Feed the Cougar Big 12 Power Rankings: The Numbers Behind the Rankings Two weeks into the 2026 season, the Big 12 is already producing some unusual résumés. Oklahoma State owns a victory over Oregon and a loss to Tulsa. Kansas State has outscored its first two opponents by 95 points. Arizona State lost by 28 to Texas A&M despite gaining more yards than the Aggies. BYU, Utah, Texas Tech and Houston remain unbeaten.

Rather than leaning on preseason expectations, here is a look at the conference from No. 16 to No. 1 through the numbers each team has actually produced.

16. UCF — 1-1

Three stats

80-18 combined scoring margin 206 total yards against Pittsburgh * 3.9 yards per play against Pittsburgh

UCF’s season totals are heavily influenced by its 73-6 opening victory over Bethune-Cookman. The first FBS test looked much different. Pittsburgh held UCF to seven points, 206 yards and only 23 rushing yards in a 12-7 loss. The Knights didn’t commit a turnover, but they managed only one touchdown and possessed the ball for 23:48. The defense has allowed just 18 points through two games. The offense has scored seven points against an FBS defense.

15. Kansas — 1-1

Three stats

469-255 yardage deficit against Missouri 3 turnovers against Missouri * 3.8 yards per play against Missouri

Kansas opened by beating LIU 51-6 before facing No. 20 Missouri. The difference was dramatic.

Missouri accumulated 469 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per play. Kansas finished with only 255 yards and 3.8 per snap. Quarterback Isaiah Marshall completed 13 of 30 passes for 168 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Kansas also failed to score in the fourth quarter as Missouri turned a 28-21 game into a 38-21 final.

14. TCU — 1-1

Three stats

10 points against North Carolina 63 points against Grambling State * +51 overall scoring differential

TCU has produced two radically different offensive performances. The Horned Frogs scored only 10 points in a 15-10 loss to North Carolina before exploding for 63 against Grambling State. That leaves TCU with 73 points scored and 22 allowed through two games, but almost all of the offensive production came against an FCS opponent. ESPN FPI currently rates TCU at No. 41 nationally with a +6.3 rating, significantly higher than its position in these rankings.

13. West Virginia — 2-0

Three stats

83 points scored 31 points allowed * +26.0 average scoring margin

West Virginia is undefeated after beating Coastal Carolina 31-24 and UT Martin 52-7. The Mountaineers have averaged 41.5 points per game while allowing 15.5. The Coastal Carolina game remains the more useful data point. WVU was pushed into a seven-point game against its lone FBS opponent before producing a 45-point victory over UT Martin. Through two games, West Virginia owns a +52 overall scoring differential.

12. Arizona State — 1-1

Three stats

369 total yards against Texas A&M 255 yards allowed against Texas A&M * 4 turnovers against Texas A&M

Few box scores from Week 2 are stranger than Arizona State’s 48-20 loss at Texas A&M. The Sun Devils actually outgained the Aggies 369-255 and averaged 5.9 yards per play compared with A&M’s 4.3. Arizona State still lost by 28.

Four turnovers changed the game. Cutter Boley threw two interceptions, Arizona State lost two fumbles, and two fourth-quarter interceptions were returned for Texas A&M touchdowns. ASU moved the football. It simply couldn’t keep possession of it.

11. Baylor — 1-1

Three stats

436 total yards against Auburn 3 interceptions forced against Auburn * 1-point loss to Auburn

Baylor’s 17-16 loss to Auburn was much closer statistically than the result column suggests. The Bears outgained Auburn 436-389 and intercepted Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown three times. DJ Lagway threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns, while Gavin Freeman caught 12 passes for 154 yards. Baylor then followed the Auburn loss with a 44-3 victory over Prairie View A&M. Through two games, the Bears have scored 60 points and allowed 20.

10. Iowa State — 1-1

Three stats

16-13 loss at Iowa 4.8 yards per play against Iowa * 0 turnovers against Iowa

Iowa State went into Kinnick Stadium and played almost statistically even football with No. 18 Iowa. Both teams averaged exactly 4.8 yards per play.

Iowa finished with 284 total yards. Iowa State had 255. Neither team committed a turnover. The game remained tied 13-13 until Iowa connected on a 42-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining. Iowa State’s defense has allowed only 26 total points through two games.

9. Cincinnati — 2-0

Three stats

96 points scored 25 points allowed * +71 scoring differential

Cincinnati hasn’t played a close game. The Bearcats opened with a 34-15 victory over Boston College and followed it by beating Western Carolina 62-10. Cincinnati is averaging 48.0 points per game while allowing 12.5.

The Bearcats have won their first two games by 19 and 52 points, giving them one of the largest scoring differentials in the Big 12. ESPN FPI currently has Cincinnati at No. 34 nationally with a +8.6 rating.

8. Colorado — 2-0

Three stats

14-13 road win at Georgia Tech 0 turnovers against Georgia Tech * 52 points against Weber State

Colorado already owns an FBS road victory. The Buffaloes went to Atlanta and beat Georgia Tech 14-13 despite averaging only four yards per play. Colorado ran 76 plays, possessed the ball for more than 34 minutes and did not turn the ball over.

