Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Week 9

More changes, specifically at the bottom of the list, highlight this week’s rankings.

As we said last week, it’s Oklahoma, Texas, then everyone else. However, after the Week 8 games, teams ranked No. 3-10 seem to have established themselves. The teams between No. 11-14 had some shifting week-over-week, and the difference between No. 11 and No. 14 is not that vast.

The Oklahoma Sooners remain in the top spot in this week's Big 12 Football Power Rankings :: © SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

After getting destroyed at K-State last week, TCU dropped four spots, which was the largest movement, up or down, of any team this week. Oklahoma (#1), Texas (#2), Kansas State (#3), and Kansas (#5) did not change. Oklahoma State (#4) and Baylor (#12) each moved up two spots, while Houston (#13) dropped two spots. The rest of the teams – Iowa State (#6), West Virginia (#7), BYU (#9), Texas Tech (#10), UCF (#11), and Cincinnati (#14) – moved up or down just one spot since last week’s rankings.

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

For a complete recap of the Week 8 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 9

14. Cincinnati (2-5, 0-4)

(Last week #13)

Lost to Baylor 32-29

After the 3-point loss to a struggling Baylor team, the Bearcats, still searching for that elusive first-ever Big 12 conference game win, moved to the bottom of this week’s rankings. They travel to Stillwater to face a Pokes team that seems to have righted their ship. The No. 14 spot may be where Cincy stays.

13 Houston (3-4, 1-3)

(Last week #11)

Lost to Texas 31-24

The Coogs gave Texas a scare, but the Longhorns pulled away late. This week, they travel to Homecoming in Kansas State, who, after their stumble earlier this month at OSU, look like they did at the end of last season. It will be hard for Houston to move up any time soon.

12. Baylor (3-4, 2-2)

(Last week #14)

Beat Cincinnati 32-29

Congrats, Bears! You got your second conference win. But this one came against a Cincinnati team yet to win in the conference. It’s certainly not been the year Baylor expected, but you could say the same for most of the teams in the league. This week, they host Iowa State and could play spoiler on a decent conference season for the Cyclones.

11. UCF (3-4, 0-4)

(Last week #12)

Lost to Oklahoma 31-29

It was oh-so-close to being the upset of the season. UCF traveled to Norman last week and went toe-to-toe with the No. 6 Sooners. It came down to a failed two-point conversion with 1:24 remaining that the Knights failed to complete. This week, they host West Virginia, which might, just might, give them their first-ever Big 12 win.

10. Texas Tech (3-5, 2-3)

(Last week #9)

Lost to BYU 27-14

The Red Raiders are one of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde teams in the league. Some weeks, they win. Some weeks, they lose. And they can’t see what to do to right the ship. They get the bye week this week before facing TCU next Thursday.

9. BYU (5-2, 2-2)

(Last week #10)

Beat Texas Tech 27-14

After getting demolished by TCU in Week 7, they hosted Texas Tech in Week 8 and won by two possessions. Could they play spoilers this week? They travel to Austin to take on the No. 7 Longhorns. The Cougars already have an impressive road win in Fayetteville. Get another road win like that, and the Cougars will be bowl eligible.

8. TCU (4-4, 2-3)

(Last week #4)

Lost to Kansas State 41-3

What is going on with last year’s national runner-up? Read above about Texas Tech and replace TCU as the Frogs are the other Jekyll and Hyde team. Next week’s game against Tech should be an interesting one.

7. West Virginia (4-3, 2-2)

(Last week #8)

Lost to Oklahoma State 48-34

After spending some time earlier this month right behind Oklahoma in the standings, the Mountaineers now have two straight conference losses and find themselves in the middle of the pack with several other mediocre teams.

6. Iowa State (4-3, 3-1)

(Last week #7)

Week 8 Bye

The Cyclones are sitting at 3-1 in Big 12 play, a better start than most anticipated. They travel to Waco this week and are just a 3-point favorite. A win there, and they could be a contender for a spot in the championship. A loss to the Bears, and they just hope to become bowl eligible.

5. Kansas (5-2, 2-2)

(Last week #5)

Week 8 Bye

The Jayhawks have a challenging game ahead of this week as they host the undefeated Sooners. The last time OU played in Lawrence, it was a close game, at least in the first half. Kansas could pull the upset and become bowl eligible. Or, more likely, they don’t get the win and continue to look for that elusive 6th win to let them go bowling again this year.

4. Oklahoma State (5-2, 3-1)

(Last week #6)

Beat West Virginia 48-34

Not long ago, OSU had just lost to South Alabama, and everyone was wondering what was going on in Stillwater. After big wins over Kansas, Kansas State, and West Virginia, the Pokes are looking to return to Arlington just two years after their last appearance.

3. Kansas State (5-2, 3-1)

(Last week #3)

Beat TCU 41-3

The defending champions put on a show Saturday night, running all over TCU. K-State has two losses, but one was a walk-off field goal by a better-than-expected Mizzou team. The other was a stumble at Stillwater, but since then, with their quarterback duo, they are showing they are a contender in the race for a spot in Arlington.

2. #7 Texas (6-1, 3-1)

(Last week #2)

Beat Houston 31-24

Texas escaped an upset by Houston. Now, they host BYU. They are without Quinn Ewers. Maalik Murphy has been named the starter this week. Will the Longhorns struggle with the new QB, or will they continue their dominating performances? Keep winning, and they’ll look for a rematch with the Sooners.

1. #6 Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0)

(Last week #1)

Beat UCF 31-29

Like Texas, they escaped an upset in Week 8. Look for Dillon Gabriel and team to shake off that scare and remain firmly in the top spot in these rankings, perhaps a ranking above No. 6 if one of the top five falls.

Other FanNation Power Rankings

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

• BYU – Cougs Daily
• Oklahoma State – All Pokes
• West Virginia – Mountaineers Now

Big 12 Football Week 9: Which Games Should You Watch?

---

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

Want to join the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Killer Frogs message board community today!

Follow KillerFrogs on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest TCU news! Follow KillerFrogs on Facebook and Instagram as well. Download the KillerFrogs app on Google Play or in the Apple App Store.