ESPN ranks Big 12 Football teams from first to last after Week 13

Week 13 is in the books, and now just one regular season weekend remains in the 2025 season. Ahead of that, ESPN ranked all 16 Big 12 teams from first to last in the conference.

These Big 12 rankings stem from the FPI metric that ESPN uses. The main goal of FPI is to be used as a kind of predictive tool. In that way, these rankings are looking toward the future this season, rather than just what teams have done to this point, though it does take that into account.

So, with one week to play, there’s not much time left for teams to make their cases to move up or down these rankings. Here’s where ESPN has each Big 12 team ranked as it stands now.

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

Coming off a bye week, Texas Tech is still sitting a the top of the Big 12 rankings. That’s not particularly surprising, though. After all, outside of an upset loss to a well-respected Arizona State team, the Red Raiders have been nearly flawless.

Texas Tech wraps up the season playing an improving West Virginia team. The Red Raiders will be a heavy favorite there, going into the Big 12 Championship and presumably the College Football Playoff. Of course, that assumes they avoid an upset.

2. Utah Utes (9-2, 6-2)

The Utah Utes have now won four straight games. That includes some incredibly impressive offensive performances during that stretch, scoring 51 points last week. In fact, in the last four weeks, Utah has scored at least 45 points in every game and has scored more than 50 points three times.

The challenge for Utah is that they have two Big 12 losses. That came against Texas Tech and BYU, the two teams seemingly on a collision course for the Big 12 Championship Game. So, they’ll need one or the other to be upset in the final week to get there themselves. Of course, Utah also needs a win against Kansas.

3. BYU Cougars (10-1, 7-1)

The BYU Cougars have just the one blemish this season. That was on the road against Texas Tech. Since then, the Cougars have had the chance to get back on track with a couple more conference wins, keeping the pace at the top of the Big 12 standings.

BYU wraps up the season against a UCF team that needs a win to make a bowl game. Of course, the Cougars will be a heavy favorite this week. So, win the game and play for a conference championship. Win the conference championship and go to the CFP.

4. Arizona Wildcats (8-3, 5-3)

Quietly, the Arizona Wildcats have had a very nice bounce-back season. Now the winners of four games in a row, Arizona is coming off a blowout win over Baylor a week ago. Now, ESPN has them ranked fourth in the Big 12 rankings.

Arizona would love to finish the season with a win over rival Arizona State. This year, they’ll be on the road for the game. Importantly, a win there would also give Arizona the ability to get to double-digit wins in the bowl game.

5. Iowa State Cyclones (7-4, 4-4)

After playing in the Big 12 Championship a season ago, Iowa State hoped to get back there this season. That’s not going to happen at 4-4 in conference play. Still, after two wins in a row, they find themselves toward the top of ESPN’s conference rankings.

Iowa State wraps up the season against Oklahoma State. It’s been a long year for the Cowboys and the Cyclones will be favored there. A win would allow Iowa State to finish with a winning record in conference play.

6. TCU Horned Frogs (7-4, 4-4)

Expectations were high this season for TCU. Lately, there’s been a bit of a slide for the Horned Frogs, though, losing two of their last three. So, even with a win last week against Houston, they’re just back to .500 in Big 12 play.

TCU will wrap up the regular season against Cincinnati. That’s an interesting matchup against another team that’s been better than they were expected to be coming into the season. So, they’ll need to be ready for a tough final game.

7. Arizona State Sun Devils (8-3, 6-2)

A season ago, Arizona State won the Big 12 and went to the CFP. This year, the Sun Devils aren’t yet out of the conference championship race, but ESPN has them at No. 7 in the conference rankings. That could partially be due to the major injury issues the Sun Devils are battling.

Arizona State wraps up the season against rival Arizona. A win there, and some help elsewhere around the conference, could get the Sun Devils back into the conference championship game again. Then, anything is possible.

8. Kansas State Wildcats (5-6, 4-4)

This has been a frustrating year for Kansas State. At one point expected to compete for the Big 12, the season went off the rails early. Now, after losing two of their last three games, the Wildcats sit at just .500 in Big 12 play.

Kansas State will try to get bowl eligible in the final week of the season. To do that, they’ll need to knock off Colorado amid what has also been a difficult season for the Buffaloes.

9. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-4, 5-3)

The Cincinnati Bearcats have had their best season since joining the Big 12. However, three straight losses to some of the best teams in the conference have threatened to derail things in the back half of the season.

Cincinnati will look to turn things around on the road to end the season. The Bearcats are set to take on TCU, with both teams trying to end the season on a high note.

10. Kansas Jayhawks (5-6, 3-5)

Kansas suffered a rough loss to Iowa State last week. That made for four losses in their last five games, which hasn’t helped any when it comes to ESPN’s Big 12 rankings.

More importantly, those recent struggles have hurt Kansas as the Jayhawks try to get to bowl eligibility. They’ll have just one last game to find that sixth win. Unfortunately, waiting for Kansas is one of the Big 12’s best teams, Utah.

11. Baylor Bears (5-6, 3-5)
12. Houston Cougars (8-3, 5-3)
13. UCF Knights (5-6, 2-6)
14. West Virginia Mountaineers (4-7, 2-6)
15. Colorado Buffaloes (3-8, 1-7)
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-10, 0-8)