New football team atop Big 12 power rankings

Posted by Admin October 1, 2024 Football

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For the first time this season, there’s a new No. 1 in the Big 12 power rankings.

Iowa State (4-0) took over the top spot, grabbing nine first-place votes and 246 points from a panel of media who regularly cover the Big 12.

BYU (5-0), the Big 12’s only other remaining unbeaten team, was second with six first-place votes and 237 points. Kansas State was third, followed by Arizona (one first-place vote). Utah, which held the top spot for the first four weeks, dropped to fifth after a 23-10 home loss to Arizona.

Oklahoma State tumbled six spots to 10th after a second straight loss.

Arizona State dropped from ninth to 12th despite not playing while Arizona moved from seventh to fourth after its upset of Utah which had topped the power rankings.

1. Iowa State

Previous ranking: 2

Points: 246 (nine first-place votes)

Record: 4-0 (1-0 Big 12)

Last week: beat Houston, 20-0

This week: vs. Baylor

Comment: The 16th-ranked Cyclones seek their first 5-0 start since 1980 and their first back-to-back wins over the Bears since the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Wide receiver Jayden Higgins caught a touchdown pass in last week’s win over Houston, extending his program-record streak in that area to six games. Iowa State ranks among the top five nationally in passing defense (102.5 yards per game), scoring defense (7.3 points per game), and turnover margin (plus-1.75 per game).

Did you know? Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell broke a tie with Dan McCarney to become the program’s all-time wins leader with 57 as his team shut out a conference opponent on the road for the first time since 1971. — Rob Gray, The Cedar Rapids Gazette

2. Brigham Young

Previous ranking: 3

Points: 237 (six first-place votes)

Record: 5-0 (2-0 Big 12)

Last week: beat Baylor, 34-28

This week: Open date

Comment: Kalani Sitake admitted things got a little too dramatic in Waco when BYU nearly gave up a 21-point lead. But the Cougars did enough to stay unbeaten, leaning on its newfound defensive identity late to seal a win.

Did you know? This is the third time BYU is 5-0 under Sitake. The only other coach in BYU history to have that many 5-0 starts is LaVell Edwards. — Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune

3. Kansas State

Previous ranking: 6

Points: 221

Record: 4-1 (1-1 Big 12)

Last week: beat No. 20 Oklahoma State, 42-20

This week: Open date

Comment: With his 187 rushing yards on Saturday versus the Cowboys, DJ Giddens moved up to ninth on K-State’s career rushing list with 2,161 yards.

Did you know? The Wildcats‘ 140 Big 12 victories since the league’s inception in 1996 are the most among active members of the conference. — Tim Everson, The Manhattan Mercury

4. Arizona

Previous ranking: 7

Points: 204 (one first-place vote)

Record: 3-1 (1-0 Big 12)

Last week: beat No. 10 Utah, 23-10

This week: vs. Texas Tech

Comment: Arizona had four fourth-down stops against Utah, including two inside the red zone. Arizona cornerback Tacario Davis had five pass breakups — three of them were on fourth-down plays — and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Arizona also became the first team to out-rush Utah since Oregon last season.

Did you know? Due to a mechanical issue with the team plane, the Wildcats’ flight to Salt Lake City was delayed several hours and they didn’t land in Utah until about 1 a.m. on Saturday. According to head coach Brent Brennan, the team ate pasta and cheeseburgers at 1:45 a.m. — Justin Spears, Arizona Daily Star

5. Utah

Previous ranking: 1

Points: 187

Record: 4-1 (1-1 Big 12)

Last week: lost to Arizona, 23-10

This week: Open date

Comment: Utah’s offense finally showed its true colors without Cam Rising. In a loss to the Wildcats, the Utes put up a season-low 10 points and went 2-for-4 in the red zone. True freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson now has more interceptions (7) than passing touchdowns (6) this season.

