Big 12 football power rankings: Oklahoma State surging as BYU, Utah pace the league

SALT LAKE CITY — Oklahoma State embodies Big 12 football these days.

One day, they are down and out; the next, they knock out a national favorite in Oregon and follow it up with dominant wins, including an impressive road victory at West Virginia to open Big 12 play.

Those twists and turns feel like the ride you’d be on if you drank three Monster Energy drinks in one day.

That’s Big 12 football. It’s a different league.

While Oklahoma State is surging up the power rankings, the in-state programs, BYU and Utah, continue to lead the latest Big 12 football power rankings as we enter week five of the 2026 season.

 

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Big 12 football power rankings: Week 5, 2026 season

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

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

1. BYU (3-0, 1-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 1

Last week: Bye

This week: at TCU | Saturday | 5 p.m. (MDT), ESPN & KSL NewsRadio

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 2

Last game: Utah 31, Iowa State 17 (Road Win)

This week: Bye

3. Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 3

Last game: Texas Tech 49, Sam Houston 14

This week: at Colorado | Saturday | 5:30 p.m. (MDT), FOX

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 7 (Up 3)

Last game: Oklahoma State 41, West Virginia 24 (Road Win)

This week: Bye

5. Houston (3-1, 0-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 5

Last game: Houston 42, Georgia Southern 28 (Road Win)

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

6. Cincinnati (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 12 (Up 6)

Last game: Cincinnati 31, K-State 26

This week: at Arizona | Saturday | 9 p.m. (MDT), FOX

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 8 (Up 1)

Last game: Arizona 34, Washington State 24 (Road Win)

This week: vs. Cincinnati | Saturday | 9 p.m. (MDT), FOX

8. West Virginia (3-1, 0-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 6 (Down 2)

Last game: Oklahoma State 41, West Virginia 24 (Home Loss)

This week: at Iowa State | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), TNT

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 4 (Down 5)

Last game: Cincinnati 31, K-State 26

This week: Bye

10. Arizona State (2-1, 1-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 9 (Down 1)

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Baylor | Saturday | 8:30 p.m. (MDT), ESPN

11. Baylor (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 11

Last game: Baylor 23, Colorado 13

This week: at Arizona State | Saturday | 8:30 p.m. (MDT), ESPN

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

Last week’s power ranking: No. 10 (Down 2)

Last game: Utah 31, Iowa State 17 (Home Loss)

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

13. UCF (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)

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

Last game: UCF 21, TCU 13

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

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

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

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Middle Tennessee | Saturday | 10 a.m. (MDT), ESPNU

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

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

Last game: UCF 21, TCU 13

This week: vs. BYU | Saturday | 5 p.m. (MDT), ESPN & KSL NewsRadio

16. Colorado (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)

Last week’s power ranking: No. 16

Last game: Baylor 23, Colorado 13

This week: vs. Texas Tech | Saturday | 5:30 p.m. (MDT), FOX

Steve Bartle’s Week 5 Big 12 football power ranking ballot

1. Utah

2. BYU

3. Texas Tech

4. Oklahoma State

5. Houston

6. Cincinnati

7. Kansas State

8. Arizona

9. West Virginia

10. Baylor

11. Iowa State

12. Arizona State

13. UCF

14. TCU

15. Kansas

16. Colorado

Josh Furlong’s Week 5 ballot

1. BYU

2. Utah

3. Texas Tech

4. Oklahoma State

5. Houston

6. Arizona

7. West Virginia

8. Iowa State

9. Arizona State

10. Cincinnati

11. Kansas State

12. Baylor

13. UCF

14. Kansas

15. TCU

16. Colorado

Mitch Harper’s Big 12 football Week 5 ballot

1. BYU

2. Utah

3. Oklahoma State

4. Texas Tech

5. Cincinnati

6. Houston

7. Arizona

8. Arizona State

9. Baylor

10. West Virginia

11. Kansas State

12. UCF

13. Iowa State

14. Colorado

15. Kansas

16. TCU