The defense held Georgia Tech to 288 total yards and blocked a potential game-winning 45-yard field goal with three seconds remaining. Colorado then increased its offensive output dramatically in a 52-21 victory over Weber State.

7. Kansas State — 2-0

Three stats

105 points scored 10 points allowed * +95 scoring differential

No Big 12 team has a larger scoring differential. Kansas State opened with a 71-3 victory over Nicholls State before beating Washington State 34-7. The Wildcats are averaging 52.5 points per game and allowing just five.

Their average victory margin is 47.5 points. Against Washington State, Kansas State finished with 487 total yards while holding the Cougars to only 166. Through eight quarters, opponents have scored just one touchdown against Kansas State.

6. Arizona — 1-1

Three stats

17-14 halftime lead at BYU 327 total yards against BYU * 0 second-half points against BYU

Arizona opened its season with a 35-7 win over Northern Arizona before facing BYU in Provo. The Wildcats led 17-14 at halftime. Noah Fifita completed 23 of 31 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown, and Arizona accumulated 327 total yards.

The second half changed the game. BYU outscored Arizona 14-0 after halftime and held the Wildcats scoreless over the final 30 minutes. Arizona finished the afternoon averaging 5.3 yards per play in a 28-17 loss.

5. Oklahoma State — 1-1

Three stats

554 total yards against Oregon 281 yards allowed against Oregon * 39-31 win over Oregon

Oklahoma State produced one of the most impressive individual performances by any Big 12 team in Week 2. The Cowboys didn’t merely beat Oregon. They nearly doubled the Ducks in total offense.

Oklahoma State accumulated 554 yards to Oregon’s 281 and averaged 6.7 yards per play. Drew Mestemaker threw for 317 yards and added 109 rushing yards. Caleb Hawkins ran for another 110.

Oklahoma State also possessed the football for 36:22. Those numbers came one week after the Cowboys lost 24-10 at Tulsa. Two games. Two completely different Oklahoma State teams.

4. Houston — 2-0

Three stats

110 points scored 26 points allowed * +84 scoring differential

Houston has averaged 55 points per game through its first two contests. The Cougars opened with a 33-20 victory over Oregon State before exploding for 77 points against Southern. Houston’s average final score so far is 55-13.

Only Kansas State and Utah have a larger scoring differential among Big 12 teams near the top of these rankings. The Oregon State result also provides an interesting conference comparison: Houston beat the Beavers by 13 points, while Texas Tech beat the same team by 11 one week later. Houston entered the latest AP poll at No. 22.

3. Texas Tech — 2-0

Three stats

No. 16 ESPN FPI 116 rushing yards from J’Koby Williams against Oregon State * 472 yards allowed against Oregon State

Texas Tech remains ESPN FPI’s highest-rated Big 12 team. The Red Raiders are 2-0 after beating Abilene Christian 33-10 and Oregon State 35-24. The Oregon State game produced some unusual numbers.

Tech won by 11 despite being outgained 472-352. Oregon State averaged 6.6 yards per play, while Texas Tech averaged 4.8. J’Koby Williams provided the balance Tech needed, rushing 20 times for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Texas Tech trailed 24-21 entering the fourth quarter before scoring the final 14 points. The Red Raiders are also No. 13 in the AP poll.

2. Utah — 2-0

Three stats

109 points scored 24 points allowed * 7.1 yards per play against Arkansas

Utah has been brutally efficient through two games. The Utes opened with a 66-14 victory over Idaho and followed it with a 43-10 win against Arkansas. Against the Razorbacks, Utah accumulated 442 yards on only 62 plays.

Arkansas ran 76 plays but produced just 305 yards. That works out to 7.1 yards per snap for Utah and 4.0 for Arkansas. Devon Dampier completed 18 of 24 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 50 rushing yards and two more scores. Utah has outscored opponents 109-24, a scoring differential of 85.

1. BYU — 2-0

Three stats

91 points scored 24 points allowed * 0 turnovers

BYU has opened the season by beating Utah Tech 63-7 and Arizona 28-17. The Cougars have scored 91 points while allowing 24, producing a scoring differential of 67. More importantly, BYU has yet to give the football away.

Against Arizona, BYU averaged 6.5 yards per play and finished with 365 total yards. Bear Bachmeier completed 16 of 26 passes for 217 yards, threw three touchdown passes and added another score on the ground. LJ Martin rushed for 98 yards on 20 carries.

The BYU defense held Arizona scoreless after halftime after the Wildcats had built a 17-14 lead. Through two games, BYU is No. 11 in the AP poll and No. 18 in ESPN FPI.

Feed the Cougar Big 12 Power Rankings **16. UCF 15. Kansas 14. TCU 13. West Virginia 12. Arizona State 11. Baylor 10. Iowa State 9. Cincinnati 8. Colorado 7. Kansas State 6. Arizona 5. Oklahoma State 4. Houston 3. Texas Tech 2. Utah

1. BYU**

Two games have already produced a wide range of statistical profiles across the Big 12. Kansas State owns the conference’s largest scoring differential. Oklahoma State owns the most eye-catching individual victory. Utah has produced one of the most dominant two-game starts. Texas Tech holds the highest ESPN FPI rating in the conference. And through Week 2, BYU sits at the top of the Feed the Cougar rankings.

Photo accompanying “Feed The Cougar Big 12 Power Rankings”