As we enter the final week of the regular season, the shape of the Big 12 hierarchy has never been clearer — and our panel’s votes reflect that clarity. Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, and Arizona State land as a unanimous top four, solidifying themselves as the league’s most stable and consistent teams. At the other end of the spectrum, Oklahoma State remains a unanimous No. 16 after suffering its 18th consecutive conference loss, with Colorado and UCF also hovering near-universal agreement as bottom-tier programs. There aren’t many surprises at the top or bottom anymore, and the consensus across the board shows just how firmly the conference’s elite — and its struggling teams — have separated from the pack.
But once we move toward the middle of the rankings, the unity dissolves quickly. The biggest point of contention this week comes between Cincinnati and TCU, who finish in a tie at No. 7 despite being ranked as high as sixth on some ballots and as low as ninth on others. Iowa State, Arizona, Houston, Kansas State, and Kansas all see similar volatility, with variations of three to four spots depending on the voter. These disagreements highlight a chaotic middle field where any given week can swing a team several positions. With bowl eligibility, coaching stability, and late-season momentum all still in play, the middle of the Big 12 remains wildly unpredictable heading into the season’s final weekend.
2025 Heartland Sports Big 12 Power Rankings – Week 14
| Ranking | Points |
| 1. Texas Tech | 64 |
| 2. BYU | 60 |
| 3. Utah | 56 |
| 4. Arizona State | 52 |
| 5. Arizona | 46 |
| 6. Iowa State | 44 |
| 7. Cincinnati | 37 |
| 7. TCU | 37 |
| 9. Kansas State | 35 |
| 10. Houston | 30 |
| 11. Baylor | 22 |
| 12. Kansas | 21 |
| 13. West Virginia | 15 |
| 14. UCF | 13 |
| 15. Colorado | 9 |
| 16. Oklahoma State | 4 |
Comparing Week 14 to Week 13
The top of the Big 12 remains rock solid heading into the final weekend. Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, and Arizona State are unchanged in both position and separation, reinforcing what’s been clear for weeks: the league’s elite tier is firmly established. Arizona and Iowa State also remain locked into the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, but both strengthened their grip with slight point increases, suggesting growing confidence among the panel that those two belong in the upper-middle tier as the season closes.
Most of the movement this week came in the middle tier, where Cincinnati and TCU are now deadlocked at No. 7 after TCU gained significant ground and Cincinnati slipped slightly in the voting. Houston was the biggest faller, dropping from No. 8 to No. 10 after losing support and being leapfrogged by both Kansas State and TCU. Kansas State crept up from ninth to eighth, building momentum late, while the bottom six remain completely unchanged from Week 13 — a sign of near-total consensus on the conference’s lower tier as the regular season winds down.
Individual Rankings
Caleb
1. Texas Tech | The Red Raiders have dominated just about everyone on their schedule as they look to make the Big 12 championship.
2. BYU | The Cougars look to be in control to make the Big12 championship after picking up a tough road win against Cincinnati
3. Utah | The Utes had a tough win over KSU. With over 500 yards of offense Utah looked unstoppable.
4. Arizona State
5. Arizona
6. TCU
7. Cincinnati
8. Iowa State
9. Kansas State
10. Houston
11. Kansas
12. Baylor
13. West Virginia
14. Colorado
15. UCF | The Knights had a comeback win against a bad OSU team. To say this season was a disappointment is an understatement.
16. Oklahoma State | OSU lost their 18th straight Big12 game.
Craig
1. Texas Tech | The Red Raiders had the week off to prepare for their final regular season game against West Virginia. Texas Tech looks like the real deal and is primed for a conference championship appearance.
2. BYU | The Cougars took care of business against a very solid Cincinnati team. Just one more win and we will get to see the rematch against Texas Tech.
3. Utah | The Utes win again in a shootout against Kansas State. They’re still on the outside looking in of the conference championship, but a great bounce back season nonetheless.
4. Arizona State
5. Arizona
6. Iowa State
7. Kansas State
8. Cincinnati
9. TCU
10. Houston
11. Baylor
12. UCF
13. Kansas
14. West Virginia
15. Colorado | The Buffaloes got stomped again. The good news is that it’s almost over.
16. Oklahoma State | The Cowboys played a great first half, but couldn’t finish the game with a win. They’ve got one last shot this coming week against Iowa State or its back to back seasons without a conference win.
Matt
1. Texas Tech | Still the most complete team in the conference and no doubt the unanimous No. 1 across our panel. Nothing from Week 13 comes close to challenging their position.
2. BYU | A strong defensive performance and another solid win keep the Cougars locked into No. 2. Their only loss remains to Texas Tech, and they continue trending upward.
3. Utah | The Utes survived a shootout but still took care of business. With another win in hand and no relevant challengers below them, Utah stays firmly at No. 3.
4. Arizona State
5. Iowa State
6. Arizona
7. Cincinnati
8. TCU
9. Houston
10. Kansas State
11. Kansas
12. Baylor
13. West Virginia
14. UCF
15. Colorado | Blown out again, no signs of improvement, and UCF won. The Buffs drop to No. 15 for me this week.
16. Oklahoma State | An 18th straight Big 12 loss keeps them locked to the bottom. Nothing changes until they win a conference game.
Zack
1. Texas Tech | No game means no movement for the Red Raiders. Take care of business against West Virginia, and they’re on the way to the Big 12 Championship.
2. BYU | It wasn’t flashy, but the Cougars got a solid win against Cincinnati. Now they take on UCF as a heavy favorite for a shot in the Big 12 Championship.
3. Utah | The Utes survived a shootout with Kansas State, but they’re a long shot to sneak into the Big Championship game, even if they do beat Kansas this weekend.
4. Arizona State
5. Iowa State
6. Arizona
7. Kansas State
8. TCU
9. Cincinnati
10. Houston
11. Baylor
12. Kansas
13. West Virginia
14. UCF
15. Colorado | Another bad week for the Buffs, and they’re about as ready for the offseason as Oklahoma State.
16. Oklahoma State | So close, yet so far from a win. Let’s get this season over with already.