Story by
BYU leads Big 12 power ranking. Who else is in top 5?
- Story by
- BYU leads Big 12 power ranking. Who else is in top 5?
And then there were three. As in unbeaten teams in Big 12 Conference play.
Those three are BYU, Texas Tech, and Utah.
BYU edged No. 2 Notre Dame in a nonconference thriller, while Texas Tech cruised past Arizona State and Utah turned back a Colorado rally.
Advertisement
Baylor and Oklahoma State were dealt their first conference losses, with Houston edging Oklahoma State to stay in striking distance as one of four one-loss teams.
Next week marks the first of conference play when all 16 teams will play. So there could be some massive moves ahead. For now, here are the power rankings.
1. BYU (6-0, 4-0)
Last week: 1.
Defeated Notre Dame 28-24.
The Cougars struck a blow for the Big 12 by upending No. 2 Notre Dame in front of a raucous home crowd. It marked the second win over a top-two team, the last coming when BYU beat Miami in 1990. The decisive touchdown came with 1:47 left on a 6-yard toss from Bear Bachmeier to Walker Lyons. The Cougar defense then had to come up with a stop with the Fighting Irish driving deep into the red zone, only to have a pass in the end zone fall incomplete as time expired.
Advertisement
Next up: At Central Florida on Oct. 24.
2. Texas Tech (6-0, 3-0)
Last week: 3.
Defeated Arizona State 53-25.
The Red Raiders appear to be finding their groove. Will Hammand had a good day, but so did everybody else. J'Koby Williams ran for 165 yards, and Kenny Johnson had seven catches for 120 yards as heavily-favored Red Raiders surged out to a 43-10 halftime lead and never looked back.
Next up: At Cincinnati on Oct. 24.
3. Utah (6-0, 3-0)
Last week: 2.
Defeated Colorado 27-24.
It was an up-and-down night for the Utes , who pulled out a 13-0 halftime lead, saw Colorado go ahead 17-13, then went up by 10 in the second half, only to secure the win in the final minute. Devon Damiper threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns but was intercepted twice.
Advertisement
Next up: vs. Houston on Oct. 24.
4. Houston (6-1, 3-1)
Last week: 4.
Defeated Oklahoma State 35-32.
Connor Weigman threw for 343 yards and five touchdowns, highlighted by a 48-yard scoring toss to Koby Young that gave the Cougars a double-digit lead late in the fourth quarter. They never looked back in winning a battle of nationally ranked conference title contenders. Amare Thomas had seven catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
Next up: At Utah on Oct. 24.
5. Oklahoma State (4-2, 2-1)
Last week: 5.
Lost to Houston 35-21.
Drew Mestemaker threw for 365 yards and was an efficient 22-for-34, but this time it wasn't enough against another foe with a quality quarterback. Despite the loss, Oklahoma State remains in the hunt for a conference title after coming into the season with a two-year Big 12 losing streak.
Advertisement
Next up: vs. Colorado on Oct. 24.
6. Arizona (5-1, 2-1)
Last week:6.
Did not play.
The Noah Fifita-led Wildcats, winners of four straight games, have flown under the radar thus far. Their only loss was to BYU in the second game of the season. The schedule hasn't been all that challenging, but that will soon change.
Next up:vs. Iowa State on Oct. 24.
7. Kansas State (4-2, 1-2)
Last week:9.
Defeated Kansas 35-24.
Quarterback Avery Johnson threw for 209 yards (14-for-24) and ran for another 132 on 12 carries as the Wildcats won their 18th straight game in the rivalry series. Kansas State totaled 568 yards, 359 of that coming on the ground. The lead changed hands four times before Kansas State pulled out to a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.
Advertisement
Next up:At Arizona State on Oct. 24.
8. Baylor (4-2, 2-1)
Last week: 7.
Lost to TCU 17-6.
The Bears have not allowed more than 19 points in a game this season, but had their four-game winning streak snapped at the hands of their in-state rival. D.J. Lagway completed only 22 of 53 passes for 256 yards, but the Bears had a season-low 310 total yards just two weeks after Lagway's four TD passes and 564 total yards in a 55-19 win at Arizona State before an open date.
Next up: At Kansas on Oct. 24.
9. Iowa State (3-3, 1-2)
Last week: 10.
Did not play.
The Cyclones have performed admirably given the coaching change and the number of players who have departed the program. Some had Iowa State pegged last in the conference before the season started, but it looks like a .500 record is doable now.
Advertisement
Next up:At Arizona on Oct. 24.
10. Cincinnati (4-2, 1-2)
Last week: 8.
Lost to West Virginia 45-23.
The Bearcats led six times, only to have West Virginia draw even each time, then win it on a walk-off field goal. That's now back-to-back losses after a 4-0 start. The Bearcats outgained West Virginia 622-598. Neither team turned the ball over.
Next up: Vs. Texas Tech on Oct. 24.
11. West Virginia (4-3, 1-3)
Last week: 12.
Defeated Cincinnati 45-42
Jack Cassidy booted a 35-yard field goal on the last play of the game to finish off a game that featured six ties. Mike Hawkins Jr. threw for a career-high 464 yards as the teams combined for 1,220 yards of offense. It marked the fourth straight game for West Virginia in which the teams surpassed 1,000 yards.
Advertisement
Next up: At TCU on Oct. 24.
12. TCU (3-3, 1-2)
Last week: 14.
Beat Baylor 17-6.
TCU picked up its first conference win of the season after going 0-2 for the first time since 2013. Jaden Craig threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Jordan Downey, who had six catches for 150 yards. The defensive effort was led by Koron Hayward, who had three of TCU's four sacks.
Next up: vs. West Virginia on Oct. 24.
13. Central Florida (3-3, 1-2)
Last week: 13.
Did not play.
The Knights had an extra week to get ready for their stiffest test of the season. It will mark the third straight game against a nationally ranked foe, with this game following ones against Houston and Oklahoma State.
Advertisement
Next up:vs. BYU on Oct. 24.
14. Arizona State (3-3, 1-2)
Last week: 11.
Lost to Texas Tech 53-25.
The defense struggled and allowed 500 yards. The offensive line gave up six sacks. Cutter Boley threw two interceptions and was replaced in the second half. Will Coach Kenny Dillingham stick with Boley?
Next up: vs. Kansas State on Oct. 24.
15. Colorado (2-4, 1-2)
Next up:
Last week: 15.
Lost to Utah 27-24.
The Buffs were 5-point underdogs, trailed 13-0 at the half, and had more penalty yards (82) than offensive yards (70), yet they found a way to rally. They got within three points on a 2-yard pass from Isaac Wilson to DeAndre Moore with 1:21 to go, but could not get any closer. Wilson, who previously played for Utah, threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, but was picked off twice.
Advertisement
Next up: At Oklahoma State on Oct. 24.
16. Kansas (2-4, 0-3)
Last week: 16.
Lost to Kansas State 35-24.
Make that 18 straight losses to the state rival for the Jayhawks. Kansas managed just 319 yards on offense, while giving up 568.
Next up:vs. Baylor on Oct. 24.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: BYU leads Big 12 power ranking. Who else is in top 5?
