Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Utah, BYU Climb After Strong Debuts

SALT LAKE CITY – It’s time for another installment of the Big 12 football power rankings in the 2025 season.

Every week, KSL Sports Zone host Alex Kirry and I drop our Big 12 power rankings on our radio show, “First & 12.”

It airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (MT) until 9 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM).

You can listen to the show on the KSL Sports app, sports.ksl.com, and wherever you get podcasts.

Big 12 Football Power Rankings, 2025 Season: Week 2

Here are our power rankings for Big 12 football entering week two of the 2025 season.

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

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 4 (Up 3)
• Last Game: TCU 48, North Carolina 14
• This week:

We all knew in the Big 12 that Josh Hoover was excellent at quarterback. But now, the Horned Frogs have a legit threat on the ground with UTSA transfer Kevorian Barnes. What a moment for TCU to wreck North Carolina’s opening game with Bill Belichick on the sidelines.

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

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 6 (Up 4)
• Last Game: Utah 43, UCLA 10
• This week:

The Utes have an offense, and through one week, quarterback Devon Dampier is as good as advertised.

 

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3. Arizona State (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 1 (Down 2)
• Last Game: Arizona State 38, Northern Arizona 19
• This week:

Sloppy game with 12 penalties for the Sun Devils, the most in the Kenny Dillingham era, but the tandem of Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson will once again be a headache for opposing Big 12 defenses.

4. Iowa State (2-0, 1-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 2 (Down 2)
• Last Game: Iowa State 55, South Dakota 7
• This week:

Dominant performance at home against South Dakota. Rocco Becht has been excellent in the Cyclones’ first two games. Plus, they have an excellent kicker in Kyle Konrardy, who booted a 63-yarder last week.

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

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 3 (Down 2)
• Last Game: Texas Tech 67, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7
• This week:

The soreness around Behren Morton’s shin will be an injury to monitor. This week, Tech head coach Joey McGuire addressed the need for their star signal-caller to be ready in a few weeks for the Utah game in Salt Lake City.

6. BYU (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 9 (Up 3)
• Last Game: BYU 69, Portland State 0
• This week: vs. Stanford | 8:15 p.m. (MT) | ESPN & KSL NewsRadio

BYU had as good an opening game performance as you’ll find. But that was against Portland State. Still, this defense should be among the elite in the Big 12 once again this season.

 

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7. Kansas (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 7
• Last Game: Kansas 46, Wagner 7
• This week:

The Jayhawks have been incredibly balanced through their first two games. They are averaging 261 through the air, and 246 on the ground.

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

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 5 (Down 3)
• Last Game: Auburn 38, Baylor 24
• This week:

Sawyer Robertson put up huge numbers, but that loss to Auburn at home was a missed opportunity for the Bears and the Big 12. Long term, the high-ankle injury to defensive lineman Jackie Marshall is one to monitor, as he is one of the Bears’ best linemen.

9. Houston (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 11 (Up 2)
• Last Game: Houston 27, Stephen F. Austin 0
• This week:

Compared to last year’s offense, Houston appears to have already taken a massive step forward with Conner Weigman at quarterback.

10. Arizona (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 13 (Up 3)
• Last Game: Arizona 40, Hawaii 6
• This week:

Early returns with new offensive coordinator Seth Doege are positive so far for quarterback Noah Fifita. Arizona looked like an explosive offense once again.

11. West Virginia (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 14 (Up 3)
• Last Game: West Virginia 45, Robert Morris 3
• This week:

Nicco Marchiol emerged as Rich Rodriguez’s pick to start at quarterback. Good start, going 17-of-20. But what was even more impressive was the return of West Virginia’s shiny Pat White/Steve Slaton era helmets.

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

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 8 (Down 4)
• Last Game: K-State 38, North Dakota 35
• This week:

Folks, Avery Johnson wasn’t the problem. He was excellent. What’s wrong with the K-State defense allowing North Dakota to go off for 252 passing yards? Is the Ireland hangover hitting K-State as it did Nebraska and Florida State in recent years?

13. Colorado (0-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Down 1)
• Last Game: Georgia Tech 27, Colorado 20
• This week:

The Buffs couldn’t slow down Georgia Tech’s Haynes King. But I’ll tell you this, the Buffs are more physical than they’ve been in the past. They won’t be down here for long.

14. Cincinnati (0-1, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 10 (Down 4)
• Last Game: Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
• This week:

From a personnel standpoint, there’s no question this is the best Cincinnati team the Bearcats have had since they joined the league. The question now is, can they win the close games? They’ve dropped six straight games dating back to last season.

15. UCF (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 16 (Up 1)
• Last Game: UCF 17, Jax State 10
• This week:

Tayven Jackson stepped in for an injured Cam Fancher at quarterback to lead the Knights to a victory in Scott Frost’s opener. Enjoy the wins when they come; this will take some time.

16. Oklahoma State (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• Last week’s power ranking: No. 15 (Down 1)
• Last Game: Oklahoma State 27, UT Martin 7
• This week:

For a brief moment, Hauss Hejny looked to be the answer Oklahoma State desperately needed at quarterback. When he quickly went down with an injury, it looked like the 2024 team all over again, and now they have a date with Oregon. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is saying non-conference games should be based on how much you spend on your rosters. Not a good start in Stillwater.

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.) and a Big 12 show, First & 12 (Tuesdays, 7-9 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.

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