The Big 12 entered the season expected to be the toughest conference in college basketball, and that outlook has only strengthened through the first few weeks.
A League Already Living Up to Its Reputation
Houston continues to set the pace, but several teams have already shown Final Four potential. Others are still figuring out who they are, facing early tests, injuries, and scheduling challenges that will shape their identity heading into December.
This is the third week of our power rankings. Here are last weeks.
With Thanksgiving week bringing tournaments, neutral-site showdowns, and the first real gauntlet of the year, here is where every Big 12 program stands right now.
1. Houston Cougars (5-0)
Houston remains our top team in college basketball. While some may prefer Purdue, the Cougars’ toughness under Kelvin Sampson keeps them at number one. They face Syracuse and Tennessee this week in Las Vegas, their first significant challenges of the season.
2. Arizona Wildcats (5-0)
Arizona has collected the strongest wins of any team in the nation, defeating UConn, Florida, and UCLA. The Wildcats look elite on both ends, showing firepower and defensive poise. They stay home this week with matchups against Denver and Norfolk State.
3. Iowa State Cyclones (4-0)
Iowa State climbs a spot after a clean start, though they have not yet been pushed. That changes in Las Vegas, where they meet St. John’s and then Creighton. Their 96-point showing against Mississippi State suggests this group can still score at a high clip.
4. Brigham Young Cougars (4-1)
BYU drops from third after a narrow loss to UConn but remains firmly in the top tier. They are still young and missing a key contributor, yet their early-season form has been impressive. They return to action Thursday against Miami in Orlando.
5. Baylor Bears (3-0)
The Bears move up two spots despite playing only once. Scott Drew’s team has handled its early schedule and now gets a major test Monday against Creighton in Las Vegas, a game that should reveal more about their ceiling.
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-2)
Texas Tech slides from fifth to sixth after a demanding week. A close road loss at Illinois, a narrow win over Wake Forest, and then a difficult night against Purdue exposed some weaknesses. They regroup with home games against New Orleans and Wyoming.
7. Kansas Jayhawks (3-2)
Kansas falls from sixth to seventh. Losing Darryn Peterson has hurt, and the offense has not found its usual rhythm. Even so, both losses came against strong teams in competitive games. They now face Notre Dame and Syracuse in Las Vegas.
8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0)
A jump from eighth to tenth reflects their rising trajectory with an unbeaten start and strong numbers on both ends. The Cowboys average more than 93 points per game and defend the perimeter well. Northwestern awaits them on Thursday.
9. Colorado Buffaloes (5-0)
Colorado has been one of the most entertaining teams early, scoring 94 or more in four straight contests. Their schedule has been manageable outside of Providence, but the Buffaloes have looked sharp. San Francisco on Thanksgiving will show more.
10. Kansas State Wildcats (5-1)
Kansas State drops from eighth to tenth after its first loss, a setback against Nebraska. Coach Jerome Tang’s group now heads to Assembly Hall to face Indiana, another tough Big Ten challenge on the road.
11. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-1)
Cincinnati holds steady despite a loss to Louisville, a result that should not hurt them long term. They were competitive for most of the game and now begin a three-game homestand starting with NJIT on Monday.
12. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1)
Arizona State climbs from thirteenth to twelfth. Their road win at Hawaii was impressive, and the loss to Gonzaga showed they can compete with high-level teams. They stay in Hawaii to face Texas on Monday in a key early-season opportunity.
13. Central Florida Knights (5-1)
UCF jumps from fifteenth to thirteenth after four straight wins, including a strong performance against Pittsburgh. The Knights now settle into a lighter stretch with Quinnipiac, VMI, Towson, and Mercer coming up.
14. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-2)
West Virginia slides from eleventh to fourteenth after losses to Clemson and Xavier. New coach Ross Hodge has seen flashes of promise but an inconsistent week. They won’t play again until November 30 when Mercyhurst visits.
15. Utah Utes (5-1)
Utah falls from fourteenth to seventeenth after a disappointing home loss to Cal Poly. Allowing 50 first-half points put them in trouble early. They face Grand Canyon on Tuesday in Palm Desert, an important rebound chance.
16. TCU Horned Frogs (3-2)
TCU holds at sixteenth. Their defense looked strong in a blowout win over Kansas City, but the real test comes on Thanksgiving against defending national champion Florida.
Enjoy the games! Happy Thanksgiving!