Big 12 football power rankings: BYU, Utah separate from the pack

SALT LAKE CITY — The top teams in Big 12 football in 2026 might both reside in the Beehive State.

BYU and Utah are beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the league.

The Cougars sit atop the rankings after a quality win over Arizona to open Big 12 play. BYU’s ground attack is averaging 228 yards per game through the first two weeks of the season.

Meanwhile, Utah crushed Arkansas at home in a 43-10 rout that wasn’t as close as that score would show. Utah is averaging 54.5 points through the first two games of Morgan Scalley’s first year as head coach.

There’s a dandy of a game coming up in week three in Big 12 football, and it takes place on a spotlight TV window this Friday as Texas Tech hosts Houston.

Both teams had their share of struggles against Oregon State over the past two weeks, but came out victorious. What will we learn about these teams on a weeknight spot in West Texas?

 

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Big 12 football power rankings: Week 3, 2026 season

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

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

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 1

Last game: BYU 28, Arizona 17

This week: at Colorado State | Saturday | 5:30 p.m. (MDT), CBS & KSL NewsRadio (Extended pregame begins at Noon from Ft. Collins)

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 3 (Up 1)

Last game: Utah 43, Arkansas 10

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

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

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

Last game: Texas Tech 35, Oregon State 24

This week: vs. Houston | Friday | 6 p.m. (MDT), FOX

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 4

Last game: Houston 77, Southern 6

This week: at Texas Tech | Friday | 6 p.m. (MDT), FOX

5. Kansas State (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 6 (Up 1)

Last game: K-State 34, Washington State 7

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

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

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

Last game: BYU 28, Arizona 17

This week: vs. Northern Illinois | Saturday | 8:30 p.m. (MDT), TNT

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 16 (Up 9)

Last game: Oklahoma State 39, Oregon 31

This week: vs. Murray State | Saturday | 5 p.m. (MDT), ESPN+

8. Cincinnati (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 8

Last game: Cincinnati 62, Western Carolina 10

This week: vs. Miami (Ohio) | Saturday | 1:30 p.m. (MDT), ESPN+

9. Colorado (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 10 (Up 1)

Last game: Colorado 52, Weber State 21

This week: at Northwestern | Saturday | 5:30 p.m., FOX

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

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

Last game: Texas A&M 48, Arizona State 20

This week: vs. Kansas (London) | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), FS1

11. West Virginia (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)

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

Last game: West Virginia 52, UT-Martin 7

This week: at Virginia | Saturday | 5:30 p.m. (MDT), ACC Network

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

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

Last game: Baylor 44, Prairie View A&M 3

This week: vs. LA Tech | Saturday | 2 p.m. (MDT), ESPNU

13. Iowa State (1-1, 0-0 Big 12)

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

Last game: Iowa 16, Iowa State 13

This week: vs. Bowling Green | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), ESPNU

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Down 2)

Last game: Missouri 38, Kansas 21

This week: vs. Arizona State (London) | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), FS1

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 15

Last game: TCU 63, Grambling 7

This week: vs. Arkansas State | Saturday | 6 p.m. (MDT), ESPNU

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 9 (Down 7)

Last game: Pitt 12, UCF 7

This week: vs. Georgia State | Saturday | 5 p.m. (MDT), ESPN+

Steve Bartle’s week three power ranking ballot

1. Utah

2. BYU

3. Texas Tech

4. Houston

5. K-State

6. Oklahoma State

7. Cincinnati

8. Arizona

9. Baylor

10. Arizona State

11. Colorado

12. West Virginia

13. Iowa State

14. Kansas

15. TCU

16. UCF

Josh Furlong’s power ranking ballot

1. BYU

2. Utah

3. Texas Tech

4. Houston

5. K-State

6. Arizona

7. Oklahoma State

8. Colorado

9. Cincinnati

10. West Virginia

11. Arizona State

12. Kansas

13. Iowa State

14. UCF

15. Baylor

16. TCU

Mitch Harper’s power ranking ballot

1. BYU

2. Utah

3. Texas Tech

4. Houston

5. K-State

6. Arizona

7. Oklahoma State

8. Cincinnati

9. Arizona State

10. West Virginia

11. Colorado

12. Baylor

13. Iowa State

14. TCU

15. UCF

16. Kansas