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Baylor rises in Big 12 power rankings entering Week 10
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- Baylor rises in Big 12 power rankings entering Week 10
The Big 12 was upside-down this past week in college football . Three underdogs won in Week 9. Unfortunately for the conference, two of them were against AP-ranked teams.
So, any Big 12 hater will be quick to point out this week that they only have 5 teams in the AP top 25 now. We also have the biggest game of the season in the conference this week, as BYU takes on Utah in the "Holy War."
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Here's where the conference stands heading into Week 10:
MORE: Biggest risers in College Football after Week 9
Top 10
Oct 17, 2026; Waco, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Jaden Craig (1) looks to pass against the Baylor Bears during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
10. TCU
This is a very tough team to evaluate. So they get the final spot in this week's countdown. Their quarterback is also difficult to evaluate. One week, Jaden Craig is throwing for 372 yards against West Virginia. The next week, he struggles to throw against Kansas but runs for 87 yards. We simply never know what we are going to get from Jaden Craig and the Horned Frogs.
9. West Virginia
Week 9 was a great time for a Bye for the Mountaineers. Not only did they get an extra week to prepare for their Week 10 matchup at Texas Tech, but they also got a week of rest for Cam Cook and Michael Hawkins Jr. With one of the run-heaviest offenses in college football, the two leaders in carries probably welcomed a week off.
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8. Baylor
The Bears were one of the big winners in Week 9, traveling to Orlando and pouring it on UCF for a 41-9 victory. DJ Lagway looked great, topping 300 yards on only 25 pass attempts. Baylor has already fired Dave Aranda, so is this going to be a case of an "Interim Coach Bump" – where the players play harder for their new Interim Head Coach?
7. Cincinnati
The Bearcats got shellacked by Oklahoma in Week 9. Simply put, it was a natural emotional letdown after the victory over Texas Tech last week. This is still a team overachieving relative to its preseason expectations, largely because of its elite offensive line and running game.
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6. Arizona
There is no movement from Arizona this week – they've played a very stratified schedule so far, losing to the teams ranked ahead of them and beating the teams below them. They fought admirably against Texas Tech, but did not appear prepared to stop Thomas Castellanos at quarterback (more on that later).
MORE: Biggest fallers in College Football after Week 9
Top 5
Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Wyatt Young (10) runs after a reception during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Colorado Buffaloes at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
5. Oklahoma State
The Pokes played an old-school Big 12 game against Iowa State, losing a 51-49 thriller. One of the root causes was the personal foul on Wyatt Young that allowed Iowa State prime field position to drive down the field for a game-winning field goal. We know what this team is – elite offense, and terrible defense. Get your popcorn ready anytime they're on.
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4. Houston
The Cougars had a well-earned Bye in Week 9. The good news for Houston is that the most difficult part of their Big 12 schedule is complete. They've played 3 of the top-5 on this ranking. But they only have remaining games against Cincinnati, Colorado, West Virginia, and Baylor. They could easily win out.
3. Texas Tech
Could a QB change be the key factor in getting the Red Raiders back to the CFP? They made the switch to Thomas Castellanos in Week 9 against Arizona. While his passing numbers weren't great, he certainly provided a spark to the offense with his legs, running for 117 yards. The Red Raiders literally became a zone-read-based running team right in front of our eyes with Castellanos, and it was super effective against Arizona. Now that teams have film on it, it will be interesting to see if Castellanos can keep it up.
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2. BYU
For whatever reason, BYU just always plays close games. Arizona State should not have been close to BYU, but the Cougars still won the game by a measly 7 points. They own the huge win over Notre Dame, but have not played up to that level ever since – and they're going to need to this week!.
1. Utah
The Utes came through with a big 49-25 win over Cincinnati in Week 9. It was a classic sandwich spot in between the Houston game in Week 8 and the "Holy War" against BYU in Week 10. This is a massive game for the conference, and will not only determine who plays in the Big 12 Championship game, but also have massive College Football Playoff implications. The Big 12 has not gotten an at-large berth in two seasons of the 12-team playoff, and the result of this game will have an impact on their chances this year.
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