It is just one week into the season, but some things have changed in the 2025-26 Big 12 conference power rankings. Kelvin Sampson and his Houston Cougars remain at the top, but we have a new team coming in at #2. Here are the updated Big 12 power rankings heading into action for Monday, November 10th, 2025:
Houston Still the Standard
1. Houston Cougars (2-0)
Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars aren’t putting up gaudy scores, but their defense looks every bit as dominant as expected. Houston held Towson to just 48 points in its second win and continues to show elite discipline on both ends. The Cougars will host Oakland on Wednesday before a big road showdown against Auburn on Sunday.
Wildcats Roar to the Top
2. Arizona Wildcats (2-0)
Koa Peat has already shown why he was one of the most hyped freshmen in the country. Arizona’s win over top-ranked Florida stands as the Big 12’s best early-season victory. After a 93-point outburst against Utah Tech, the Wildcats will host Northern Arizona on Tuesday before major tests against UCLA and UConn.Scott
BYU Building Early Momentum
3. Brigham Young Cougars (2-0)
Freshman star AJ Dybantsa has wasted no time making his mark, scoring 17 in the latest win as one of five Cougars in double figures. BYU is averaging 80.5 points per game and looks ready for its next challenge. Delaware visits Tuesday before a marquee matchup with UConn on Saturday.
Cyclones Set for a Real Test
4. Iowa State Cyclones (2-0)
Iowa State cruised through Fairleigh Dickinson and Grambling State, scoring 90 points per game in two easy wins. Now comes a true challenge as the Cyclones face Mississippi State on Monday in their toughest test yet.
Red Raiders Rising Fast
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0)
JT Toppin made an instant impact in his return, dropping 31 points in his season debut. Christian Anderson has been electric, averaging 26 points per game. The Red Raiders face a major early road test Tuesday at Illinois.
Jayhawks Look to Regroup
6. Kansas Jayhawks (1-1)
Kansas looked poised for a statement win at North Carolina before collapsing in the second half. Freshman Darryn Peterson continues to impress, but Bill Self needs more help around him. The Jayhawks host Texas A&M–Corpus Christi on Tuesday and Princeton on Saturday before a big one against Duke.
Bears Bring the Offense
7. Baylor Bears (1-0)
Scott Drew’s Bears opened the season with 96 points and looked sharp offensively. They then backed it up with a home win over Washington, out of the Big Ten Sunday Night. They’ll stay home this week for one game against Tarleton State on Friday.
Wildcats Finding Their Groove
8. Kansas State Wildcats (2-0)
Jerome Tang’s squad is off to a strong offensive start, averaging 95.5 points per game. Wins over UNC Greensboro and Bellarmine aren’t signature victories, but the offensive rhythm is there. The Wildcats face Cal on Thursday in their lone game of the week.
Bearcats Quietly Impressing
9. Cincinnati Bearcats (2-0)
Baba Miller has been excellent, averaging 21 points per game. The Bearcats have looked balanced in wins over Western Carolina and Georgia State and will now face Dayton on Tuesday before hosting Mount St. Mary’s later in the week.
Sun Devils Off to Solid Start
10. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0)
Arizona State has scored 81 points in both of its first two games, with Massamba Diop (16 PPG) leading the way. A major test looms Friday against Gonzaga.
Mountaineers Winning with Defense
11. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0)
Ross Hodge has his team playing tough, allowing just 55 points per game through three wins. The Mountaineers’ next test is a rivalry matchup with Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Cowboys Turning Heads Early
12. Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-0)
Oklahoma State crushed Oral Roberts and Texas A&M by 24 points each, a strong start for a team with plenty of preseason question marks. Vyctorius Miller (18 PPG) is emerging as a key weapon. Prairie View A&M visits Stillwater on Wednesday.
Buffaloes Still Searching for Spark
13. Colorado Buffaloes (2-0)
Narrow wins over Montana State and Eastern Washington haven’t inspired much confidence, even at 2-0. Isaiah Johnson has carried the scoring load at 20.5 PPG. Providence awaits on Friday.
Frogs Bounce Back After Early Loss
14. TCU Horned Frogs (1-1)
A shocking home loss to New Orleans dampened the start, but TCU bounced back with a 104-point explosion against St. Francis. They’ll host Lamar on Monday before facing Michigan on Friday.
Utes Grinding Out Wins
15. Utah Utes (2-0)
It hasn’t been pretty, but the Utes are undefeated with close wins over San Jose State and Weber State. Holy Cross visits Monday, followed by Sam Houston State on Saturday.
Knights Need Defensive Answers
16. Central Florida Knights (1-1)
After edging Hofstra, UCF gave up 105 points in a loss to Vanderbilt. Defense will have to improve fast as they face Florida A&M on Tuesday and Texas A&M on Friday.
Looking Ahead
The Big 12 flexed its strength in the first week of the season, with only one team losing more than once. Houston remains the gold standard, but Arizona and BYU are closing fast. With marquee matchups ahead, next week’s rankings could look very different.