Big 12 football power ranking has a new team at No. 1

Texas Tech may be the defending Big 12 champion, but the Red Raiders barely looked the part, needing late fourth-quarter heroics to get past Oregon State. Yes, Oregon State. Meanwhile, BYU looked stellar in defeating an Arizona team that had been knocking on the door of a national ranking.

There was a stunner as Oklahoma State, which suffered an embarrassing loss to Tulsa a week ago, shocked No. 6 Oregon. So the Cowboys leap up the rankings as quickly as they dropped last week.

Most teams will be in their final nonconference tuneup this week, although two conference games are on tap, the most notable being Texas Tech and Houston.

There was considerable shuffling this week:

1. BYU (2-0)

Last week: 2

Defeated Arizona, 28-17.

Last season, the Wildcats took the No. 15 Cougars to double overtime. They didn't need extra minutes this time, as Bear Bachmeier threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns. His second of those gave the host team a 21-17 lead and it never looked back.

Next up: At Colorado State, Sept. 19.

2. Utah (2-0)

Last week: 4.

Defeated Arkansas, 43-10.

Three Big 12 teams faced SEC foes, and the Utes were the only team to come away with a win. Morgan Scalley's crew totaled 442 yards and was never tested. Devon Dampier threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another two scores.

Nextup: vs. Utah State, Sept. 19.

3. Houston (2-0)

Last week: 3.

Defeated Southern, 77-6.

The Cougars surged out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and coasted from there. Houston spread the wealth, with 10 players factoring into the rushing total and nine figuring in the receiving yardage. The teams wrapped up the blowout by agreeing to an 8-minute fourth quarter.

Next up: At Texas Tech, Sept. 18.

4. Texas Tech (2-0)

Last week: 1

Defeated Oregon State, 35-24.

Anybody who has been to Corvallis for a night game knows crazy things happen. The Beavers very nearly pulled off a stunner. The Red Raiders barely survived against an opponent that was 2-17 against its previous 19 FBS foes. Texas Tech went ahead, 28-24, with 6:31 left and secured the game when the Beavers failed on a fourth down with two minutes left.

Next up: vs. Houston, Sept. 18.

5. Oklahoma State (1-1)

Last week: 14.

Defeated Oregon, 39-31.

A week after an embarrassing loss to Tulsa, the Cowboys turned in a shocking win over No. 6 Oregon, ending a 21-game losing streak against FBS opponents. Drew Mestemaker threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 109 yards and one score.

Next up: vs. Murray State, Sept. 19.

6. Arizona (1-1)

Last week: 5.

Lost to BYU, 28-17.

Senior QB Noah Fifita threw for 230 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats, but Arizona couldn't score in the second half after doing so on three of its first six drives. Arizona was held to negative rushing yards in the second half.

Next up: vs. Northern Illinois, Sept. 19.

7. Arizona State (1-1)

Last week: 6.

Lost at Texas A&M, 48-20.

The Sun Devils were in the game for a little more than three quarters, but were outscored in the final quarter, 24-0. Four turnovers proved costly, two of those being Cutter Boley interceptions that were run back for touchdowns. Reed Harris had nine catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.

Next up: vs. Kansas (In London), Sept. 19.

8. Kansas State (2-0)

Last week: 7.

Defeated Washington State, 34-7.

The Wildcats racked up 487 total yards in coasting past the Cougars. Rodney Fields rushed for 105 yards on 13 attempts and Josh Manning managed 10 catches for 97 yards to head the effort. Washington State managed just 166 yards of offense.

Nextup: vs. Tulane, Sept. 19.

9. West Virginia (2-0)

Last week: 8.

Defeated UT Martin, 52-7.

The Mountaineers registered 525 yards to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2018. Mike Hawkins Jr. threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores to head the effort.  

Next up: vs. Virginia, Sept. 19

10. Colorado (2-0)

Last week: 10.

Defeated Weber State, 52-21.

The Buffaloes totaled 578 yards in cruising past the visiting Wildcats. The biggest flaw in the win was the penalty total of 109 yards. QB Julian Lewis threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns, all of them in the first half. It tied the school mark for any half held by John Hessler and Cody Hawkins (twice).

Next up: At Northwestern, Sept. 19.

11. Cincinnati (2-0)

Last week: 11.

Defeated Western Carolina, 62-10.

Are the Bearcats better than expected? It's hard to tell. Quarterback JC French IV passed for 245 yards and two touchdowns, and four different running backs scored rushing touchdowns as the Bearcats outgained Western Carolina 690-241 in total yards, rushing for 418 yards.

Next up: vs. Miami (Ohio), Sept. 19.

12. Kansas (1-1)

Last week: 9.

Lost to Missouri, 38-21.

It was not a good showing in the rivalry game for the Jayhawks. QB Isaiah Marshall was just 13-for-30 for 168 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. There was also a fumble. Kansas went 3-for-15 on third down and had 89 yards in penalties. Those numbers are not going to win you many games.

Next up: vs. Arizona State (in London), Sept. 19.

13. TCU (1-1)

Last week: 15.

Defeated Southern, 63-7.

The Horned Frogs were coming off a bye following their international trip. QB Jaden Craig responded with a career-high passing performance of 391 yards, completing 24 of 31 passes with four touchdowns.

Next up: vs. Arkansas State, Sept. 19.

14. Central Florida (1-1)

Last week: 12

Lost to Pitt, 12-7.

The Knights went 4-for-13 on third down and 0-for-3 on fourth down, managing just 206 total yards. Pitt led 12-0 much of the way, with the Knights getting their lone touchdown late in the contest.

Nextup: vs. Georgia State, Sept. 19.

15. Iowa State (1-1)

Last week: 13.

Lost to Iowa, 16-13.

The Cyclones lost the rivalry game, with the deciding points coming on a 42-yard field goal with 14 seconds left. Iowa takes the win after losing the previous two games to the Cyclones. Iowa State managed just nine first downs and 255 total yards.

Next up: vs. Bowling Green, Sept. 19.

16. Baylor (1-1)

Last week: 16

Defeated Prairie View A&M, 44-3.

Backup quarterback Nate Bennett threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, subbing for the injured D.J. Lagway, out with an ankle injury suffered in the Bears’ 17-16 loss to Auburn last week.

Next up: vs. Louisiana Tech, Sept. 19.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Big 12 football power ranking has a new team at No. 1