Our Big 12 Power Rankings for Week 2 saw little movement, with Utah and Oklahoma State maintaining their top two spots. Houston moved down to occupy the bottom spot at No. 16.
There was a high degree of consensus among our pundits regarding the rankings of Kansas State, Iowa State, and Arizona State. Baylor and Colorado tied for No. 10 after receiving an equal number of points this week.
Kansas and Arizona switched places this week, while Iowa State moved up to No. 6. TCU also saw an improvement in its ranking, as did Arizona State, Baylor, and Colorado. Texas Tech and BYU remained unchanged.
Overall, the Big 12 rankings remain relatively stable following the season’s first full weekend of action. However, its still early in the season so there’s plenty of room, and time, for movement.
2024 Heartland Sports Big 12 Power Rankings, Week 2
| Ranking | Points |
| 1. Utah | 64 |
| 2. Oklahoma State | 60 |
| 3. Kansas State | 55 |
| 4. Kansas | 51 |
| 5. Arizona | 48 |
| 6. Iowa State | 42 |
| 7. Iowa State | 43 |
| 8. TCU | 37 |
| 9. West Virginia | 31 |
| 10. Baylor | 24 |
| 10. Colorado | 24 |
| 12. Texas Tech | 23 |
| 13.BYU | 18 |
| 14. Arizona State | 14 |
| 15. Cincinnati | 12 |
| 16. Houston | 4. |
Individual Thoughts
Caleb
1 Utah – The Utes looked the part against Southern Utah. Offense had over 500 total yards and defense only gave up 150 total yards.
2 Oklahoma State – Ollie Gordon picked up right where he left off from last season. While we know what the OSU offense is, the defense is still a question mark for me.
3 Kansas – The Jayhawks had no issues against Lindenwood Thursday night. Devin Neal looked like he could be one of the best RBs in the Big 12 with 8 carries for 112 yards.
4 Kansas State
5 Arizona
6 Iowa State
7 TCU
8 West Virginia
9 Texas Tech
10 Colorado
11 UCF
12 Cincinnati
13 Baylor
14 Arizona State
15 BYU – The Cougars played a lot better than I expected them to play. Playing SMU next week will tell us if they can be a middle of the pack Big 12 team or bottom half team.
16 Houston – Houston did not look impressive on Saturday. Losing 27-7 to UNLV. Expectations were low but wow.
Craig
1. Utah – Utah dominated in their opener as Cameron Rising threw for 5 touchdown passes. They also looked great on defense holding Southern Utah to only 150 yards.
2. Oklahoma State – Oklahoma State is going to have a very dangerous offense this season as long as Ollie Gordon stays healthy. He rushed for a couple of touchdowns and over 100 yards in the Cowboys opener. If Alan Bowman can continue to play well I believe OSU is in for a great season.
3. Kansas State – The Wildcats looked solid in their opener, but I have some worries about their passing game. This is obviously a very heavy ground game team, but how far will that take them in the new look Big 12 with even more explosive offenses than years past.
4. Arizona
5. Kansas
6. TCU
7. West Virginia
8. Iowa State
9. UCF
10. Baylor
11. BYU
12. Colorado
13. Texas Tech
14. Arizona State
15. Cincinnati – Cincinnati had a rough second quarter in their opener against Towson where they gave up 14 points. Other than that, it was a pretty solid performance and a much needed win to start the season.
16. Houston – Losing by three scores at home in your season opener is never a good look. We knew Houston would be bad, but they might be worse than we thought. Things won’t be any easier this week as they’ll travel to Norman to face Oklahoma.
Matt
1. Utah | The Utes’ dominant 49-0 victory over Southern Utah showcased their strength and readiness for being the Big 12 frontrunners in Year 1. Utah’s offense was explosive, scoring touchdowns on five of their first six drives. Defensively, they were impenetrable, shutting out the Thunderbirds and limiting them to just 164 total yards.
2. Oklahoma State | The Cowboys’ 44-20 victory over South Dakota State in their season opener was a strong statement of their potential for the upcoming season. The Cowboys dominated the game from start to finish, showcasing their offensive firepower and defensive prowess.
3. Kansas State | While UT Martin is not a top-tier opponent, Kansas State’s ability to control the game and pull away in the second half is a positive sign for their chances of success in the Big 12. The Wildcats’ balanced offense and strong defense give them a solid foundation to build upon as they look to compete for a conference title.
4. Arizona
5. Kansas
6. Iowa State
7. UCF
8. Texas Tech
9. Colorado
10. TCU
11. Baylor
12. . BYU
13. West Virginia
14. Arizona State
15. Cincinnati | The Bearcats’ victory over Towson was a positive start, but there are concerns about their offensive consistency, defensive vulnerability, and special teams play. While they dominated the game, they need to improve in these areas to ensure continued success against tougher opponents.
16. Houston | The Cougars’ loss to UNLV was the worst loss in the Big 12 over the weekend. UNLV dominated the game on both sides of the ball, exposing Houston’s defensive weaknesses and offensive inconsistencies. This unexpected defeat raises concerns about Houston’s competitiveness in the conference.
Zack
1. Utah | Southern Utah isn’t very good, but the Utes did exactly what they needed to do by taking care of business early for a blowout win.
2. Oklahoma State | Give South Dakota State some credit for somewhat slowing the Cowboys early. Oklahoma State put together a solid game, and they look ready to compete this season.
3. Kansas State | An easy win for the Wildcats over UT Martin means they’re not going anywhere in my rankings.
4. Kansas
5. UCF
6. Iowa State
7. Arizona
8.TCU
9. West Virginia
10. Baylor
11. Arizona State
12. BYU
13. Colorado
14. Cincinnati
15. Texas Tech | Yes, a win is a win, but needing OT to defeat Abilene Christian is not a great start to the season for the Red Raiders
16. Houston | Another season of bad football looks to be in store for Houston. Despite being a 3.5-point favorite over UNLV, they ended up losing pretty badly.
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