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Big 12 football power rankings: With Iowa State looking lethargic, there's a new No. 1
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- Big 12 football power rankings: With Iowa State looking lethargic, there's a new No. 1
Among the top seven teams in last week's Big 12 football power rankings, five won handily and one had an open date.
Then there's Iowa State . Last week's No. 1 went to Jonesboro, Arkansas , and sleepwalked through a 24-16 victory over Arkansas State , which was coming off a 56-14 loss the week before at Arkansas.
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The Cyclones are still undefeated, the highest-ranked Big 12 team in the major polls and have one of the conference's best victories this season — beating Iowa the week before and keeping the Cy-Hawk Trophy in Ames. They don't deserve severe punishment for mixing in a clunker after an emotional rivalry game.
Still, other Big 12 teams have taken a sledgehammer to all their opponents so far, so we're going to make the Cyclones earn their way back to the top of the Big 12 power rankings.
1. Texas Tech (3-0, 0-0 in the Big 12)
Last week:2
This week:at Utah
What to know:The Red Raiders might finally have a defense to match the offense they're known for.
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More: Is this the Texas Tech football team folks have been waiting for? | Don Williams
More: Nitpicking Texas Tech football's non-conference dominance with Utah looming | Giese
2. Iowa State (4-0, 1-0)
Last week:1
This week:Open
What to know:On the bright side, RB Carson Hansen had his first career 100-yard game and QB Rocco Becht extended his school-record streak of games with a passing TD to 22, longest active in the FBS.
More: Hines: What to make of Iowa State football's sloppy day vs Arkansas State
3. Utah (3-0, 0-0)
Last week:3
This week:Texas Tech
What to know:FOX's Big Noon Kickoff sets up shop in Salt Lake City for the first time for Utah-Texas Tech.
Texas Tech players celebrate an interception by Brice Pollock (14) during a non-conference football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
4. Arizona State (2-1, 0-0)
Last week:4
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This week:at Baylor
What to know:The Sun Devils are about to build a strong resume or be out of the race quickly. Five of their next six opponents are the rest of the top six in the power rankings.
More: ASU football report card: Sun Devils regroup with big win over Texas State
More: Arizona State football loses at least 1 future SEC foe, more may follow
5. TCU (2-0, 0-0)
Last week:5
This week:SMU
What to know:The 104th Battle for the Iron Skillet is the last for the foreseeable future in another example of two programs' different scheduling priorities superseding tradition.
6. Baylor (2-1, 0-0)
Last week:6
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This week: Arizona State
What to know:Baylor defenders donned a "Bear Coat" — on a 90-degree day — to celebrate their four takeaways against Samford.
7. Brigham Young (2-0, 0-0)
Last week:7
This week:at East Carolina
What to know:The Cougars , even with three of the next four on the road, could be 6-0 before a stretch of Utah, Iowa State , Texas Tech and TCU.
8. Kansas (2-1, 0-0)
Last week:9
This week: West Virginia
What to know:LB Trey Lathan made 79 tackles for West Virginia last year and leads the Jayhawks with 17 stops this year.
More: 2 reasons to be optimistic, pessimistic as Kansas football exits 1st open week this season
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More: 3 lingering questions following Kansas football's loss in rivalry game against Missouri
9. Cincinnati (2-1, 0-0)
Last week:10
This week:Open
What to know:A week off after a 70-0 rout of Northwestern State gives the Bearcats extra time to hear how great they are.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) jumps over Northwestern State Demons cornerback Antonio Hall (2) in the second quarter of a NCAA men’s college football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Northwestern State Demons, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Bearcats are up 56-0 by halftime.
10. Arizona (3-0, 0-0)
Last week:13
This week:Open
What to know:"Call me Ismail" Mahdi has nine career 100-yard rushing performances, but his 189 against Kansas State was the Texas State transfer's first against a power-conference team.
11. Houston (3-0, 1-0)
Last week:12
This week:Open
What to know:Not only is the Cougars ' offense improved, but kicker Ethan Sanchez is a weapon. The transfer from Old Dominion already has made six field goals 40 yards and longer.
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12. Kansas State (1-3, 0-1)
Last week:8
This week:Open
What to know:Does the open date come at a good time? No doubt. Will it matter?
More: Kansas State football's start to the season has been painful. It could get a lot worse.
More: Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman promises change after discouraging loss to Arizona
13. Colorado (1-2, 0-1)
Last week:11
This week: Wyoming
What to know:If the NFL doesn't want Shedeur Sanders , the Buffs will take him back.
More: Deion Sanders 'dumbfounded' by Colorado's loss to Houston but takes 'full responsibility'
14. West Virginia (2-1, 0-0)
Last week:15
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This week:at Kansas
What to know:Beating Pitt was just what the Mountaineers needed after losing the Ohio game and RB Jahiem White .
More: Pitt, West Virginia extend Backyard Brawl with four-game series from 2033-36
15. UCF (2-0, 0-0)
Last week:14
This week: North Carolina
What to know:Scott Frost has won 15 games in a row as the UCF coach, sandwiched around his 16-31 record as the Nebraska coach.
More: UCF football: 10 of the most famous college head coaches to face the Knights
More: UCF football: Scott Frost must figure out QB situation, and other bye week concerns
16. Oklahoma State (1-1, 0-0)
Last week:16
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This week:Friday vs. Tulsa
More: When did Oklahoma State football's fall really begin? An inside look at past five years
What to know:With four of the next five in Stillwater, could the boos drown out the Paddle People?
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 power rankings: Texas Tech football takes over the top spot
