Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings: Elite Teams At Top
Jan 12, 2026, 9:54 AM
SALT LAKE CITY – Big 12 basketball in the 2025-26 season has elite teams at the top of the conference.
The top four teams in the conference are a combined 62-2 overall. Could this be the year where multiple teams from the Big 12 reach the Final Four? It definitely feels like there are four teams that are separating themselves from the pack.
Those top four teams include Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, and BYU.
Arizona and Iowa State make up two of the final five undefeated teams in college basketball this season. The other undefeated teams nationally are Miami (Ohio), Nebraska, and Vanderbilt.
BYU and Arizona have two of the best offenses in the country this season, while Iowa State, Houston, and the Wildcats boast some of the top defenses in the land.
After the top four, plus Texas Tech to round out the top five, the rest of the league is a mixed bag. A couple of disappointments so far have been Kansas and Baylor.
It’s the third consecutive year Kansas has struggled on the road, while Baylor is off to a 0-3 start in league play, with two of those losses in Waco.
UCF is one of the pleasant surprises in the conference, but in their first road test, they lost; they held on at home against a winless Cincinnati team.
Big 12 basketball power rankings for Men’s Basketball: Week of January 12, 2026
The latest power rankings for Big 12 basketball entering week three of league play.
1. Arizona Wildcats (16-0, 3-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 1
Last Week
- Arizona 101, K-State 76
- Arizona 86, TCU 73 (Road Win)
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: vs. Arizona State
- Saturday, January 17: at UCF
2. Iowa State Cyclones (16-0, 3-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 2
Last Week
- Iowa State 70, Baylor 60 (Road Win)
- Iowa State 83, Oklahoma State 71
This Week
- Tuesday, January 13: at Kansas
- Saturday, January 17: at Cincinnati
3. Houston Cougars (15-1, 3-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 4 (Up 1)
Last Week
- Houston 69, Texas Tech 65
- Houston 77, Baylor 55 (Road Win)
This Week
- Tuesday, January 13: vs. West Virginia
- Sunday, January 18: vs. Arizona State
4. BYU Cougars (15-1, 3-0 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 3 (Down 1)
Last Week
- BYU 104, Arizona State 76
- BYU 89, Utah 84 (Road Win)
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: vs. TCU
- Saturday, January 17: at Texas Tech
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-4, 2-1 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 5
Last Week
- Houston 69, Texas Tech 65
- Texas Tech 73, Colorado 71 (Road Win)
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: vs. Utah
- Saturday, January 17: vs. BYU
6. UCF Knights (13-2, 2-1 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 6
Last Week
- Oklahoma State 87, UCF 76
- UCF 73, Cincinnati 72
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: at Kansas State
- Saturday, January 17: vs. Arizona
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (13-3, 1-2 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 10 (Up 3)
Last Week
- Oklahoma State 87, UCF 76
- Iowa State 83, Oklahoma State 71
This Week
- Tuesday, January 13: vs. Baylor
- Saturday, January 17: vs. K-State
8. Kansas Jayhawks (11-5, 1-2 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 7 (Down 1)
Last Week
- Kansas 104, TCU 100 (OT)
- West Virginia 86, Kansas 75
This Week
- Tuesday, January 13: vs. Iowa State
- Friday, January 16: vs. Baylor
9. TCU Horned Frogs (11-5, 1-2 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 8 (Down 1)
Last Week
- Kansas 104, TCU 100 (OT)
- Arizona 86, TCU 73 (Home Loss)
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: at BYU
- Saturday, January 17: at Utah
10. Colorado Buffaloes (12-4, 2-1 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 12 (Up 2)
Last Week
- Colorado 85, Utah 73
- Texas Tech 73, Colorado 71 (Home Loss)
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: at Cincinnati
- Saturday, January 17: at West Virginia
11. West Virginia Mountaineers (11-5, 2-1 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 15 (Up 4)
Last Week
- West Virginia 62, Cincinnati 60
- West Virginia 86, Kansas 75
This Week
- Tuesday, January 13: at Houston
- Saturday, January 17: vs. Colorado
12. Baylor Bears (10-5, 0-3 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 9 (Down 3)
Last Week
- Iowa State 70, Baylor 60 (Home Loss)
- Houston 77, Baylor 55 (Home Loss)
This Week
- Tuesday, January 13: at Oklahoma State
- Friday, January 16: at Kansas
13. Arizona State Sun Devils (10-6, 1-2 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 13
Last Week
- BYU 104, Arizona State 76
- Arizona State 87, K-State 84
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: at Arizona
- Sunday, January 18: at Houston
14. Kansas State Wildcats (9-7, 0-3 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 11 (Down 3)
Last Week
- Arizona 101, K-State 76
- Arizona State 87, K-State 84
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: vs. UCF
- Saturday, January 17: at Oklahoma State
15. Cincinnati Bearcats (8-8, 0-3 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 14 (Down 1)
Last Week
- West Virginia 62, Cincinnati 60
- UCF 73, Cincinnati 72
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: vs. Colorado
- Saturday, January 17: vs. Iowa State
16. Utah Utes (8-8, 0-3 Big 12)
Last week’s ranking: No. 16
Last Week
- Colorado 85, Utah 73
- BYU 89, Utah 84 (Home Loss)
This Week
- Wednesday, January 14: at Texas Tech
- Saturday, January 17: vs. TCU
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
