Big 12 football power rankings: Conference hierarchy heading into Week 1

SALT LAKE CITY – Big 12 football power rankings are back.

You know football season is almost here when the weekly power rankings return.

The 16-team era of the Big 12 enters its third year. Could it be the beginning of a new dynasty in the conference?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KSL Sports (@kslsports)

Texas Tech looks to be the first repeat champion in the league since Oklahoma’s heyday before NIL and the Transfer Portal changed the game.

Our KSL Sports college reporters believe the Red Raiders are the team to beat entering week one.

Big 12 football power rankings: Week 1, 2026 season

Here is the composite of our four college reporters on the KSL Sports staff: Steve Bartle, Josh Furlong, Mitch Harper, and Sean Walker.

1. Texas Tech (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 1
• This week: vs. Abilene Christian | Saturday | 5 p.m. (MT), FS1

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

• Summer power ranking: No. 2
• This week: vs. Utah Tech | Saturday | 6 p.m. (MT), ESPN+ & KSL NewsRadio

3. Utah (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 4 (Up 1)
• This week: vs. Idaho | Thursday | 7 p.m. (MT), ESPNU

4. Houston (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 5 (Up 1)
• This week: vs. Oregon State | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MT), ESPN

5. Arizona (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 3 (Down 2)
• This week: vs. Northern Arizona | Saturday | 7:30 p.m. (MT), ESPN+

6. Arizona State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 6
• This week: vs. Morgan State | Saturday | 8 p.m. (MT), ESPN+

7. Kansas State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 8 (Up 1)
• This week: vs. Nicholls | Saturday | 5 p.m. (MT), ESPN+

8. TCU (0-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 7 (Down 1)
• Last week: North Carolina 15, TCU 10 (Ireland)
• This week: Bye

9. Oklahoma State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 9
• This week: at Tulsa | Saturday | 1:45 p.m. (MT), ESPNU

10. Baylor (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 10
• This week: vs. Auburn (Atlanta) | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. (MT), ABC

11. UCF (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 14 (Up 3)
• This week: vs. Bethune-Cookman | Thursday | 5 p.m. (MT), ESPN+

12. Kansas (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 11 (Down 1)
• This week: vs. LIU | Friday | 6 p.m. (MT), ESPNU

13. Cincinnati (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 12 (Down 1)
• This week: vs. Boston College | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. (MT), FOX

14. West Virginia (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 13 (Down 1)
• This week: vs. Coastal Carolina | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MT), TNT

15. Colorado (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 15
• This week: at Georgia Tech | Thursday | 6 p.m. (MT), ESPN

16. Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Summer power ranking: No. 16
• This week: vs. Southeast Missouri State | Saturday | 11 a.m. (MT), ESPN+

Steve Bartle’s power ranking ballot

1. Texas Tech

2. BYU

3. Utah

4. Houston

5. Arizona

6. Kansas State

7. Oklahoma State

8. Arizona State

9. TCU

10. Kansas

11. Baylor

12. UCF

13. Cincinnati

14. West Virginia

15. Colorado

16. Iowa State

Josh Furlong’s power ranking ballot

1. Texas Tech

2. BYU

3. Utah

4. Houston

5. Arizona

6. TCU

7. Arizona State

8. Kansas State

9. Baylor

10. Oklahoma State

11. Cincinnati

12. Kansas

13. UCF

14. West Virginia

15. Colorado

16. Iowa State

Mitch Harper’s power ranking ballot

1. Texas Tech

2. BYU

3. Houston

4. Utah

5. Arizona State

6. Arizona

7. Kansas State

8. UCF

9. TCU

10. West Virginia

11. Oklahoma State

12. Baylor

13. Cincinnati

14. Colorado

15. Kansas

16. Iowa State

Sean Walker’s power ranking ballot

1. Texas Tech

2. BYU

3. Houston

4. Utah

5. Arizona

6. Arizona State

7. Oklahoma State

8. TCU

9. K-State

10. Baylor

11. Cincinnati

12. UCF

13. Kansas

14. Colorado

15. West Virginia

16. Iowa State