There are no easy nights in the Big 12, and that reality is showing early in league play. Some teams continue showing they are national contenders, others are fighting to stay afloat, and a few are already feeling the pressure as losses pile up. These power rankings balance current form, conference results, and what lies ahead on the schedule as the race continues to take shape.
16. Kansas State Wildcats (9-9, 0-5)
The Wildcats remain winless in conference play after five straight Big 12 losses. A road loss at Oklahoma State followed a home setback against UCF, and defensive issues continue to be the biggest concern. Kansas State is allowing 82 or more points in every league game so far, which has overshadowed strong individual scoring from PJ Haggerty, who is averaging 22.8 points per game. The Wildcats will try to stop the slide at home against Utah on Tuesday before hosting Kansas in a rivalry game on Saturday.
15. Utah Utes (9-9, 1-4)
Utah picked up its first conference win with an 82-79 victory over TCU, snapping a four-game losing streak. That stretch saw the Utes struggle badly on the defensive end, but the win provided some momentum heading into a difficult road swing. Utah travels to Kansas State on Tuesday and then heads to BYU on Saturday in a challenging back-to-back road stretch.
14. Arizona State Sun Devils (10-8, 1-4)
After a promising 9-4 start, things have unraveled for Arizona State. The Sun Devils have lost four of their last five games, including a road loss to Houston on Sunday. Their lone Big 12 win came at home against Kansas State in an 87-84 decision. Bobby Hurley’s team now returns home to face West Virginia on Wednesday before hosting Cincinnati on January 24.
13. TCU Horned Frogs (11-7, 1-4)
Despite a strong season from David Punch, TCU has dropped four straight games after a home win over Baylor. The slide began with a road loss at Kansas in a game the Horned Frogs led late, and continued with a tight loss at Utah. TCU hosts Oklahoma State on Tuesday before heading to Baylor on January 24, making this a pivotal stretch.
12. Baylor Bears (11-6, 1-4)
Baylor appeared to be turning a corner after a dominant win over Oklahoma State, but an 18-point loss at Kansas showed the Bears still have work to do. Now back at home, Baylor faces a tough test against Texas Tech on Tuesday before welcoming TCU later in the week. Cameron Carr continues to lead the Bears with 20.5 points per game.
11. Colorado Buffaloes (12-6, 2-3)
Colorado has lost three straight games, all competitive, but the offense has stalled during the skid. The Buffaloes have scored 71 points or fewer in each loss, which has put pressure on their defense. Colorado has been strong at home this season, winning nine of 11, and will need that edge with Kansas visiting on Tuesday night.
10. West Virginia Mountaineers (12-6, 3-2)
West Virginia continues to quietly build its resume after a 72-61 win over Colorado. The Mountaineers are 3-2 in conference play, with losses coming at Iowa State and Houston. Treysen Eaglestaff led the way with 22 points against Colorado, while Honor Huff added 14. West Virginia travels to Arizona State on Wednesday and Arizona on Saturday.
9. Cincinnati Bearcats (10-8, 2-3)
Cincinnati has shown signs of life with back-to-back home wins over Colorado and Iowa State. The Bearcats now face a difficult road trip to Arizona and Arizona State. Baba Miller leads the team with 13.2 points per game, while Kerr Kriisa averages nearly four assists. Cincinnati will need to improve offensively, as it is scoring just 74.1 points per game.
8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (14-4, 2-3)
Oklahoma State sits at 14-4 overall, with losses coming against strong competition including Oklahoma, Iowa State, Baylor, and Texas Tech. A recent home win over Kansas State kept the Cowboys moving forward. Next up is a road trip to TCU on Tuesday, followed by a home game against Iowa State later in the month.
7. Iowa State Cyclones (16-2, 3-2)
Iowa State drops to seventh after suffering its first two losses of the season. A lopsided loss at Kansas followed by a setback against Cincinnati raised concerns, despite the Cyclones being tied for fifth in the standings. Hosting UCF on Tuesday presents a chance to regain momentum and climb back up the rankings.
6. Kansas Jayhawks (13-5, 3-2)
Kansas heads to Boulder without head coach Bill Self after he was hospitalized prior to the trip. The Jayhawks are coming off back-to-back home wins, including handing Iowa State its first loss of the season and beating Baylor. Tre White leads Kansas with 14.9 points per game, while Flory Budinga has been a force inside at 14.2 points per game.
5. UCF Knights (14-3, 3-2)
UCF faces a defining stretch with back-to-back road games after a home loss to Arizona. The Knights travel to Iowa State and Colorado before returning home to host Arizona State and Texas Tech. Wins over Kansas, Cincinnati, and Kansas State highlight a solid league resume so far. Riley Kugel leads the team at just under 15 points per game, and UCF ranks 43rd nationally in scoring at 85.2 points per game.
4. BYU Cougars (16-2, 4-1)
BYU suffered its first conference loss with a 13-point defeat to Texas Tech, snapping a 13-game winning streak. Freshman AJ Dybantsa continues to impress, averaging 22.5 points per game while shooting 54.7 percent. Robert Wright III adds 17.8 points per contest. BYU hosts Utah on Saturday before a major showdown with Arizona on Monday.
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-4, 4-1)
Texas Tech moves up to third following a home win over BYU. JT Toppin poured in 27 points in that victory, showcasing one of the league’s top scorers. The Red Raiders have won three straight since a narrow road loss at Houston and now head to Waco to face Baylor on Tuesday before another matchup with Houston later this month.
2. Houston Cougars (17-1, 5-0)
Houston remains unbeaten in Big 12 play and has won 11 straight games since a three-point loss to Tennessee. The Cougars were dominant in a 103-point performance against Arizona State. While they average 78.7 points per game, their identity remains defense, allowing just 60.1 points per contest. Houston travels to Texas Tech on Saturday and faces TCU on January 28.
1. Arizona Wildcats (18-0, 5-0)
Arizona sits alone at the top of both the Big 12 and the national rankings. The Wildcats are 18-0 overall with conference wins over Utah, Kansas State, TCU, Arizona State, and UCF. The tougher portion of the schedule looms, beginning with home games against Cincinnati and West Virginia before a road test at BYU on January 26.
Moving Forward in the Big 12
That's the look at the current Big 12 rankings. Let's see what happens in the next week to see the shake up next week. Enjoy the games!