. So, how do they get into the conference championship game? Beat Kansas State. Then, if two teams are tied at 7-2, they’ll play. Iowa State would also be in if there’s a four-team tie. From there, if it’s a three-way tie, it’s a bit more complicated but Iowa State would be in good shape.

2. BYU Cougars (9-2, 6-2)

After starting 9-0, the wheels are starting to come off for BYU. The Cougars dropped their second game in a row, with this game coming against Arizona State. That meant that BYU largely lost control of its own destiny in the Big 12 this season.

BYU can still make it to the Big 12 Championship Game. One scenario has them beating Houston and at least two of the other two-loss Big 12 teams losing. Then, if it’s a three-way tie, they’ll need to win and have either Arizona State or Iowa State lose. In a four-team tie, BYU is out of the championship game.

3. Kansas State Wildcats (8-3, 5-3)

The Kansas State Wildcats bounced back from their loss to Arizona State with an impressive win over Cincinnati. That game saw the Wildcats rush for three touchdowns with 281 yards on the ground. It was an attack the Bearcats didn’t have an answer for.

Kansas State finishes the season against Iowa State. There, they have a chance to add to the chaos of the Big 12 with a win. That would see another team fall to three conference losses. Still, for Kansas State to have any shot, the Wildcats would also need at least one of Arizona State or Colorado to lose. On top of that, BYU would need another loss, given their head-to-head meeting.

4. Arizona State Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2)

The Arizona State Sun Devils are one of the great stories of the season, and now they are in a position to win the conference after coming in with some of the lowest expectations of anyone. That comes after a chaotic finish against BYU, which saw fans storm the field to celebrate a second early. It was a stressful finish but one that saw the Sun Devils win.

Now, Arizona State can make it to the Big 12 Championship Game by winning and either being one of two teams tied at 7-2 or being one of four teams in a four-way tie at the top of the conference. It’s a little bit more complicated if only three teams win, but like Iowa State, most scenarios there would lead to the Sun Devils in the conference championship game.

5. Colorado Buffaloes (8-3, 6-2)

Like Arizona State, Colorado has been one of the great stories in the Big 12. Unlike Arizona State, Colorado is coming off a loss to Kansas, in a game that they couldn’t afford to lose. More than that, it was a game where despite the play of Travis Hunter, the defense was unable to slow down the Kansas ground game.

Still, like the other four teams sitting with two losses, hope is still alive. One scenario is that they win and two other teams tied for first lose. The next is the three-team tie scenario, in which Colorado needs BYU to lose and Texas Tech to beat West Virginia. The Buffaloes are out in a four-team tie scenario.

6. Baylor Bears (7-4, 5-3)

The Baylor Bears have come on incredibly strong in recent weeks. That includes five straight wins, all of which were in Big 12 play. The most recent of those was a 20-10 win over an over-matched Houston Cougars team.

Now, at 5-3, the Bears aren’t technically out of the race just yet. Getting there would take a lot of help in the final week of the season. However, there is still a chance. First, that would require a sixth straight win for Baylor, who is set to face a quickly improving Kansas team.

7. TCU Horned Frogs (7-4, 5-3)

The TCU Horned Frogs have had a quiet and, at times, inconsistent season. Still, at 5-3, they’re one of those teams that’s hanging around in the Big 12. It hasn’t hurt that the schedule has been manageable down the stretch with wins over Oklahoma State and Arizona.

TCU finishes the season against Cincinnati. The Bearcats are playing for bowl eligibility and will give TCU everything that they can muster. For TCU’s part, the Horned Frogs are playing to hold onto hope. Since they haven’t played any of the four teams tied for first this season, the tiebreakers are complex, but it will take at least three of those teams and Baylor losing.

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

West Virginia earned bowl eligibility over the weekend with a win over UCF. A major reason for that was how the Mountaineers controlled time of possession, holding onto the ball for 37 minutes and 45 seconds. West Virginia also converted eight of 18 third downs and all four fourth downs that they attempted.

With that, West Virginia moved to 5-3 in Big 12 play. It’s still a very outside chance, but it gives the Mountaineers some hope of making the conference championship game. They’ll just need a lot of help to get there.

9. Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-4, 5-3)

Texas Tech has now won two of their last three games. With that, the Red Raiders still have an outside shot at winning the Big 12. It’s a long shot, however, with losses to Colorado, TCU, and Baylor already. At the same time, with some breaks going the right way, Texas Tech does have wins over Arizona State and Iowa State. They also finish with a game against West Virginia.

Even if none of the 5-3 teams make it to the Big 12 Championship Game, Texas Tech’s final game can have an impact on the race. If there’s a three-team tie at the top of the conference and BYU loses in the final week, the game between Texas Tech and West Virginia could decide the tiebreaker between the other three teams.

10. Kansas Jayhawks (5-6, 4-4)

Nobody is finishing the season hotter than Kansas. After coming into the season with high expectations and then a slow start, the Jayhawks have largely been overlooked. Now, after winning three games in a row against ranked teams who are a part of that group of two-loss teams, Kansas has certainly left its mark.

Kansas finishes its season against Baylor, another team that has something worth playing for at this point in the season. Of course, so do the Jayhawks who are one win away from getting to bowl eligibility on the back of a winning streak to end the season.

Rest of Big 12 Power Rankings

11. Cincinnati Bearcats (5-6, 3-5)
12. Utah Utes (4-7, 1-7)
13. UCF Knights (4-7, 2-6)
14. Houston Cougars (4-7, 3-5)
15. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-7, 1-7)
16. Arizona Wildcats (4-7, 2-6)

Going into the final week of the regular season, more than half of the Big 12 is still in play for the conference championship game. That means that they’re also in line to potentially make the College Football Playoff, depending on how the final rankings work out. So, the Big 12 is a conference to keep a close eye on in the final week of the season.