Big 12 Power Rankings: Iowa State Faces Tough Utah Test in Week 4
Three weeks into the college football season, the Big 12 conference is showing a competitive balance that few predicted. Undefeated teams are everywhere, and the top of the rankings keeps shifting. For Iowa State fans, the big story is Saturday's showdown with undefeated Utah, a game that will tell us a lot about where the Cyclones really stand in 2026.
Texas Tech's narrow win over Houston and West Virginia's upset of ranked Virginia were the weekend's biggest results. Colorado's blowout loss raised a different set of questions about a team that entered the season with high expectations.
Here is how all 16 Big 12 teams stack up after Week 3.
1. BYU Cougars (3-0, 1-0 Big 12)
BYU remains on top after a 41-23 win at Colorado State. Running back LJ Martin rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Cougars another strong performance on the ground. BYU already owns a conference win over Arizona and enters its bye week undefeated.
2. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0, 1-0 Big 12)
Texas Tech moves up after surviving its first conference test, a 28-26 win over ranked Houston. The Cougars scored late, but quarterback Conner Weigman was stopped short on the potential tying two-point attempt with 49 seconds left.
3. Utah Utes (3-0)
Utah drops one spot because of Texas Tech's ranked win, not because of its own performance. The Utes shut out Utah State 33-0 and held the Aggies to 188 total yards. Utah has allowed just 24 points through three games. A road game against Iowa State will offer a stronger test of where the Utes stand.
4. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0)
West Virginia made one of Week 3's biggest statements with a 38-27 win over No. 25 Virginia in Charlotte. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. accounted for 313 yards of offense and all five Mountaineer touchdowns, including three on the ground.
5. Houston Cougars (2-1, 0-1 Big 12)
Houston falls one spot after its close loss at Texas Tech, but the Cougars showed they can challenge one of the league's leading contenders. Weigman threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns.
6. Kansas State Wildcats (3-0)
Kansas State remains unbeaten after defeating Tulane 31-20. Avery Johnson finished with 227 passing yards, 152 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Next comes a meeting with another undefeated team as the Wildcats open Big 12 play on the road against Cincinnati.
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-1)
Oklahoma State followed its upset of Oregon by shutting out Murray State 59-0. Drew Mestemaker completed 20 of 22 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns. A trip to Morgantown will provide a tougher measure of its progress.
8. Arizona Wildcats (2-1, 0-1 Big 12)
Arizona responded to its loss at BYU with a 42-17 victory over Northern Illinois. Noah Fifita accounted for five touchdowns and became the Wildcats' all-time leader in career passing yards.
9. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-1, 1-0 Big 12)
Arizona State moves up after opening conference play with a 24-17 win over Kansas in London. The Sun Devils were outgained 414-228, but their defense and special teams helped them secure the victory.
10. Baylor Bears (2-1)
Baylor continues to climb after its second consecutive win, a 36-19 victory over Louisiana Tech. Nate Bennett threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns. The Bears now open conference play at home against Colorado.
11. TCU Horned Frogs (2-1)
TCU enters Big 12 play after defeating Arkansas State 31-7. Jaden Craig threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns. Now TCU travels to Orlando for its first conference game against UCF.
12. UCF Knights (2-1)
UCF bounced back from its loss at Pittsburgh with a 44-30 win over Georgia State. Without starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III, the Knights rushed for 304 yards. Duke Watson supplied 177 of them and scored twice.
13. Cincinnati Bearcats (3-0)
Cincinnati remains undefeated after rallying past Miami (Ohio) 35-31. The Bearcats trailed 28-7 at halftime before completing the comeback. Cole Tabb's 53-yard touchdown run in the final minutes put Cincinnati ahead.
14. Iowa State Cyclones (2-1)
Iowa State bounced back from its loss to Iowa with a 55-7 victory over Bowling Green. The Cyclones totaled 507 yards of offense, and Aiden Flora rushed for a career-high 194 yards. Iowa State also scored on a 66-yard punt return and a 100-yard kickoff return.
Undefeated Utah presents a much tougher test this week. The Cyclones will host the Utes on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on FOX. It is the first real measuring stick for Iowa State's 2026 season, and a win would put the Cyclones squarely in the Big 12 conversation.
15. Colorado Buffaloes (2-1)
Colorado takes one of the biggest falls in this week's rankings after a 41-7 loss at Northwestern. The Buffaloes entered the game undefeated but struggled throughout. Colorado has little time to dwell on the result. Its first Big 12 game comes Saturday at Baylor.
16. Kansas Jayhawks (1-2, 0-1 Big 12)
Kansas remains at the bottom after its second consecutive loss. The Jayhawks fell 24-17 to Arizona State in London despite outgaining the Sun Devils 414-228. Three turnovers proved costly. Kansas has a bye week before returning to action against Middle Tennessee.
What does this mean for Iowa State?
The Cyclones have a chance to make a statement Saturday. Utah is one of the best teams in the conference, and a home win would give Iowa State momentum heading into the heart of the Big 12 schedule. The offense looked sharp against Bowling Green, but the Utes' defense is a different animal entirely.
Iowa State fans should watch the battle in the trenches. Utah has allowed just 24 points all season, and the Cyclones will need to establish the run early to keep the Utes' pass rush at bay.