ESPN's Big 12 Team Rankings After Week 7: A Competitive League
The Big 12 conference is proving to be a highly competitive league this season, and ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) rankings reflect that. After Week 7, the rankings saw several shakeups, with Texas Tech Red Raiders maintaining their top spot, Utah Utes jumping into second place, and BYU Cougars closely following in third. Here's a breakdown of the latest rankings and the key factors behind them.
Texas Tech Red Raiders: The Favorite
Texas Tech Red Raiders remain the top-ranked team in the Big 12 with a rating of 18.0. Their 42-17 win over Kansas at homecoming in Lubbock kept them undefeated, making them the only two teams in the league with an unblemished record at 6-0. This victory also improved their standing by +1.6, showcasing their dominance in the conference.
ESPN's FPI projects Texas Tech with a strong chance of winning the conference and making the College Football Playoff (CFP). Their projected record of 11.5-1.4 gives them a 20.7% chance to win out, a 58.4% chance to win the conference, and a 69.4% chance to secure a spot in the CFP as the No. 10 team in the country.
Utah Utes: Rising to the Challenge
Utah Utes have made a significant jump to second place in the Big 12, according to ESPN's FPI. Their 42-10 win over Arizona State, despite the absence of the starting quarterback, improved their rating by +2.5, the biggest in the conference this week. This move up a spot from third showcases their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
Utah's projected record of 9.5-2.9 keeps them in contention for the conference and playoff titles. With a strong performance so far, they are a Top-15 team according to FPI, giving them a chance to make a significant impact in the remaining games.
BYU Cougars: Close Contenders
BYU Cougars, despite also being unbeaten at 6-0 with a 33-27 2OT win in Tucson, saw their rating improve just +0.3. However, their projected record of 9.8-2.6 and their chances of winning the Big 12 (17.4%) and making the CFP (37.4%) are second only to Texas Tech. BYU is a Top-20 team in the FPI, making them a clear contender in the conference.
TCU Horned Frogs: Limited by Recent Losses
TCU Horned Frogs remain in fourth place, but their rating dropped by -1.6 due to their second loss of the season. With a projected record of 7.6-4.5 and less than a 1% chance to win the Big 12 or reach the CFP, their recent conference losses have impacted their overall prospects for the season.
Iowa State Cyclones: Turning Point in October
Iowa State Cyclones saw a slight drop in their rating by -0.6 after a second-straight loss on the road. Despite their projected record of 8-4 and a chance to win the Big 12 Championship (5.4%) and make the CFP (6.3%), their season took a turn in October, requiring them to bounce back in the remaining games.
Kansas Jayhawks: Struggles Continue
Kansas Jayhawks faced their worst loss of the season, a 42-17 blowout to the Red Raiders, resulting in the second-worst slide of any team in the conference per FPI. With a rating drop of -1.7, their projected record of 6.8-5.2 and a slim 0.2% chance to win the conference title game or reach the playoff highlight the challenges they face.
Cincinnati Bearcats: Overachieving and Rising
Cincinnati Bearcats have overachieved this season, winning five straight since losing their opener to Nebraska. They are 3-0 against the Big 12, making them the only other undefeated team in conference play alongside the Red Raiders and Cougars. Despite not changing their rating from 8.1, they are projected to finish with a strong record, giving them a chance to make a significant impact in the conference.
Kansas State Wildcats: Improving After a Slow Start
Kansas State Wildcats, despite having a losing record overall, have shown improvement in the past three weeks with two conference wins. Their rating improved by +1.1, moving them up to eighth place. However, their projected record of 5.5-6.5 and slim chances of winning the Big 12 (0.3%) and making the CFP (0.2%) highlight the challenges they face in the remaining games.
Arizona State Sun Devils: Struggling but Still Contenders
Arizona State Sun Devils experienced the biggest drop in the conference, falling two spots to ninth with a rating drop of -2.7. Despite their projected record of 7.2-4.9 and chances of winning the Big 12 (1.2%) and making the CFP (1.4%), their two losses, including one in the conference, make it difficult to replicate last season's success.
Baylor Bears: Controlling Their Destiny
Baylor Bears round out the top-ten with a rating of 6.1 per FPI. Despite a +0.4 improvement, their projected record of 6.8-5.3 and 0.6% chance to win the conference or make the playoff are lower than expected. However, with just one conference loss, they still have the opportunity to control their own destiny in the Big 12.
The remaining teams in the rankings include Arizona Wildcats, Colorado Buffaloes, UCF Knights, Houston Cougars, West Virginia Mountaineers, and Oklahoma State Cowboys, each facing their own challenges and opportunities in the final stretch of the season.
