Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: New No. 1 Emerges

SALT LAKE CITY – There’s a new No. 1 team atop the Big 12 basketball power rankings.

Houston vaults into the No. 1 spot after an impressive double-overtime victory at Kansas.

The Cougs were ranked No. 1 in our Summer Power Rankings, but after some unexpected setbacks in nonconference play, Kelvin Sampson’s squad flew under the radar when entering league action.

They are clicking on all cylinders now and are in the driver’s seat in Big 12 basketball action.

Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Week 13 Edition

Take a look at the week 13 Big 12 basketball power rankings.

Previous Power Rankings

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 & 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 |

1. Houston (16-3, 8-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 2 (Up 1)

Last Week

• Houston 70, Utah 36
• Houston 92, Kansas 86 (2OT; Road Win)

This Week

• Wednesday, January 29: at West Virginia
• Saturday, February 1: vs. Texas Tech

What a win for Houston at Allen Fieldhouse. When they were down by six in the first overtime, Houston’s win probability was 0.4%. Then, Houston did what they do best: They went to work and made plays.

The Big 12 runs through Clutch City once again.

2. Iowa State (17-2, 7-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 1 (Down 1)

Last Week

• Iowa State 108, UCF 83
• Iowa State 76, Arizona State 61 (Road Win)

This Week

• Monday, January 27: at Arizona
• Saturday, February 1: vs. Kansas State

Iowa State battled for an entire 40 minutes against Arizona State in a game that, for stretches, sounded like Hilton Coliseum. We can’t wait for Big Monday at the McKale Center against Arizona.

3. Texas Tech (15-4, 6-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 4 (Up 1)

Last Week

• Texas Tech 81, Cincinnati 71 (Road Win)
• Texas Tech 64, Oklahoma State 54

This Week

• Wednesday, January 29: vs. TCU
• Saturday, February 1: at Houston

The Red Raiders are the only team in the Big 12 with a Top-5 offense (81.9) and defense (65.1).

4. Arizona (13-6, 7-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 4 (Up 1)

Last Week

• Arizona 92, Oklahoma State 78 (Road Win)
• Arizona 78, Colorado 63

This Week

• Monday, January 27: vs. Iowa State
• Saturday, February 1: at Arizona State

After this week, we will learn if Arizona is ready to contend for a Big 12 Championship.

5. Kansas (14-5, 5-3 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 5 (Up 1)

Last Week

• Kansas 74, TCU 61 (Road Win)
• Houston 92, Kansas 86 (2OT; Home Loss)

This Week

• Tuesday, January 28: vs. UCF
• Saturday, February 1: at Baylor

Kansas dropped the ball at home against Houston. They are banged up without KJ Adams and AJ Storr isn’t giving them much of anything. This is still a solid team, but they are no longer the class of the league.

6. West Virginia (13-6, 4-4 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 3 (Down 3)

Last Week

• Arizona State 65, West Virginia 57 (Home Loss)
• Kansas State 73, West Virginia 60

This Week

• Wednesday, January 29: vs. Houston
• Sunday, February 2: at Cincinnati

The Mountaineers have had some excellent wins this season, but last week was a significant step back. It’s a lesson that you can lose to anyone if you shoot 16% from three over a two game stretch.

7. Baylor (13-6, 5-3 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 9 (Up 3)

Last Week

• Baylor 70, Kansas State 62
• Baylor 76, Utah 61 (Road Win)

This Week

• Tuesday, January 28: at BYU
• Saturday, February 1: vs. Kansas

Freshman VJ Edgecombe put up a career-high 30 points last week against K-State, then followed up that performance with 21 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals in a road win at Utah.

8. UCF (13-6, 4-4 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 7 (Down 1)

Last Week

• Iowa State 108, UCF 83
• UCF 85, TCU 58

This Week

• Tuesday, January 28: at Kansas
• Saturday, February 1: vs. BYU

The blowout win over TCU at home was a strong bounce-back and gave some momentum that they shut people down on the defensive end. UCF is last in Big 12 play in defense, allowing 83.5 points per game.

9. BYU (13-6, 4-4 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Up 3)

Last Week

• BYU 83, Colorado 67 (Road Win)
• BYU 80, Cincinnati 52

This Week

• Tuesday, January 28: vs. Baylor
• Saturday, February 1: at UCF

BYU earned its first road win of the season, taking down Colorado in Boulder. Then, they validated that win with a blowout victory over Cincinnati. BYU’s schedule ramps up starting on Tuesday against Baylor.

10. TCU (10-9, 3-5 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 8 (Down 2)

Last Week

• Kansas 74, TCU 61 (Home Loss)
• UCF 85, TCU 58

This Week

• Wednesday, January 29: at Texas Tech
• Sunday, February 2: vs. Colorado

TCU was 1-of-20 from three in the blowout loss at UCF.

11. Arizona State (11-8, 2-6 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 14 (Up 3)

Last Week

• Arizona State 65, West Virginia 57 (Road Win)
• Iowa State 76, Arizona State 61 (Home Loss)

This Week

• Tuesday, January 28: at Colorado
• Saturday, February 1: vs. Arizona

It was a strong week from Arizona State to win at West Virginia and then be competitive for nearly 40 minutes with Iowa State. Freshman Joson Sanon logged his most minutes of Big 12 play in the ISU game since suffering an injury at BYU in December.

12. Utah (11-8, 3-5 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 11 (Down 1)

Last Week

• Houston 70, Utah 36
• Baylor 76, Utah 61 (Home Loss)

This Week

• Tuesday, January 28: vs. Cincinnati
• Saturday, February 1: at Oklahoma State

All of the momentum gained from the TCU and BYU wins feels like it went out the window last week for Utah. The Utes need Gabe Madsen to find his shot from three-point range again.

13. Cincinnati (12-7, 2-6 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 10 (Down 3)

Last Week

• Texas Tech 81, Cincinnati 71 (Home Loss)
• BYU 80, Cincinnati 52

This Week

• Tuesday, January 28: at Utah
• Sunday, February 2: vs. West Virginia

There was a time this season when Cincinnati was No. 8 in the KenPom ratings. After a 2-6 start in Big 12 play, they have dropped to No. 53. The offense is struggling mightily.

14. Kansas State (8-11, 2-6 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 16 (Up 2)

Last Week

• Baylor 70, K-State 62
• K-State 73, West Virginia 60

This Week

• Wednesday, January 29: vs. Oklahoma State
• Saturday, February 1: at Iowa State

The wire-to-wire victory over West Virginia was an impressive win.

15. Oklahoma State (10-9, 2-6 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 13 (Down 2)

Last Week

• Arizona 92, Oklahoma State 78 (Home Loss)
• Texas Tech 64, Oklahoma State 54

This Week

• Wednesday, January 29: at Kansas State
• Saturday, February 1: vs. Utah

Oklahoma State battled for the entire 40 minutes in Lubbock to make it interesting, but 22 turnovers will always be difficult to overcome.

16. Colorado (9-10, 0-8 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 15 (Down 1)

Last Week

• BYU 83, Colorado 67 (Home Loss)
• Arizona 78, Colorado 63

This Week

• Tuesday, January 28: vs. Arizona State
• Sunday, February 2: at TCU

The Buffs might have a winless year in Big 12 play.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new and improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. It allows you to stream live radio and video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

Follow @Mitch_Harper