We’ve reached the portion of the season where, beyond the top three or four teams, it’s really hard to place a pecking order for the Big 12. Baylor had finally looked like they put things together in Week 5, against UCF, only to be blown out by Texas Tech in Week 6. Everyone had pretty much left Oklahoma State for dead and then they jumped up and knocked off Kansas State on Friday night. So, that should elevate the Pokes but I’m thinking it won’t be as much fun this Saturday when they host Kansas. I could be wrong though. At this point, it’s pretty much anybody’s guess after you get to around spot #5.
2023 Heartland Sports Big 12 Power Rankings, Week 7
| Ranking | Points |
| 1. Oklahoma | 42 |
| 2. Texas | 39 |
| 3. Kansas | 35 |
| 4. West Virginia | 34 |
| 5. BYU | 26 |
| 6. Texas Tech | 25 |
| 7. Iowa State | 23 |
| 8. Kansas State | 19 |
| 9. TCU | 18 |
| 10. Oklahoma State | 16 |
| 11. Cincinnati | 12 |
| 12. UCF | 11 |
| 13. Baylor | 10 |
| 14. Houston | 4 |
Holding Steady
Only two teams failed to move this weekend. I think it’s the most that we’ve had in a week’s time since the season started. West Virginia remains at #4 this week and Houston still occupies the cellar at #14.
Moving Up
Texas Tech and Iowa State took our biggest steps forward this week. They each moved up four spots. The Red Raiders check in at #6 and the Cyclones are #7 after the season’s sixth week. Oklahoma, Kansas, BYU, Oklahoma State, and Cincinnati were all on the rise as well.
Dropping
It was Kansas State and Baylor who took the biggest steps backwards in this edition of our power rankings. Both teams dropped five spots from last week. The Wildcats are now #8 and the Bears tumbled down to #13. Texas, TCU, and UCF also dropped this week.
Individual Thoughts
Craig
1. Oklahoma | Now that the Red River Rivalry has taken place we officially know who the best team in the conference is. The Sooners do have a pretty easy schedule remaining, but there’s still some potential for them to get upset if they don’t show up week in and week out.
2. Texas | The Longhorns fall to second place with the loss to the Sooners. Texas isn’t done yet, I expect them to rematch Oklahoma in December for the Big 12 Championship.
3. Kansas | Kansas dominated UCF this weekend to move back into the top three for me. I know UCF isn’t good, but the way Kansas dominated on the ground and in the trenches on both sides of the ball was very impressive.
4. West Virginia
5. Iowa State
6. Texas Tech
7. TCU
8. BYU
9. Cincinnati
10. Oklahoma State
11. Kansas State
12. Baylor
13. Houston | Houston didn’t play this week, but they are still very deserving of a bottom tier ranking.
14. UCF | The Knights, along with the other four new Big 12 schools, have struggled early this season to say the least. But, UCF is the only school to be 0-3 in conference play.
Zack
1. Oklahoma | The Sooners are the best team in the conference after knocking off Texas due to the late-game heroics of Dillon Gabriel. I 100% anticipate a rematch in the Big 12 Championship.
2. Texas | Despite losing to the Sooners, the Longhorns are still an incredibly talented team. They will likely get their chance at revenge in a Big 12 Championship rematch.
3. West Virginia | The Mountaineers were just outside of my top 3 last week, after Kansas State lost to Oklahoma State, West Virginia moves up after a bye week.
4. Kansas
5. BYU
6. Iowa State
7. Texas Tech
8. UCF
9. Oklahoma State
10. Kansas State
11. Cincinnati
12. TCU
13. Baylor | The Bears are not good. Despite an incredible comeback win over UCF a little over a week ago, they got absolutely blasted yesterday by a mediocre Texas Tech team.
14. Houston | A week off doesn’t make the Cougars any better. They stay at the bottom.
Matt
1. Oklahoma | It’s always been Oklahoma and Texas as the top two schools this season. Now we know the correct order and the two seem likely to be heading for a rematch.
2. Texas | There’s no shame in losing that game! Last Saturday was truly a “Clash of the Titans” and it very much lived up to that billing. The conference title is still in reach for the Longhorns, but the room for error just shrunk.
3. Kansas | The Jayhawks had a nice rebound after getting dominated by Texas the week before. That said, this is the area of the rankings where things are starting to turn a little gray and the Mountaineers are lurking.
4. West Virginia
5. Kansas State
6. BYU
7. Texas Tech
8. TCU
9. Oklahoma State
10. Baylor
11. Iowa State
12. UCF
13. Cincinnati | It was a bad week for the Bearcats and Houston to be off. They had opportunities to possibly make up some ground.
14. Houston | See the above for Cincinnati and then just swap the names.
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