Big 12 Power Rankings: Utah Takes No. 1, BYU Holds No. 2

An undefeated record matters. So does who you played, where you played them, how you won and whether the underlying numbers support the final score. This week makes that especially important. Texas Tech is 5-0, BYU and Utah are both 4-0, Oklahoma State owns one of the best wins in the conference, and Arizona just destroyed a previously unbeaten Cincinnati team.

So for every Big 12 team, we’re looking at both sides: Why should this team be ranked higher? Why should it be ranked lower? And what is the one number that tells us the most?

Here are the Feed the Cougar Big 12 Power Rankings, starting at No. 16.

16. Kansas — 2-2

Kansas finally produced the type of box score that gets your attention. The Jayhawks beat Middle Tennessee 55-0, rushed for 480 yards and finished with 706 yards of offense. It was complete domination from beginning to end. (University of Kansas)

Why they should be higher: A team capable of gaining 706 yards and holding an opponent to 136 is probably better than the worst team in the Big 12. Dylan Edwards ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns, and Kansas averaged 8.5 yards per play.

Why they should be lower: It was Middle Tennessee. Kansas still hasn’t won a Big 12 game, and its 24-17 loss to Arizona State doesn’t look particularly good after what Baylor just did to the Sun Devils. Beating a bad team by 55 proves Kansas isn’t hopeless; it doesn’t prove Kansas is good yet.

The stat that matters: 706 total yards. Now do something remotely similar against a Big 12 defense.

15. Colorado — 2-3

The weird part about Colorado’s 29-7 loss to Texas Tech is that the Buffaloes weren’t dominated in the traditional sense. Colorado actually outgained Tech 375-315 and ran 80 plays to the Red Raiders’ 63. (Texas Tech Red Raiders)

Why they should be higher: There were stretches Saturday when Colorado moved the ball better than the No. 12 team in the country. Isaac Wilson threw for 290 yards, and Colorado had 22 first downs compared with Texas Tech’s 19.

Why they should be lower: Four interceptions erase a lot of positive statistics. Texas Tech turned Colorado’s mistakes into 19 points, including a fourth-quarter pick-six, and Colorado is now 0-2 in Big 12 play. (Texas Tech Red Raiders)

The stat that matters: 4 interceptions. Colorado gained 60 more yards than Texas Tech and still lost by 22. That’s what turnovers can do.

14. TCU — 2-3

TCU might be better than its record. The problem is that at some point the record has to matter.

Why they should be higher: TCU held BYU to just 216 total yards Saturday night. The Cougars averaged only 3.5 yards per play, Bear Bachmeier threw for just 62 yards, and TCU kept a top-10 team in a one-score game nearly the entire night. (BYU Athletics)

Why they should be lower: The Horned Frogs are 0-2 in the Big 12 after losses to UCF and BYU. Against BYU, their own offense produced only 259 yards, and the interception returned 59 yards by Faletau Satuala directly helped BYU score its first touchdown.

The stat that matters: 17 points allowed. TCU did enough defensively to beat BYU. Its offense couldn’t take advantage.

13. UCF — 3-2

For nearly three quarters Saturday, UCF looked like it might be one of the surprise teams in the conference.

Then the game completely flipped.

Why they should be higher: UCF owns a conference win over TCU and led Houston 17-0 on the road. One week earlier, Keyone Jenkins completed 19 of 20 passes in the win over the Horned Frogs. There is enough here to think UCF can be dangerous.

Why they should be lower: Houston scored the final 27 points Saturday. UCF’s offense almost completely disappeared after taking the 17-point lead, and the loss extended the Knights’ road losing streak to 11 games. (247Sports)

The stat that matters: 27 unanswered points. UCF showed its ceiling and its biggest problem in the same game.

12. Arizona State — 2-2

Arizona State has a conference win. What it doesn’t have is a win that makes you think it belongs in the upper half of the Big 12.

Why they should be higher: Winning at Kansas counts, and the Sun Devils have played only four games. There is still plenty of time for this résumé to change.

Why they should be lower: Baylor just went into Tempe and won 55-19. Arizona State allowed 564 yards, including 244 on the ground, while turning the ball over three times. (Baylor) There isn’t a signature win available to counter that performance.

The stat that matters: 99 rushing yards. Arizona State was outrushed 244-99 by Baylor at home. That’s a difficult way to win conference games.

11. West Virginia — 3-2

West Virginia might be the easiest team in the conference to describe: good offense, major defensive problems.

Why they should be higher: The Mountaineers went to Iowa State, gained 518 yards and scored 42 points. Michael Hawkins Jr. rushed for 149 yards, Cam Cook added 142 and West Virginia averaged more than eight yards per play. (Iowa State Athletics)

Why they should be lower: Iowa State still won 45-42 because West Virginia gave up 577 yards. That came one week after Oklahoma State gained 609. The Mountaineers can score enough to scare almost anyone, but right now they don’t have a defense capable of protecting those performances. (West Virginia University Athletics)

The stat that matters: 1,186 yards allowed. That’s West Virginia’s defensive total over its last two Big 12 games.