Did you know? With their loss to Arizona, it’s the first time an unranked team has defeated the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium since 2017.— Jason Batacao, The Salt Lake Tribune

6. Colorado

Previous ranking: T9

Points: 177

Record: 4-1 (2-0 Big 12)

Last week: beat UCF, 48-21

This week: Open date

Comment: In rain-drenched Orlando, the Buffs put together their most complete and most impressive performance in several years. Despite being 14-point underdogs, Colorado dominated on offense and defense to stun UCF. The 27-point margin of victory was CU’s largest in a road game in 19 years and they never trailed against the Knights.

Did you know? Shedeur Sanders is the most-sacked QB in the country (17 times), but 13 of those sacks have occurred in two games (Nebraska, Baylor). Three times already he’s been sacked two or less times. He was sacked at least three times in every game in 2023. — Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera

7. Texas Tech

Previous ranking: 8

Points: 151

Record: 4-1 (2-0 Big 12)

Last week: beat Cincinnati, 44-41

This week: at Arizona

Comment: The Red Raiders went a perfect 3-0 in their homestand to build some momentum, little of it coming from the defense. Tahj Brooks continues to carve out the yardage and Behren Morton has looked like the QB they hoped when Tyler Shough hit the portal. But the competition level picks up several notches from here, starting with a trip to Tucson.

Did you know? The Red Raiders are a whopping 3-9 on the road in Joey McGuire’s tenure and their toughest games the rest of the way are all outside of Lubbock. — Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

8. Central Florida

Previous ranking: T4

Points: 135

Record: 3-1 (1-1 Big 12)

Last week: lost to Colorado, 48-21

This week: at Florida

Comment: UCF had no answers for Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter as the Buffaloes quickly built a double-digit lead before cruising to a 48-21 win in front of a sellout crowd at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Running back RJ Harvey rushed for a season-low 77 yards as the Knights struggled to get much going in the ground game.

Did you know? Gus Malzahn was 9-0 following a bye week as coach at Arkansas State and Auburn but just 1-3 at UCF.— Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel

9. West Virginia

Previous ranking: 11

Points: 123

Record: 2-2 (1-0 Big 12)

Last week: Open date

This week: at Oklahoma State

Comment: Just call it the “State Tour.” Coming off the open date, the Mountaineers begin a tough stretch that includes Oklahoma State, No. 16 Iowa State and No. 20 Kansas State. Coach Neal Brown said the focus this week is stopping OSU star back Ollie Gordon II, who had 282 yards and four touchdowns in last year’s 48-34 win in Morgantown. That total included 149 yards and 2 TDs in the fourth quarter. Gordon is averaging only 66.8 yards this season. “I don’t think his numbers completely tell the story,” Brown said. “He’s going to have breakout games. I just hope it’s not against us.”

Did you know? The Mountaineers are tied for No. 1 nationally in fourth-down conversions with 10. – Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle

10. Oklahoma State

Previous ranking: T4

Points: 121

Record: 3-2 (0-2 Big 12)

Last week: lost to No. 23 Kansas State, 42-20

This week: vs. West Virginia

Comment: Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon briefly looked like his old self rushing for 72 yards on his first nine carries against Kansas State. He then finished with four yards on his other six rushing attempts.

Did you know? Receiver Brennan Presley has multiple receptions in 35 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak at the FBS level. — Tyler Waldrep, Tulsa World

11. TCU

Previous ranking: 13

Points: 106

Record: 3-2 (1-1 Big 12)

Last week: beat Kansas, 38-27

This week: vs. Houston (Friday)

Comment: TCU receivers Jack Bech and Eric McAlister have both gone over the 100-yard receiving mark in the past two games. The duo will look to continue their streak against a Houston defense that is allowing opponents less than 150 passing yards per game this season.

Did you know? Jack Bech’s 647 receiving yards are the second most in the country so far this season, while his six receiving touchdowns are tied for third most. Bech has already amassed more receiving yards this season than any TCU receiver did in all of 2023. — Jamie Plunkett, Horned Frog Blitz

12. Arizona State

Previous ranking: T9

Points: 89

Record: 3-1 (0-1 Big 12)

Last week: Open date

This week: vs. Kansas

Comment: The Sun Devils had a week off, which was needed after back-to-back road games in Texas.

