Big 12 Power Rankings after Week 4: Week 1 of Big 12 play shook up everything

It was quite a week in college football in Week 4, with the majority of the teams beginning conference play. Kansas State was stunned by BYU in the late game slot, Baylor blew a big lead over Colorado and then couldn't get it done in overtime. Utah and Oklahoma State went toe-to-toe in a big matchup and Kansas lost their third game this season.

The Big 12 is shaping up to look quite different than people projected it to be just four weeks into the season. This just goes to show, that no one knows how a team will perform until they hit the field and prove they are a team to beat.

So here are the Week 4 Big 12 power rankings.

16. Houston Cougars

Previous ranking: 16
Record: 1-3

New Houston head coach Willie Fritz is off to a rough start in the Big 12, starting off 1-3 in his first four games. The Cougars were unable to get anything going offensively against former American Athletic Conference foe Cincinnati. The Cougars are looking at another season in the basement of the Big 12 as they get their bearings as a power conference team.

15. Kansas Jayhawks

Previous ranking: 12
Record: 1-3

Well, this is certainly a surprise after all the hype Kansas got before the season started. The Jayhawks were even picked as favorites to win the Big 12, but now, four weeks in, their only win is against Lindenwood. At this point, Kansas is looking like the Jayhawks of old, and the Lance Leipold shine is starting to wear off.

14. Baylor Bears

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 2-2

Baylor could be ranked much higher if they had just played defense on Colorado's Hail Mary play that sent the game into overtime. The Bears have been known to give a lot of games away in the past few years, and other than one standout season back in 2021, head coach Dave Aranda has not done anything for this team.

13. TCU Horned Frogs

Previous ranking: 11
Record: 2-2

After blowing a 21-point lead to UCF in Week 3, TCU needed to come out and make a statement against SMU in Week 4 and did anything but that. The Horned Frogs struggled to keep the Mustangs out of the end zone giving up 66 points even after scoring 44 points themselves.

12. Cincinnati Bearcats

Previous ranking: 15
Record: 3-1

Cincinnati was able to get a win in the Big 12 in their first conference game. They did have the benefit of playing against Houston in their first Big 12 game this season, a team that is struggling to find their footing in Fritz's first year.

11. Colorado Buffaloes

Previous ranking: 14
Record: 3-1

Colorado had a great comeback win, but let's face it, Baylor gave that game away. If they play just a little bit better defense on the Hail Mary play, they are winning that game and Colorado is 2-2 instead of 3-1. The Buffaloes will have a tough game against UCF this week traveling all the way to Florida, as well as playing in the Florida heat.

10. West Virginia Mountaineers

Previous ranking: 13
Record: 2-2

The Mountaineers had a solid comeback win with a little over three minutes left in the game against Kansas. They're at least now 2-2 instead of 1-3, which is good, but they have a tough schedule ahead of them and have a lot to work on in order to get back into good Big 12 standings.

9. Arizona Wildcats

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 2-1

After a rough loss to Kansas State, Arizona got a week to breathe and recoup. However, Kansas State getting blown out by BYU does not give Arizona a good look, but they will begin Big 12 play this week, which will tell fans everything they need to know.

8. Arizona State Sun Devils

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 3-1

Arizona State seemed like a sleeper in the Big 12 and still could be, but a loss to Texas Tech in their first-ever Big 12 game didn't do them any favors. The Sun Devils struggled against a Texas Tech team that has not looked its best this season, but there is still a lot of season left.

7. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 3-1

Texas Tech gets to move up a couple of spots this week with a win and not just that, but a win in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders finally looked like the team they should have been the first three weeks, and a lot of that is thanks to running back Tahj Brooks. The only question is whether or not Brooks can stay healthy throughout the season.

6. BYU Cougars

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 4-0

BYU did everything right when K-State made mistakes and made them pay for it. The Cougars are one of two 4-0 teams in the Big 12 right now and are starting to gain attention from the media. BYU could have found its footing in the Big 12 in year two and is starting to find its identity.

5. UCF Knights

Previous ranking: 5
Record:

UCF benefitted from a bye week early in the season, especially after a tough comeback win over TCU in week 3. The Knights will have a big matchup against Colorado in Week 5 but should have the benefit of being at home.

4. Iowa State Cyclones

Previous ranking: 4
Record: 3-0

Like UCF, Iowa State also had a bye after starting off the season 3-0. The Cyclones are set to begin Big 12 play against Houston in Week 5.

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Previous ranking: 3
Record: 3-1

Oklahoma State lost to Utah, but it is not like they lost to a full-strength Utah team, they lost to a backup quarterback. Issac Wilson was able to move the ball well against the Cowboys, and the offense seemed nonexistent till they had to score to make a comeback at the end of the game.

2. Kansas State Wildcats

Previous ranking: 1
Record: 3-1

The Wildcats got embarrassed in Week 4 against BYU. Kansas State went into Provo with a game plan, and in the span of six minutes, that game plan got flipped upside down and thrown out the window. With a big matchup against Oklahoma State this week at home, the Wildcats need to learn from the BYU game but ultimately put it behind them and focus on the game ahead of them.

1. Utah Utes

Previous ranking: 2
Record: 4-0

Utah finds itself at the top of these power rankings yet again after a big win over top-15 opponent Oklahoma State. The Utes are finding ways to win even without starting quarterback Cam Rising behind center. The Utes have Arizona this week, a team they are very familiar with as a former Pac-12 team.