Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Week 7

Sooners and Longhorns flip positions while the bottom of the pack is chaos.

After that epic Red River Rivalry game last week, we knew we'd see some changes in our weekly Big 12 Football Power Rankings. Oklahoma did flip spots with Texas, marking the third team this season to hold the top spot.

After winning the Red River Rivalry, Oklahoma jumped ahead of Texas in our Week 7 Big 12 Football Power Rankings.  :: © BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Last week, I mentioned that it looked like we had split the conference into three groups – the Contenders, the Wannabes, and the Pretenders. Now, it seems like we have the Pretenders, which has one less team than it did last week, and everyone else.

Baylor, Kansas State, TCU, and UCF dropped two or three spots after their Week 6 losses. Conversely, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Tech moved up one to four spots due to their wins.

We have five games on the Big 12 slate this week, and four teams have bye weeks. What will the rankings look like next? Stay tuned!

For a complete recap of the Week 6 games, click here.

How Power Rankings Are Determined

• Once again, we have brought together a group from across the league to vote each week during the season on the Big 12 Power Rankings.
• 44 Total Participants
• TCU FanNation (KillerFrogs) Editorial Staff (13)
• Not all are TCU homers – fans of teams in the SEC and Big Ten are part of our editorial staff.
• One to two fans from each of the other current schools in the Big 12 (23)
• Two fans from each of the 2024 incoming "Four Corners" schools (8)
• Each week, each participant provides their rankings 1-10. Those rankings are compiled, and the average rank is then listed below.

Here's where our panel of voters ranked the teams this week:

Big 12 Power Rankings – Week 7

14 Houston (2-3, 0-2)

(Last week #14)

Week 6 Bye

The bye week didn't do anything to help the Coogs. They're stuck at the bottom for now. They host an upstart West Virginia on Thursday night this week. A win here might move the needle, or it may just be a non-event for Houston.

13. Baylor (2-4, 1-2)

(Last week #10)

Lost to Texas Tech 39-14

The Bears had a big jump last week after a come-from-behind win over UCF. The same could not be said after Week 6's BU-TT Bowl. Tech won big in Waco, and as a result, Baylor dropped back down in the rankings. Hey, at least they are ahead of Houston!

12. UCF (3-3, 0-3)

(Last week #9)

Lost to Kansas 51-22

The four "newbies" have registered one conference win, and that was only because it was two newbies playing each other. UCF started out strong with a nice nonconference schedule. Big 12 play has not been so kind to them.

11. Cincinnati (2-3, 0-2)

(Last week #11)

Week 6 Bye

Like Houston and UCF, the Bearcats are looking for that first conference win. They host Iowa State this week, so maybe, just maybe, we might see a glimmer of hope come out of Cincinnati.

10. Oklahoma State (3-2, 1-1)

(Last week #13)

Beat Kansas State 29-21

The Pokes were almost written off after losing to South Alabama and Iowa State. They hosted defending champs KSU on Friday night of Week 6. It was a blackout game. Fans were openly asking if the black was for the funeral for OSU's season. But then, lo and behold, they found a way to beat the Cats. And with that win, OSU moved up three spots this week.

9. TCU (3-3, 1-2)

(Last week #7)

Lost to Iowa State 27-14

To say this season has been a disappointment is an understatement. Sure, Frogs should have anticipated some drop off after last year's magical run, but not to this degree. And now they are without Chandler Morris for a few weeks—time for Josh Hoover to shine.

8. Iowa State (3-3, 2-1)

(Last week #12)

Beat TCU 27-14

The Cyclones weren't expected to beat TCU, but not only did they win, they dominated the Frogs. They are now 2-1 in conference play and travel to Cincinnati this weekend. Matt Campbell's figuring out how to get his team back into the conversation.

7. Texas Tech (3-3, 2-1)

(Last week #8)

Beat Baylor 39-14

Tech and Baylor entered Week 6 with almost identical storylines – Week 1 losses to G5 schools; Week 2 close losses to ranked Pac-12 teams; Week 3 wins over an FCS opponent; Week 4 conference losses; and Week 5 conference wins. Something had to give when they met. And the Red Raiders dominated the Bears for the big win. They jumped up a spot and are just waiting for teams above them to start to fall off.

6. Kansas State (3-2, 1-1)

(Last week #3)

Lost to Oklahoma State 29-21

Ouch. Sure, the loss at Mizzou stung, but that was a 61-yard walk-off field goal against a now-ranked team. But they traveled to Stillwater in Week 6 to face a team even the fans had written off. OSU looked great in that game, and K-State did not. Suddenly, last year's conference champions have two losses, only five games into the season. It will be interesting to see which team shows up in Lubbock this week.

5. BYU (4-1, 1-1)

(Last week #6)

Week 6 Bye

BYU is proving that its years of scheduling multiple P5 games each season has prepared them for Big 12 play. They have a nonconference win over Arkansas this year. And their only loss was a tight one in Lawrence to a KU team that seems to be on fire this year. The Cougars have a big test against a struggling TCU team this week. A win in The Fort will keep BYU in contention for a berth in Arlington.

4. West Virginia (4-1, 2-0)

(Last week #4)

Week 6 Bye

Last week, the team picked to be last in the conference moved up to No. 4. The bye week didn't move them up or down. Now, let's see what they really have. They play on the road at Houston on Thursday night, which should be an easy win for the 'Eers. They don't play Kansas, Kansas State, or Texas this year. Oklahoma may be their only challenge.

3. #23 Kansas (5-1, 2-1)

(Last week #5)

Beat UCF 51-22

Kansas did not need Jalon Daniels last week to destroy UCF. Daniels is still questionable for this week. But Kansas is showing they are hot, even if their hottest player is on the sidelines. They travel to Stillwater this weekend. Will they suffer the same fate their in-state rival did last week, or will they remain one of the league's top teams – in football? Go figure!

2. #9 Texas (5-1, 2-1)

(Last week #1)

Lost to Oklahoma 34-30

That Red River Rivalry game was one of the best in recent years. It may go down as the best Big 12 game of the season. Only because the Sooners came from behind in the last minute to win do we see the Longhorns sitting at the No. 2 spot. It certainly seems we are on a course that will have those two teams meeting again in December for the final game in the Big 12 for both of them. Buckle up. This could be a fun ride.

1. #5 Oklahoma (6-0, 3-0)

(Last week #2)

Beat Texas 34-30

See above under "Texas." Nothing more to say here. The Sooners are hot. OU and Texas get the week off this week while the other teams below them battle for the other positions.

Other FanNation Power Rankings

How do other FanNations rank the Big 12? Check them out here:

• BYU – Cougs Daily
• Kansas – Blue Wings Rising
• Oklahoma State – All Pokes
• West Virginia – Mountaineers Now

Big 12 Football Week 7: Which Games Should You Watch

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Note: Power Rankings are determined by a group of fans representing most schools in the Big 12 Conference.

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