Provo, Utah – We’re entering Week 9 of the college football season and we’re back with another Big 12 power rankings.
Every week, KSL Sports Zone host Alex Killey and I drop the Big 12 power rankings on our radio show “First & 12.”
It will be broadcast Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon and then rebroadcast on KSL News Radio and KSL Sports Zone from 3 to 5 p.m.
You can also listen to the show on the KSL Sports app and on all major podcasting platforms.
This past weekend was another busy week of Big 12 activity. Two rookies nearly knocked out departing Big 12 members Oklahoma State and Texas State. Oklahoma State escaped with a 31-29 victory over UCF.
The Knights are still looking for their first win in Big 12 play, but with John Reese Plumlee back in the quarterback lineup, they look like a much different team.
Houston’s decision to pass out shotgun on 4th-and-1 will be debated for years. Although the standings weren’t great, the Cougars missed a chance to beat the Longhorns. It’s an opportunity you’ll probably never get again.
Dana Holgorsen wasn’t thrilled with that call-up to Houston pic.twitter.com/nPr4oV7V8S
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 21, 2023
Kansas State reminded everyone why they are the defending Big 12 champions. In a rematch game for last year’s Big 12 title, K-State defeated TCU to come out on top again. The Horned Frogs appeared to be turning a corner after defeating BYU a week ago with quarterback Josh Hoover on board. But that magic didn’t carry over to Manhattan, as the Wildcats dominated the Horned Frogs 41-3.
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II is having a great October. In his win over Kansas last week, he had 168 rushing yards and 116 receiving yards. In this week’s upset win at West Virginia, Gordon ran for 282 yards and four touchdowns.
Big 12 Power Rankings 2023 Season: Week 9
Here’s how the Big 12 power rankings stack up going into Week 9.
1. Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 1st place
Oklahoma 31, UCF 29
This week: Kansas | 10am | Foxes
2. Texas (6-1, 3-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 2nd place
Texas 31, Houston 24
This week: vs BYU | 1:30 p.m. | ABC
3. Kansas State (5-2, 3-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 3rd place
K-State 41, TCU 3
This week: vs. Houston | 10am | ESPN2
4. Oklahoma State (5-2, 3-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 7th place (up 3)
Oklahoma State 48, West Virginia 34
This week: vs. Cincinnati | 6pm | ESPN2
5. Iowa State (4-3, 3-1 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 4th place (1 down)
good bye
This week: Baylor | 1:30 p.m. | Big 12 comes to ESPN+
6. Kansas (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 6th place
good bye
This week: vs. Oklahoma | 10am | Foxes
7. West Virginia (4-3, 2-2 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 5th place (down 2)
Oklahoma State 48, West Virginia 34
This week: UCF | 10am | FS1
8. BYU (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 9th place (up 1)
BYU 27, Texas Tech 14
This week: Texas | 1:30 p.m. | ABC
9. TCU (4-4, 2-3 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 8th place (1 down)
Kansas State 41, TCU 3
This week: Goodbye
10. Baylor (3-4, 2-2 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 13th (up 3)
Baylor 32, Cincinnati 29
This week: vs. Iowa State | 1:30 p.m. | Big 12 comes to ESPN+
11. Texas Tech (3-5, 2-3 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 10th (down 1)
BYU 27, Texas Tech 14
This week: Goodbye
12. UCF (3-4, 0-4 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 14th (up 2)
Oklahoma 31, UCF 29
This week: vs. West Virginia | 10am | FS1
13. Houston (3-4, 1-3 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 11th (down 2)
Texas 31, Houston 24
This week: Kansas State | 10am | ESPN2
14. Cincinnati (2-5, 0-4 Big 12)
Last week’s power ranking: 12th (down 2)
Baylor 32, Cincinnati 29
This week: Oklahoma State | 6pm | ESPN2
Mitch Harper is a BYU insider at KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks podcast (subscribe) and Cougar Sports Saturday on KSL News Radio (Saturdays from 12-3 p.m.). Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference. X and thread: @Mitch_Harper.
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