ESPN ranks Big 12 Football teams from first to last ahead of Week 3

ESPN has shaken up its Big 12 football rankings following a Week 2 that had a mixed bag of results for the conference. Iowa State became the first team to reach a 3-0 record after surving the Cy-Hawk rivalry with a 16-13 win against Iowa, while BYU and Baylor got a couple of wins against ACC opponents.

Elsewhere, No. 12 Arizona State went down on the road against Mississippi State and Oklahoma State lost by 66 points to Oregon in Eugene. Kansas State was the first team in the conference to two losses after falling against Army on Saturday.

Each of those results have contributed to a lot of movement in ESPN’s Big 12 rankings ahead of Week 3 of college football. You can check out the full list below.

1. Utah Utes (2-0)

After dismantling UCLA in Week 1, the Utes made easy work of Cal Poly with a 63-9 victory this past week. Transfer quarterback Devon Dampier tossed for three touchdowns and Utah gained 273 yards rushing as a team.

Dampier has looked the part after taking over the job this offseason, with 398 yards passing, 112 yards rushing and six total touchdowns through two games. Coach Kyle Whittingham appears to have the Utes back after a down year and ready to compete for a Big 12 championship.

2. BYU Cougars (2-0)

BYU held its opponents scoreless through the first seven quarters of play this season before finally surrendering a field goal in the fourth quarter against Stanford on Saturday. The Cougars have still yet to give up a touchdown this year and won that game handily by a final score of 27-3.

Running back LJ Martin has strung together back-to-back 100 yard performances in the first two games of the season and leads the Big 12 with 241 yards rushing overall, though has still yet to score a touchdown. Perhaps that can change next week as BYU closes out nonconference play against East Carolina.

3. TCU Horned Frogs (1-0)

The Horned Frogs had the week off after a dominant 48-14 victory on the national stage against Bill Belichick and North Carolina in Week 1. Veteran QB Josh Hoover looked sharp, completing 75% of his passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Hoover found a big connection with Jordan Dwyer, who caught nine passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Three years removed from competing in the national title game, TCU is an early contender in the Big 12 and could potentially find its way back to the College Football Playoff this season.

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0)

The Red Raiders have put up massive numbers on offense the past two weeks, albeit against a pair of low level schools in Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Kent State. Texas Tech has scored 60-plus points in both games to open the season, including a 62-14 win against the Golden Flashes this past Saturday.

Quarterback Behren Morton ranks second in the Big 12 with seven passing touchdowns so far, while running back Adam Hill‘s 205 yards rushing also ranks second in the conference. We’ll see whether they continue their offensive output in a matchup against Oregon State this week.

5. Iowa State Cyclones (3-0)

The Cyclones used a field goal with 1:52 remaining to escape with a win in the Cy-Hawk rivalry against Iowa on Saturday. That marked their second close call of the season after opening the year with a 24-21 win against Kansas State in Ireland.

This is an experienced group that returned nine starters on offense, including quarterback Rocco Becht, after finishing runner up in the Big 12 last season. So far, the Cyclones look in a good position to once again be in the race for the conference crown this year.

6. Kansas Jayhawks (2-1)

The Jayhawks suffered their first loss of the season in a rivalry game against former Big 12 foe Missouri over the weekend. KU jumped out to a 21-6 lead after the first quarter but allowed the Tigers to come back and tie things up before halftime in the eventual 42-31 loss.

Sixth-year quarterback Jalon Daniels scored three total touchdowns against MIzzou. He currently leads the Big 12 with nine passing TDs and will be a key piece of the scouting report for opposing defenses once Big 12 play gets underway.

7. Baylor Bears (1-1)

A week after falling against Auburn in the season opener, the Bears redeemed themselves with a 48-45 win against No. 17 SMU in double overtime. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson threw for 440 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in the victory.

Additionally, Baylor had two receivers surpass 100 yards on the day in Josh Cameron and Ashtyn Hawkins. They close out the nonconference against Samford in Week 3 before opening up Big 12 play against Arizona State.

8. Arizona State Sun Devils (1-1)

The reigning conference champion Sun Devils entered this season with 17 total starters back and sky high expectations. However, they suffered a 24-20 upset loss this past week in Starkville at the hands of Mississippi State.

ASU trailed 17-3 at halftime and battled all the way back to take a 20-17 lead with 1:38 remaining. Unfortunately, the defense surrendered a 58-yard touchdown pass on the next drive to lose its first game of the season. Thankfully, the Sun Devils still have the conference slate to make up for it and should remain one of the teams to keep an eye on in the Big 12.

9. Arizona Wildcats (2-0)

Arizona made easy work of Hawaii and Weber State in the first two weeks. The Wildcats have averaged 44.0 points in those contests and got a big game out of quarterback Noah Fifita, who tossed for five touchdowns this past week against Weber State.

Arizona is entering its second year under coach Brent Brennan after a disappointing 4-8 finish in his inaugural season. But perhaps an extra year under his system will lead to better results for the Wildcats. We’ll have to wait until they play a little bit better competition, beginning Friday against Kansas State in what is surprisingly a nonconference game.

10. Kansas State Wildcats (1-2)

Kansas State was predicted as one of the best teams in the conference this preseason, but so far has failed to live up to that billing. The Wildcats first fell against Iowa State to open the season and, this last week, suffered their second loss by a score of 24-21 against Army.

Quarterback Avery Johnson has shown his potential at times, but it hasn’t been enough. K-State will hope it can get things rolling against Arizona in Week 3.

ESPN Big 12 football Week 3 rankings Nos. 11-16

11. UCF Knights (2-0)
12. Cincinnati Bearcats (1-1)
13. Colorado Buffaloes (1-1)
14. Houston Cougars (2-0)
15. West Virginia (1-1)
16. Oklahoma State (1-1)