10. Cincinnati — 4-1

A 4-1 team at No. 10 looks harsh.

Saturday made it necessary.

Why they should be higher: Cincinnati still owns a 31-26 win over Kansas State and entered the weekend undefeated. Four wins cannot simply disappear because of one terrible night.

Why they should be lower: Arizona didn’t just beat Cincinnati. The Wildcats overwhelmed them 34-7 and outgained them 522-227. Cincinnati entered the game with one of the country’s better rushing attacks and finished with just 74 rushing yards. (University of Arizona Athletics)

The stat that matters: 74 rushing yards. If Arizona can remove Cincinnati’s running game that completely, we need to see how the Bearcats respond before putting them back near the top.

9. Iowa State — 3-2

Iowa State has been difficult to evaluate because its record isn’t great, but neither loss is disastrous.

Why they should be higher: The Cyclones’ losses came against Iowa and Utah, and they finally showed some offensive explosiveness Saturday. Iowa State piled up 577 yards and scored 45 against West Virginia, with Aiden Flora producing one of the best individual performances in the conference this season. (Iowa State Athletics)

Why they should be lower: West Virginia also gained 518 yards and scored 42. Iowa State needed almost all 45 points to survive at home, and at 3-2 there isn’t much margin left for ranking them on potential.

The stat that matters: 212 rushing yards. Flora ran for 212 yards, scored three rushing touchdowns and threw two more touchdown passes.

BYU gets him next.

8. Kansas State — 3-1

Kansas State didn’t play this weekend, but something still changed.

Cincinnati’s loss made the Wildcats’ résumé a little weaker.

Why they should be higher: K-State is still 3-1, and its only loss was a five-point road game at Cincinnati. Avery Johnson threw for 292 yards in that game, and the Wildcats had opportunities to win it. (Kansas State University Athletics)

Why they should be lower: That Cincinnati loss doesn’t look nearly as impressive after Arizona beat the Bearcats by 27. Kansas State also doesn’t have a win comparable to what the teams above it have started collecting.

The stat that matters: 5 points. K-State’s only loss came 31-26. They’re close enough to the top half that one strong win could move them quickly.

7. Houston — 4-1

Houston might be good.

I’m just not ready to say it’s as good as the hype around a 4-1 record suggests.

Why they should be higher: The Cougars’ only loss was 28-26 at Texas Tech. They also showed real toughness Saturday, overcoming a 17-0 deficit and scoring 27 unanswered points to beat UCF 27-17. (University of Houston Athletics)

Why they should be lower: Falling behind UCF 17-0 at home matters too. Houston was scoreless at halftime and needed a huge second-half turnaround against a team that hasn’t won on the road in years. The résumé is solid, but it isn’t loaded with high-end wins.

The stat that matters: 35 yards. Houston’s defense allowed UCF only 35 yards over the final 24 minutes while turning a 17-0 deficit into a 10-point win. (Houston Chronicle)

That’s impressive. I just want to see it against one of the Big 12’s top teams.

6. Baylor — 4-1

No team did more to change its power-ranking argument this weekend than Baylor.

Why they should be higher: Going to Arizona State and winning 55-19 is a statement. Baylor gained 564 yards, rushed for 244, didn’t turn the ball over and got five total touchdowns from DJ Lagway. The Bears are also 2-0 in conference play. (Baylor)

Why they should be lower: One dominant road win doesn’t erase every preseason question, and Arizona State isn’t currently a top-half team in these rankings. Baylor now needs to show that Saturday was the beginning of something, not an outlier.

The stat that matters: 7.1 yards per play. Baylor didn’t just score 55. It consistently moved the ball against Arizona State and finished with 564 total yards.

No. 6 may end up being too low.

5. Oklahoma State — 3-1

If these rankings were based only on best wins, Oklahoma State could be even higher.

The Cowboys have something almost nobody else in the conference owns.

Why they should be higher: Oklahoma State beat then-No. 6 Oregon 39-31. The Cowboys outgained Oregon 554-281, rushed for 237 yards and snapped the Ducks’ 12-game road winning streak. Then OSU went to West Virginia and won 41-24 behind 389 passing yards from Drew Mestemaker. (Oklahoma State University Athletics)

Why they should be lower: Tulsa.

There is no way around a 24-10 loss to Tulsa in the season opener. Oklahoma State produced only 10 points against a team it should have beaten, and that result remains the biggest blemish owned by any team in the top five. (Oklahoma State University Athletics)

The stat that matters: 554 yards against Oregon. Oklahoma State didn’t steal that upset. It outplayed Oregon.

That makes the Cowboys very difficult to rank.

4. Arizona — 4-1

Arizona’s loss to BYU looks less damaging every week because the Wildcats keep showing how good they actually are.

