Big 12 play is officially underway, and the league is already showing why it is one of the toughest conferences in college basketball. There are unbeaten contenders at the top, proven programs trying to find consistency, and several teams already fighting uphill battles. As conference games stack up, every result matters. Here is a current snapshot of where each Big 12 team stands and what is ahead.
16. Cincinnati Bearcats (8-6)
The Bearcats dropped their conference opener, but the loss was respectable, falling by seven points on the road at Houston. Still, Cincinnati has lost four of its last six games, with the lone wins in that stretch coming against Alabama State and Lipscomb. Outside of a rivalry win over Dayton, there is not a marquee victory on the résumé. Baba Miller leads the team at 13.4 points per game, while Kerr Kriisa adds 7.3. Offensively, Cincinnati ranks near the bottom of Power Five teams at 74.6 points per game. The Bearcats travel to West Virginia on Tuesday.
15. Utah Utes (8-6)
Utah has also dropped four of its last six games, with wins during that span coming against California Baptist and Eastern Washington. The Utes’ best win this season remains a one-point victory over Ole Miss. In their Big 12 opener, Utah surrendered 97 points in a 19-point loss to Arizona. Terrence Brown leads the way with 21.8 points per game. Utah scores 80.9 points per game but allows nearly the same at 79.8. The next challenge comes Wednesday on the road at Colorado.
14. West Virginia Mountaineers (9-5)
West Virginia opened conference play with a 21-point road loss at Iowa State, a sharp contrast from a 35-point win over Mississippi Valley State in the previous game. The Mountaineers’ best win this season came against Pittsburgh. Honor Huff leads the team with 16.6 points per game, while Jasper Floyd adds 7.9 points and 3.6 assists. Defensively, West Virginia has been elite, allowing just 61.6 points per game. The Mountaineers host Cincinnati on Tuesday.
13. Kansas State Wildcats (9-5)
Kansas State saw its four-game winning streak snapped with a home loss to BYU in the conference opener. That streak included wins over Mississippi Valley State, Creighton, South Dakota, and Louisiana Monroe. The Creighton win, along with a victory over California, stands as the Wildcats’ best result so far. P.J. Haggerty has been the offensive engine, averaging 23 points per game. Kansas State faces a demanding road stretch at Arizona on Wednesday and Arizona State on Saturday.
12. Arizona State Sun Devils (9-5)
Arizona State enters the week on a three-game losing streak, falling to UCLA, Oregon State, and Colorado. Defense has been an issue, with the Sun Devils allowing at least 88 points in three of their last four losses. On the season, they are giving up nearly 77 points per game. Maurice Odum leads the team with 16.6 points per game. Arizona State will try to reset on Wednesday at BYU before hosting Kansas State on Saturday.
11. Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-2)
The record is impressive, but questions remain. Oklahoma State’s losses came against Oklahoma and in a 102-point defensive breakdown at Texas Tech. The best wins on the résumé are against Northwestern and Texas A&M. The Cowboys score 90.4 points per game, ranking among the top 20 nationally, but they also allow 80 points per contest. Oklahoma State hosts UCF on Tuesday and travels to Iowa State on Saturday.
10. Colorado Buffaloes (11-3)
Colorado has shown flashes of being a real contender, but losses to Stanford and Northern Colorado still linger. The Buffaloes responded well in their conference opener with a road win at Arizona State. Now they return home for games against Utah and Texas Tech. Isaiah Johnson leads the team with 15.9 points per game, while Barrington Hargress contributes 13.6.
9. Baylor Bears (10-3)
Baylor’s most recent loss came at TCU after a four-game winning streak against lower-tier competition. Earlier losses to St. John’s and Memphis raised early concerns. The Bears’ best win remains against Creighton, leaving some uncertainty about their ceiling. Baylor looks to regain momentum Wednesday at home against unbeaten Iowa State.
8. TCU Horned Frogs (11-3)
Since a two-point loss to Notre Dame, TCU has rattled off six straight wins, including an impressive Big 12 opener against Baylor. Defense has been the calling card, allowing just 64.6 points per game. Offensively, the Horned Frogs sit just under 80 points per contest. TCU faces a major test Tuesday on the road at Kansas.
7. Kansas Jayhawks (10-4)
Kansas dropped its conference opener on the road at UCF, putting immediate pressure on the rest of league play. Darryn Peterson played well but was limited late, a recurring theme this season. All four losses have come against ranked opponents: Duke, North Carolina, UConn, and UCF. Tuesday’s home matchup against TCU looms large.
6. UCF Knights (12-1)
UCF made a statement with a Quad 1 win over Kansas, improving to 12-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The lone loss came against undefeated Vanderbilt. Riley Kugel scored 19 points in the win over Kansas, including a key three-point play late. UCF heads to Oklahoma State on Tuesday.
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-3)
Texas Tech has been one of the toughest teams in the league. The three losses came against Illinois, Purdue, and Arkansas. Since then, the Red Raiders have won four straight, including victories over Duke and Oklahoma State. J.T. Toppin leads the team with 21.2 points per game, while Christian Anderson adds 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. Texas Tech travels to Houston on Tuesday.
4. BYU Cougars (13-1)
Freshman AJ Dybantsa has lived up to the hype, averaging 23.1 points per game. BYU has won ten straight games since its lone loss and is scoring more than 87 points per contest while allowing just 67.1. The Cougars host Arizona State on Wednesday as they look to stay perfect in league play.
3. Houston Cougars (13-1)
Houston’s only loss came over Thanksgiving against Tennessee. Since then, the Cougars have won seven straight, including a road conference win at Cincinnati. Defense remains elite, with Houston allowing just 60 points per game. Emanuel Sharp leads the offense at 15.9 points per contest. Houston hosts Texas Tech on Tuesday before visiting Baylor on Saturday.
2. Iowa State Cyclones (14-0)
Iowa State is one of the final unbeaten teams in the country and sits at 1-0 in Big 12 play. Milan Momcilovic knocked down eight three-pointers and scored 26 points in the win over West Virginia, while Joshua Jefferson recorded a triple-double. This group continues to improve and faces its next test on the road at Baylor on Wednesday.
1. Arizona Wildcats (14-0)
Arizona has checked every box so far, building one of the strongest résumés in the country. Freshman Koa Peat leads the team with 14.4 points per game while shooting nearly 57 percent from the field. The Wildcats opened Big 12 play with a 19-point win over Utah. Up next is a home game against Kansas State, followed by a road trip to TCU.
Competitive Challenges All Season
The Big 12 rarely gives teams time to breathe, and that is already showing early in conference play. Arizona and Iowa State look like the teams to beat, but several contenders are close behind. With road tests, rivalry games, and quick turnarounds coming, these rankings are far from settled. Over the next few weeks, the standings will shift, and the margin for error will continue to shrink. Until next week!