Did you know? ASU is 3-8 (37%) coming off an open week since the 2014 season. The last time ASU won after an open week was in 2019. It is averaging 23.8 points on offense per game coming off an open week and giving up 31.1 points. While it was still a loss, one of the best games of the Kenny Dillingham era was following an open week when ASU almost upset No. 5 Washington. It was the fewest points the Huskies scored in a game until the national championship loss to Michigan. — Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic

13. Cincinnati

Previous ranking: 12

Points: 79

Record: 3-2 (1-1 Big 12)

Last week: lost to Texas Tech, 44-41

This week: Open date

Comment: The Bearcats shot out to a 14-3 lead in a scorefest in Lubbock but lost starting running back Corey Kiner early with an apparent rib injury. That forced Scott Satterfield to use the passing game more and Brendan Sorsby responded with a 426-yard game for four touchdowns, both career highs. However, the Cincinnati defense that blanked Houston gave up 44 points to the Red Raiders. Behren Morton had two touchdown passes and Tahj Brooks ran for a season-high 172 yards. Bearcats kicker Nathan Hawks missed a 42-yarder before halftime and a 51-yarder at the game’s end which could have changed the outcome.

Did you know? The 44 points given up by the defense was the most the Bearcats had allowed since 45 at Oklahoma State and 49 to Kansas last season. Both teams punted just once in the game. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer

14. Baylor

Previous ranking: 14

Points: 47

Record: 2-3 (0-2 Big 12)

Last week: lost to No. 22 BYU, 34-28

This week: at No. 16 Iowa State

Comment: Baylor dug itself a hole on Saturday by allowing 21 unanswered points to start the game. Starting linebacker Steve Linton and tight end Michael Trigg were suspended for off-field incidents, and 10 other key players were out with injuries. Despite all that, quarterback Sawyer Robertson set career highs in attempts, completions, yards, passing touchdowns, and carries to help the Bears battle back and make it a one-possession game late. Another game against a ranked, undefeated conference foe awaits as the Bears travel to face Iowa State on Saturday night.

Did you know? Baylor has lost its last eight games against Big 12 opponents at McLane Stadium, its last win coming against Kansas on Oct. 22, 2022. — Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald

15. Kansas

Previous ranking: 15

Points: 35

Record: 1-4 (0-2 Big 12)

Last week: lost to TCU, 38-27

This week: at Arizona State

Comment: The Jayhawks’ disappointing start to the 2024 season continues to reach new lows. Against TCU, quarterback Jalon Daniels posted his lowest completion percentage in a game (44%) since Sept. 18, 2021, which was a day on which he went 0-for-1. Meanwhile, a KU secondary containing two preseason All-Big 12 cornerbacks gave up 356 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Did you know? KU will be making its first trip to play Arizona State, but the Valley of the Sun isn’t new to the Jayhawks. They played the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix last year, and four true freshmen on the KU roster are from the area. — Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World

16. Houston

Last week: 16

Points: 18

Record: 1-4 (0-2 Big 12)

Last week: lost to No. 18 Iowa State, 20-0

This week: at TCU (Friday)

Comment: Coach Willie Fritz said the starting quarterback job is up for grabs after Houston was shut out for the second straight game. “We’re looking at everything right now,” Fritz said. The Cougars alternated series between starter Donovan Smith and backup Zeon Chriss against Iowa State but still couldn’t find a spark for an offense that currently sits last in FBS in scoring at 10.4 points per game.

Did you know? Houston is in an eight-plus quarter scoreless drought (127 minutes, 10 seconds) since it last scored on Sept. 14 against Rice. It’s the longest stretch without scoring for the Cougars since going 11 quarters and 185:03 in 1994. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle