Week 4 of the college football season has concluded, and it was another interesting week for the Big 12 with many conference games contested, so let’s take a look at the updated conference power rankings.
. . Team . . Big 12 . 16. 450.
Week 4: Cincinnati 34 – Houston 0
Houston remains at the bottom of the power rankings after being shut out by Cincinnati this week. In the 34-0 rout, the Cougars lost the ball three times and only gained 233 total yards. Will they be competitive when No. 18 Iowa State visits in Week 5?
. . Team. 462. . . Big 12. . . 15
Week 4: West Virginia 32 – Kansas 28
The preseason Big 12 favorites have had quite a down year. Kansas suffered a last-minute loss to WVU, dropping the Jayhawks to 1-3 overall and snapping a three-game losing streak. Now they take on TCU in a battle of teams both heading in the wrong direction. Who will get the long-awaited win?
. . . 14. 449. Big 12. . . .
Week 4: Cincinnati 34 – Houston 0
It’s hard to rate Cincinnati after four games. At 3-1 overall, they’re already close to their preseason projected win total. But those three wins came against Townsend, Miami (Ohio) and Houston. A win this weekend in Lubbock would send the rating soaring.
466. Big 12. . . . . . . . . 13
Week 4: SMU 66 – TCU 42
A 24-point loss to SMU doesn’t show how badly TCU lost to their city rival. A program that’s been built around defense for decades allowed 238 yards on the ground to a mediocre SMU ground game. Now they’ll take a trip to Kansas State to face a Jayhawk team desperate to end a three-game losing streak.
. . 12. 512. . . . . Big 12
Week 4: Texas Tech 30 – Arizona State 22
The Sun Devils lost steam in Lubbock, suffering their first loss of the season, with three fourth-down incompletions proving crucial in the game. After a week of rest, Arizona State plays Kansas and Utah in a pair of games that will likely show the results of Kenny Dillingham’s rebuild in the desert.
. . . . Big 12. 11. . . . 469
Week 4: West Virginia 32 – Kansas 28
The Mountaineers are back up to .500 with a comeback win over Kansas, but they’re facing a three-game series against currently ranked teams that could define their season.
. 460. Big 12. . . . . . . . 10
Week 4: Colorado 38 – Baylor 31
All Baylor had to do was stop Colorado from scoring a touchdown with one play from midfield, but the Bears pulled off a miracle that the Buffaloes will likely curse for the rest of the season. It will be interesting to see how morale holds up in Waco after such a blowout loss.
514. . 9. . . . . Big 12.
Week 4: Colorado 38 – Baylor 31
It took two miraculous plays for the Colorado Buffaloes to beat a mediocre Baylor University team on Saturday night. Still, it was the Buffaloes’ first conference win since Oct. 7, 2023. Now they’ll try to ride that momentum to a win on the road against a very talented UCF team.
. 8. 468. . . . . . . Big 12
Week 4: Texas Tech 30 – Arizona State 22
The Red Raiders are coming off their biggest win of the season with a win over Arizona State in Lubbock, and Joey McGuire’s team seems to be starting to stabilize after a tough start the first two weeks, and they can continue their upward trend with a win against a resurgent Cincinnati team this week at Jones Stadium.
7. Big 12…511
Week 4: Off
Arizona has a week off to bounce back from a humiliating loss to Kansas State in Week 3 and now has a tough three-game stretch with a home game against Texas Tech and road trips to No. 10 Utah and No. 22 BYU.
. 463. Big 12. . . . . . . . 6
Week 4: BYU 38 – Kansas State 9
There’s no embarrassment in losing a night game in Provo, Utah — in fact, it’s nearly impossible to beat BYU on a nighttime basis — but a humiliation like Saturday’s at K-State is unacceptable. For the Wildcats to compete for a Big 12 title, quarterback Avery Johnson will need to rapidly develop as a passing player.
. . Big 12. . . 5. . . 465
Week 4: Utah 22 – Oklahoma State 19
Oklahoma State scored two garbage-time touchdowns to make their loss to Utah look respectable, but don’t forget the Cowboys lost a home game to a team using a backup quarterback. Additionally, OSU had to bench starting quarterback Alan Bowman midway through the game, raising questions about future offensive struggles.
4. Big 12. 455.
Week 4: Off
After a dramatic come-from-behind win over TCU in Week 3, UCF had a week off to prepare for their matchup against Colorado in Week 5. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will air in Orlando this weekend, marking the first time the pregame show will air from Florida. A win could put the Knights in the spotlight across the nation.
540. Big 12… 3…
Week 3: BYU 38 – Kansas State 9
Picked to finish 13th in the preseason Big 12 poll, BYU has been the surprise of the conference so far. The Cougars are 4-0 on the season and coming off a spectacular win over Kansas State in Week 4. Can they keep that momentum going this week against Waco? Or was Saturday’s win just the product of some Provo night-game magic?
. . 461. Big 12. . . 2. . .
Week 4: Iowa State 52 Arkansas State 7
After an open week in Week 3, the Iowa State Cyclones had a pseudo-open week in Week 4, beating Arkansas State, and then travel to face lowly Houston in Week 4, which could be another easy week. Considering they don’t play another currently ranked team until the penultimate game of the season, the Cyclones are likely to remain one of the best-performing teams in the Big 12 for some time to come.
. . . . Big 12. 843. . . . 1
Week 4: Utah 22 – Oklahoma State 19
Utah fans have been vocal all offseason about how they will run the new Big 12 in 2024. After four weeks, that confidence has paid off. Beating top-ranked Oklahoma State on the road with a backup quarterback sent a huge message. Utah now has to be considered a favorite to win the Big 12, but they can’t bask in last week’s win for too long as they host a dangerous Arizona team this week.