Big 12 Football Power Rankings: Week 13

Looking where the teams rank in our weekly Power Rankings

We’ve made it to the last week of the regular season. There’s still a lot to play for, as no team has yet to clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship game. However, there was very little change in our weekly rankings over last week, indicating that our group of fans has mostly settled on which teams belong in each spot. Will our rankings reflect the final conference standings? Let’s see what this week’s games bring us!

The Texas Longhorns are once again in the top spot of our Week 13 Big 12 Football Power Rankings.  :: © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas remains at the top. Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State round out the top four and did not change over last week. Kansas and Iowa State flipped positions at No. 5 and No. 6. Texas Tech and West Virginia flipped positions at No. 7 and No. 8. Then, BYU and UCF flipped at No. 10 and No. 11.

For a complete recap of the Week 12 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 13

14. Cincinnati (3-8, 1-7)

(Last week #14)

Lost to West Virginia 42-21

It’s been a tough year for the Bearcats. Welcome to the Big 12. There is no defense. There is not much to build on for next season. But hey, they beat Houston. At least they got one conference win.

13. Baylor (3-8, 2-6)

(Last week #13)

Lost to TCU 42-17

Baylor Tears is the best thing in all college sports, especially when witnessed in person. And oh my, how those tears have flowed this season. Last week was nice for the Frogs, but it epitomized Baylor's struggles this season.

12. Houston (4-7, 2-6)

(Last week #11)

Lost to Oklahoma State (43-30)

You had one job! The Coogs started last week as if they could hand OSU its second-straight conference loss. Their 14-3 lead dissipated by the third quarter, and the Pokes won. Had Houston pulled it off, more chaos would reign. At least basketball season has started.

11. UCF (5-6, 2-6)

(Last week #10)

Lost to Texas Tech (24-23)

The Knights did have the big win two weeks ago over OSU. They were a missed PAT from sending its game against Tech to overtime. And let’s not forget the scare they gave the Sooners in Norman. They’ve shown us highlights that give us promise. As one of our voters said, “They seem to have the brightest future among the newcomers.”

10. BYU (5-6, 2-6)

(Last week #11)

Lost to Oklahoma 31-24

Like several others in the league, this team has been hard to dissect. They aren’t that good, yet they went toe-to-toe with Oklahoma last week. They still have a chance at a bowl game, which might just be what this team needs.

9. TCU (5-6, 3-5)

(Last week #9)

Beat Baylor 42-17

No other team in the league has been so Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde than this team. One week, we see a team like the one that destroyed Baylor last week. One week, we saw a team that only managed a field goal against Kansas State. The problem is the good team hasn’t made back-to-back appearances, so the Frogs are probably in for a long afternoon in Norman this week.

8. Texas Tech (6-5, 5-3)

(Last week #7)

Beat UCF 24-23

After starting 1-3, this team is going bowling. And they would love nothing more than to end the regular season with an upset win in Austin. It certainly would be a way to say so long to the Longhorns. To bring on conference chaos, all I have to say is “Wreck ‘em” and “Guns up!”

7. West Virginia (7-4, 5-3)

(Last week #8)

Beat Cincinnati 42-21

Hold your head high, Mountaineers. You were projected to come in last place in the conference. And look at you now. You are on the verge of an 8-win season. You are going bowling. And your final game could still impact which teams make it to Arlington. Kudos to you.

6. Iowa State (6-5, 5-3)

(Last week #5)

Lost to Texas 26-16

What I said above about WVU also applies to Iowa State. Given how their season began, even before the first snap, with the gambling issues, you can say that the Cyclones have already exceeded expectations. Kudos to you as well.

5. Kansas (7-4, 4-4)

(Last week #6)

Lost to Kansas State 31-27

The Jayhawks almost came away with a win in the Sunflower Showdown. They’ve got at least seven wins. For the second year in a row, they are going bowling. The success the football team is having under Lance Leipold helps ease the pain of losing a basketball game to No. 4 Marquette in the Maui Classic this week.

4. #15 Oklahoma State (8-3, 6-2)

(Last week #4)

Beat Houston 43-30

After getting hammered by UCF, the Pokes traveled to Houston and came away with a comfortable 13-point win over Houston. With as many scenarios that exist for the championship, OSU knows that a win this week over BYU gets them that much closer to Arlington. If Texas wins Friday and OSU wins Saturday, it’s the Pokes versus Longhorns. Not bad for a team that lost to South Alabama in September, and everyone thought the season was already done.

3. #20 Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2)

(Last week #3)

Beat BYU 31-24

The Sooners escaped Provo with a win but with an injured quarterback. Oklahoma has had some close games late in the season. Now, they are in a must-win situation against TCU if they want to hold on to hope of a berth in Arlington.

2. #19 Kansas State (8-3, 6-2)

(Last week #2)

Beat Kansas 31-27

The Cats continue to play some of the best football in the conference late in the season. They almost came from behind to beat Texas and did come from behind to beat Kansas. They need a lot of help from others this weekend, but there’s still a chance they may make it back to Arlington to defend their title.

1. #7 Texas (10-1, 7-1)

(Last week #1)

Beat Iowa State 26-16

Win, and you’re in. It’s that simple. Texas can be the home team in the Big 12 Championship game with a win Friday night over Texas Tech. The Longhorns remain at No. 7 in the CFP rankings, but with all the rivalries this week with the teams above them, there’s still a chance they could make the playoffs. Just keep winning. It’s that simple.

Other FanNation Power Rankings

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

• Oklahoma State – All Pokes
• West Virginia – Mountaineers Now

Big 12 Football Week 13: 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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