Why they should be higher: Arizona just dismantled a 4-0 Cincinnati team 34-7. The Wildcats gained 522 yards, held Cincinnati to 227 and kept the Bearcats scoreless until the final two minutes. Noah Fifita threw for 284 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. (University of Arizona Athletics)

Why they should be lower: We have a head-to-head answer against one of the teams above them. BYU beat Arizona 28-17 in Provo. Arizona led 17-14 at halftime, but BYU outscored the Wildcats 14-0 in the second half and allowed Arizona only 87 second-half yards. (BYU Athletics)

The stat that matters: 295 yards. Arizona outgained Cincinnati by 295 yards.

This isn’t just a good team with a 4-1 record. The Wildcats are starting to look like a legitimate Big 12 contender.

3. Texas Tech — 5-0

Texas Tech has the best record in the conference.

So why aren’t the Red Raiders No. 1?

The offense.

Why they should be higher: Tech is 5-0 and 2-0 in the Big 12. The defense intercepted Colorado four times Saturday, allowed only seven points and has now shut out its opponent in the second half in consecutive games. Texas Tech has also won three straight road games by double digits. (Texas Tech Red Raiders)

Why they should be lower: Colorado outgained Texas Tech 375-315. Will Hammond threw for only 134 yards, Tech went 3-for-12 on third down and the offense had produced only 12 points entering the fourth quarter. Four Colorado interceptions — including a pick-six — made the final score look much more comfortable than the offensive performance actually was. (Texas Tech Red Raiders)

The stat that matters: 315 total yards. Against the No. 15 team in these rankings, Texas Tech’s offense generated only 315 yards.

The defense is championship caliber.

I’m not sure the offense is yet.

2. BYU — 4-0

BYU has the strongest argument against Utah for No. 1 because its best win keeps getting better.

Arizona is now 4-1 after crushing Cincinnati, and its only loss came in Provo.

Why they should be higher: BYU beat Arizona 28-17 and just went into Fort Worth and won despite playing through awful weather and losing key players. The defense held TCU to 259 yards, produced four sacks and got a 59-yard interception return from Faletau Satuala. BYU is now 4-0 for a third consecutive season. (BYU Athletics)

Why they should be lower: The offense was bad Saturday. BYU finished with just 216 total yards, Bear Bachmeier threw for only 62 and the Cougars needed their defense to repeatedly keep them alive. More importantly going forward, LJ Martin and linebacker Isaiah Glasker both left the TCU game with injuries, creating questions about the health of two important pieces. (The Salt Lake Tribune)

The stat that matters: 216 total yards. BYU still found a way to win a road conference game while producing almost nothing offensively.

That’s both encouraging and concerning.

If Martin and Glasker are healthy and the TCU offensive performance was mostly weather-related, BYU could easily be No. 1 again next week.

1. Utah — 4-0

Right now, Utah has the fewest questions.

The Utes aren’t surviving games. They’re controlling them.

Why they should be No. 1: Utah is averaging 43.25 points and 491.2 yards per game while allowing only 10.25 points and 258.5 yards. Opponents are averaging just 3.9 yards per play against the Utah defense, while the Utes are averaging 7.3. (University of Utah Athletics)

Utah also has a legitimate conference road win. The Utes went to Iowa State and won 31-17, jumping out to a 24-3 halftime lead. That result looks better after Iowa State turned around and put up 577 yards and 45 points against West Virginia. Utah has now scored at least 30 points in 10 consecutive games dating back to last season. (University of Utah Athletics)

Why they should be lower: The résumé isn’t overwhelming yet. Iowa State is the best win, while Idaho, Arkansas and Utah State don’t give Utah the same marquee result Oklahoma State has against Oregon or the improving Arizona win BYU owns.

That’s about the only criticism available.

The stat that matters: +33.0 points per game. Utah is averaging 43.25 points and allowing 10.25.

That’s domination on both sides of the ball.

Until someone makes the Utes look uncomfortable, they’re No. 1.

Feed the Cougar Big 12 Power Rankings

1. Utah — 4-0 2. BYU — 4-0 3. Texas Tech — 5-0 4. Arizona — 4-1 5. Oklahoma State — 3-1 6. Baylor — 4-1 7. Houston — 4-1 8. Kansas State — 3-1 9. Iowa State — 3-2 10. Cincinnati — 4-1 11. West Virginia — 3-2 12. Arizona State — 2-2 13. UCF — 3-2 14. TCU — 2-3 15. Colorado — 2-3 16. Kansas — 2-2

The separation at the top is small.

Utah gets No. 1 because it has been the most complete team. BYU gets No. 2 because the Arizona win is getting better by the week and its defense continues to travel. Texas Tech is undefeated and might have the best defense of the three, but Saturday added another reason to question whether its offense can consistently carry its share of the load.

Then comes the most interesting part of the conference.

Arizona just announced itself as a contender. Oklahoma State owns a top-six win and somehow also owns a 14-point loss to Tulsa. Baylor may have made the biggest jump of anyone after putting 55 on Arizona State.

Five weeks into the season, there isn’t one obvious Big 12 favorite.

There are several teams capable of becoming one.