ESPN ranks Big 12 Football teams from first to last after Week 12

The calendar has turned to mid-November with Week 12 in the books. With the games more meaningful than ever, ESPN has shared its updated Big 12 football team rankings.

ESPN used its FPI metric to come up with these latest Big 12 rankings. FPI is a predictive tool that ESPN uses in college football. That means that its goal isn’t to regurgitate the current conference standings. Instead, it’s trying to project forward for the Big 12 in the coming weeks.

With that in mind, here’s a look at how ESPN has ranked the Big 12 teams at this moment in time. There is still time for some changes to come to these rankings in the final weeks of the season.

1. Utah Utes (8-2, 5-2)

The Utah Utes are coming in at the top slot in the Big 12 Power Rankings. That’s despite currently being on the outside looking in at the conference championship race. It’s also on the back of three straight blowout wins for the Utes since dropping a close game to rival BYU.

With two games left in the season, Utah will need some help to get into the conference championship game, but it’s not impossible yet. For their part, the Utes need to keep on winning, starting with Kansas State this week.

2. Texas Tech Red Raiders (10-1, 7-1)

The Texas Tech Red Raiders may not be the top team in the Big 12 for ESPN, but they are the highest-ranked team this conference has in the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings. So, coming off a four-game winning streak, the Red Raiders feel like they’re in a good spot moving forward this season.

In a unique twist on the schedule, Texas Tech is now entering a bye week. They’ll have just one game after that, against West Virginia, before the Red Raiders need to be ready for their postseason run.

3. BYU Cougars (9-1, 6-1)

ESPN has BYU coming in at third in the Big 12. That’s despite the 9-1 team only suffering one road loss at the hands of Texas Tech. Still, more important to BYU is that they’re on track with the tiebreaker over Utah to get to the conference championship game and potentially the CFP.

For now, the goal is to win out. Ahead of the Cougars is an interesting pair of games. First, there’s a Cincinnati team that’s not completely out of the conference championship race. Then, it’s a UCF team battling for bowl eligibility.

4. Arizona Wildcats (7-3, 4-3)

It’s been a quiet season at times for Arizona. However, now at 7-3, the Wildcats are positioned to win 10 games if they can win out from here and snag a bowl win. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise they’re ranked in the top half of the Big 12.

Coming up is an interesting slate of games. First, the Wildcats are taking on a Baylor team trying to get bowl eligible. After that, it’s the always chaotic rivalry game with Arizona State, which will feature a Sun Devils team dealing with major injury concerns.

5. Iowa State Cyclones (6-4, 3-4)

The Iowa State Cyclones had hoped to compete for a Big 12 Championship. Alas, with four conference losses, that’s not happening this season. Still, ESPN clearly thinks highly of the Cyclones with two weeks left.

In the final two weeks of the season, Iowa State is going to be taking on Kansas and Oklahoma State. That’s going to give the Cyclones a chance to win up to eight games this regular season and finish with momentum.

6. TCU Horned Frogs (6-4, 3-4)

Much like Iowa State, TCU had hoped to compete for the Big 12, but that hasn’t quite happened. With four losses, they’re out of the running. At this point, the Horned Frogs are looking to snap a two-game losing streak.

If TCU isn’t careful, this could very easily end up being .500 to end the season. In the final two weeks, TCU sees No. 23 Houston, who the selection committee likes much more than ESPN. Then, it’s Cincinnati to wrap up the season. Both of those teams have outside shots at the conference championship game and will be playing hard.

7. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-3, 5-2)

Cincinnati is 7-3 on the season now but with only two losses in conference play, the Bearcats aren’t out of it for the Big 12. However, coming off losses in the past two weeks, that’s become a much harder task. So, Cincinnati is also slipping in these rankings.

To wrap up the season, Cincinnati has another major test against BYU. After that, they’ll see TCU. Even if a conference championship doesn’t happen, by winning out and winning their bowl, the Bearcats could get back to 10 wins.

8. Kansas State Wildcats (5-5, 4-3)

It’s been a roller coaster of a season for Kansas State. Now, sitting at .500, they find themselves sitting in the middle of the Big 12 rankings that ESPN put out. Still, it’s been a solid run, with three wins in their last four games.

The goal for Kansas State is now to get to six wins and bowl eligibility. Standing in the Wildcats’ way is a very difficult game against Utah. Then, what should be a winnable game to wrap up the season against Colorado.

9. Arizona State Sun Devils (7-3, 5-2)

The Arizona State Sun Devils are a season removed from winning the Big 12 and going to the CFP. Now, ESPN has them ranked ninth in the conference. That’s coming off three close wins in their last four games. It’s also at a time when quarterback Sam Leavitt has been injured.

Ultimately, with two conference losses and a tiebreaker win against Texas Tech, Arizona State isn’t out of the race. They’ll just need help and to win out. That means beating Colorado and Arizona to wrap up the season.

10. Kansas Jayhawks (5-5, 3-4)

Kansas rounds up the Top 10 of ESPN’s Big 12 Power Rankings. They sit here coming off a bye week, trying to bounce back from losing three of their last four games.

Now, Kansas has two games to get a sixth win and to bowl eligibility. The problem is it isn’t an easy final slate of games. The Jayhawks are set to see Iowa State and Utah in the final weeks of the season. So, Kansas needs an upset.

11. Baylor Bears (5-5, 3-4)
12. Houston Cougars (8-2, 5-2)
13. UCF Knights (4-6, 1-6)
14. Colorado Buffaloes (3-7, 1-6)
15. West Virginia Mountaineers (4-7, 2-6)
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-9, 0-7)