It’s onto Week 13 of the Big 12 football season. Week 12 was highlighted by some of the top Big 12 teams back in action trying to make a conference championship game. So with that, let’s dive into this week’s Big 12 football power rankings. A reminder on how I do these rankings: They are based on what you have actually done on the field, not what we think you will do throughout the remainder of the season. So, with that, here’s a look at our Week 13 Big 12 football power rankings for the 2025 season.
1. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Last Week: 1)
The Red Raiders reached the 10-win mark for the first time since 2008 under Mike Leach. Now, they have a bye week and are one win at West Virginia away from making the Big 12 Championship Game. The performance at home this fall was amazing. Texas Tech was 7-0 at The Jones this year with an average margin of victory, 36.7 points. In four conference home wins, their average margin of victory was 32 points. Absolute dominance.
2. BYU Cougars (Last Week: 2)
BYU bounced back from its first loss of the season in the perfect way with a 44-13 win over TCU at home. This is exactly what the Cougars needed after their loss to Texas Tech last week in Lubbock. This team is a CFP-caliber team when firing on all cylinders, and that was clearly on display on Saturday night against the Horned Frogs.
3. Utah Utes (Last Week: 3)
The Utah Utes remain at No. 3 after going to Waco and crushing Baylor 55-28. The Utes piled up 380 rushing yards in this game as they continue to try and make a push for a Big 12 Championship appearance, or, an at-large College Football Playoff berth. This was a big road win against a desperate Baylor team that did not look like it was close to being ready for the moment.
4. Arizona State (Last Week: 6)
Arizona State moves up a couple of spots following its win over West Virginia. And it’s how this team won that was the most impressive. Jeff Sims’ arm got it done for ASU, as he threw for over 200 and rushed for more than 80, with two total touchdowns. And the defensive front was stout as well. This team not quitting after losing Sam Leavitt is a testament to Kenny Dillingham and the young men on this team.
5. Houston Cougars (Last Week: 5)
Houston is coming off a bye week, and while I thought about moving them down, I realized they do still have the head-to-head over Arizona, so I will keep them where they were last week at No. 5.
6. Arizona (Last Week: 10)
Arizona went on the road in a tough environment and beat Cincinnati. This team is now 7-3 and Brent Brennan has this top-ranked pass defense continuing to gain confidence and play nasty. This team is fun to watch and they’re now working in a running game that is getting better as Kedrick Reescano gets healthier.
7. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: No. 4)
Cincinnati has now lost two in a row. After losing five in a row to end last season, the Bearcats could drop four in a row to end this season if they aren’t careful. The Bearcats still have BYU and TCU on the schedule. One is more winnable than the other, but neither is a lay up. Cinci’s schedule has toughened up and now they need to prove they can handle it.
8. Iowa State Cyclones (Last Week: No. 7)
Iowa State was on a bye week following the comeback win vs. TCU to snap a four-game slide. The Cyclones have Kansas and Oklahoma State to wrap the season in a pair of old school Big 12 showdowns.
9. Kansas State Wildcats (Last Week: 8)
Kansas State was coming off a bye week, and looked like they were still stuck in a bye week after squeaking by Oklahoma State in Stillwater in what was generally a lifeless performance. The good news for K-State is that they barely slid in the Power Rankings because there were plenty of lifeless performances behind them.
10. TCU Horned Frogs (Last Week: 9)
TCU had a chance to get the sour taste of that blown fourth-quarter lead at home vs. Iowa State last week out of their mouths, but instead, the taste got even worse after a 30-point blowout loss against BYU on Saturday in Provo. It makes you wonder if the seat is starting to warm up for Sonny Dykes in what is looking to be a third-straight season not meeting expectations.
11. Baylor Bears (Last Week: No. 11)
Speaking of hot seats, Dave Aranda didn’t cool anything off after a near 30-point loss to Utah at home on Saturday in which the defense allowed nearly 400 rushing yards. Woof. This team was a preseason pick by many to win the Big 12, and now they’re just fighting to get to a mediocre bowl game.
12. Kansas Jayhawks (Last Week: 12)
Kansas stays at No. 12 after a bye week. If they want to get to a bowl game they have to beat either Iowa State on the road or Utah at home. Neither is an easy ask. Good luck.
13. West Virginia Mountaineers (Last Week: 13)
The West Virginia Mountaineers continue to make strides, I just couldn’t move them up since they did lose on Saturday and have a big head-to-head loss to KU. Granted, I think of KU and WVU play today, the game might look a lot different. WVU keeps playing better football, QB Scotty Fox Jr. is getting more comfortable, and they came back from double digits down to lead Arizona State on the road late in the game, before ASU came down to kick the game-winning field goal. But for WVU fans looking for positives, there were many on Saturday.
14. UCF Knights (Last Week: 14)
UCF went on the road and got blasted by Texas Tech. It has happened to every team that has entered Lubbock this season. There’s not much to take away from this one for the Knights. But if they want to reach a bowl game, they need to win out vs. Oklahoma State and at BYU.
15. Colorado Buffaloes (Last Week: 15)
Colorado was on a bye week and now we’ll see if they can close strong and build towards 2026 with JuJu Lewis and others, as Coach Prime looks like he’s set to continue to try and turn around this program.
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Week: 16)
Oklahoma State played one of their better games of the season, but still lost. The defense was decent against K-State, while Zane Flores had some nice moments. But we’re still grasping at straws to find the positive. Heck, the positive may be the coaching news that could be coming sooner than later in Stillwater.
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