Big 12 football power rankings: New No. 1 emerges entering Week 6

SALT LAKE CITY — There’s a new team at the top of the Big 12 football power rankings.

The Utah Utes have climbed to the No. 1 spot, as voted on by our college reporters here at KSL Sports.

BYU dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 after a close victory in sloppy conditions at TCU.

Utah enjoyed the bye week, but has dominated its opponents through its first four games of the season.

Big 12 football power rankings: Week 6, 2026 season

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 |

Here is the composite from KSL Sports reporters Steve Bartle, Josh Furlong, and Mitch Harper.

1. Utah (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

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

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Kansas | Saturday | 8:15 p.m. (MDT), ESPN

2. BYU (4-0, 2-0 Big 12)

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

Last week: BYU 17, TCU 10 (Road Win)

This week: vs. Iowa State | Friday | 8:15 p.m. (MDT), ESPN & KSL NewsRadio

3. Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 3

Last game: Texas Tech 29, Colorado 7 (Road Win)

This week: Bye

4. Oklahoma State (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 4

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. UCF | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), ESPN2

5. Houston (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 5

Last game: Houston 27, UCF 17

This week: vs. K-State | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. (MDT), FOX

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

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

Last game: Arizona 34, Cincinnati 7

This week: at West Virginia | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), TNT

7. Baylor (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 11 (Up 4)

Last game: Baylor 55, Arizona State 19

This week: Bye

8. Iowa State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Up 4)

Last game: Iowa State 45, West Virginia 42

This week: at BYU | Friday | 8:15 p.m. (MDT), ESPN & KSL NewsRadio

9. Cincinnati (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 6 (Down 3)

Last game: Arizona 34, Cincinnati 7

This week: Bye

10. West Virginia (3-2, 0-2 Big 12)

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

Last game: Iowa State 45, West Virginia 42

This week: vs. Arizona | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), TNT

11. Kansas State (3-1, 0-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 9 (Down 2)

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Houston | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. (MDT), FOX

12. UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 13 (Up 1)

Last game: Houston 27, UCF 17

This week: at Oklahoma State | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), ESPN2

13. Arizona State (2-2, 1-1 Big 12)

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

Last week: Baylor 55, Arizona State 19 (Home Loss)

This week: vs. Hawaii | Saturday | 7:30 p.m. (MDT), FS1

14. TCU (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)

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

Last game: BYU 17, TCU 10 (Home Loss)

This week: Bye

15. Kansas (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 14 (Down 1)

Last week: Kansas 55, Middle Tennessee 0

This week: at Utah | Saturday | 8:15 p.m. (MDT), ESPN

16. Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 16

Last game: Texas Tech 29, Colorado 7 (Home Loss)

This week: Bye

Steve Bartle’s Week 6 Big 12 football power ranking ballot

1. Utah

2. BYU

3. Texas Tech

4. Oklahoma State

5. Houston

6. Arizona

7. Baylor

8. Iowa State

9. Cincinnati

10. Kansas State

11. West Virginia

12. UCF

13. TCU

14. Kansas

15. Arizona State

16. Colorado

Josh Furlong’s Week 6 ballot

1. BYU

2. Utah

3. Texas Tech

4. Oklahoma State

5. Houston

6. Arizona

7. Baylor

8. Iowa State

9. Cincinnati

10. West Virginia

11. Kansas State

12. UCF

13. Arizona State

14. TCU

15. Kansas

16. Colorado

Mitch Harper’s Big 12 football Week 6 ballot

1. Utah

2. BYU

3. Texas Tech

4. Oklahoma State

5. Arizona

6. Houston

7. Baylor

8. Iowa State

9. West Virginia

10. Cincinnati

11. UCF

12. Kansas State

13. Arizona State

14. Kansas

15. TCU

16. Colorado