Big XII Power Rankings
Article By: As the Big 12 football season enters its final two weeks, the stakes have never been higher. With only two blocks left on the schedule, teams are vying for crucial bowl berths, conference titles, and playoff hopes. But for many, the dream season will soon come to a heartbreaking end. The pressure is mounting, and as teams clash for their place in history, only the strongest will survive—leaving others to face the reality of shattered expectations and broken dreams.
Lets take a look at some of these nightmares and some of these dreams.
16. (-)
West Virginia Mountaineers 0-7 (0-4) started the season with dreams of a strong run in the Big 12, fueled by optimism and high hopes. Fast forward to now, and those dreams have been thoroughly smashed—like a WVU fan’s soul after watching a season of "what could’ve been." With an 0-7 record, the Mountaineers are now officially "that team" everyone circles on their schedule for a guaranteed win. The dream is over, and all that’s left is the cold reality of looking ahead to next season… or maybe just hoping for a decent tailgate party to salvage what's left of the year.
15. (-)
Arizona State Sun Devils 1-7 (0-5) This season is a train wreck with no brakes. Sitting at a painful 1-7, the Sun Devils’ sole victory came against a team that’s now equally bad, making it less of a "statement win" and more of a "who’s going to lose harder?" showdown. With the only bright spot being their ability to out-fail another team, ASU has mastered the art of looking competitive while still somehow managing to lose every week. At this point, they’re just hoping the season ends soon—and that next year, they might actually figure out what "winning" feels like again.
14. (-1)
BYU Cougars 2-6 (0-5) BYU's year in the Big 12 is turning into a full-blown horror show, with the Cougars sitting at a perfect 0-5 in conference play. They've managed to lose every single game so far, proving that "welcome to the Big 12" is more of a cruel initiation than a warm welcome. It's as if they’ve mistaken "conference debut" for "conference doormat." With each loss, BYU is getting more familiar with the bottom of the standings—at least they’ve got the whole "undefeated" thing going for them... just not in the way they’d hoped.
13. (+1)
UCF Knights 2-6 (1-4)UCF has finally secured their first conference win—after what felt like an eternity of near-misses, moral victories, and a whole lot of frustration. While it might feel like a small triumph for the Knights, the reality is that they’re still among the bottom dwellers of the conference, with more losses than wins to their name. That lone victory is a beacon of hope in an otherwise forgettable season, a reminder that even the worst teams can stumble across a win every now and then. UCF might not be lighting up the standings just yet, but hey, at least they’ve got one win to celebrate... even if it’s more of a "well, we’re not the absolute worst" kind of victory.
12. (-)
Houston Cougars 3-6 (1-5) The season started with big dreams, but those dreams were dashed early, like a balloon popping at a birthday party. The Cougars got off to a rough start and found themselves buried in the standings. Just when it seemed like their hopes for a decent season were completely out the window, they pulled off an unexpected win over Kansas State, leaving fans thinking, "Hey, maybe there's still hope!" Unfortunately, that was the high point—because after that, Houston will be right back to their losing ways, proving that one surprise victory isn’t enough to turn around a season that was already circling the drain. It's like getting a bonus point on a test after you've already failed the class. Nice try, Houston, but the dream was already over.
11. (-)
Iowa State Cyclones 4-1 (1-1) The easiest way to avoid disappointing your fans this season? Simple—don’t play any football games. Think about it: no fumbles, no missed field goals, no heartbreaking losses. Just a nice, peaceful stretch of radio silence where everyone can imagine what might have been. Sure, the fans might have to cope with the occasional *what if* moment, but at least they won’t be dealing with the crushing reality of a last-minute blowout. Sometimes, the best way to exceed expectations is to never put those expectations to the test. Just hand out some free jerseys, call it a win, and let everyone pretend things are going great. (He'll be playing soon though guys)
10. (-2)
Texas Tech Red Raiders 3-5 (2-3) Texas Tech’s 2024 season is like that one group project where everyone agrees to do their part but somehow ends up getting an F. With a nightmare of a season now limping to its conclusion, the Red Raiders are in desperate need of three more wins to salvage any hope of a bowl game. The problem? Well, those three wins are probably hiding in the same place as Bigfoot—somewhere no one can find them. The schedule ahead looks like a gauntlet of teams that have zero interest in helping Texas Tech’s season end on a high note. It’s like trying to win a race when you’ve already tripped over the starting line. But hey, stranger things have happened… right?
9. (-3)
Kansas State Wildcats 4-4 (3-3) Kansas State’s season started like a dream, with the Wildcats sprinting out of the gate and looking like a potential contender. But now, it’s a full-blown nightmare. After losing 3 of their last 4, including an embarrassing defeat to a Houston team that probably didn’t even believe they could win, K-State fans are starting to wonder if they accidentally boarded the wrong bandwagon. To make matters worse, they barely scraped by a bottom-dwelling West Virginia team, who probably spent more time trying to find the end zone than actually scoring. The dream quickly turned into a horror show, and now Kansas State is just trying to figure out how they went from playoff hopefuls to a cautionary tale in a month.
8. (+1)
Oklahoma State Cowboys 5-3 (3-3) isn't quite a nightmare, but it’s not exactly a dream either—it's more like that middle seat on a flight where you're not terribly uncomfortable, but you’re also not enjoying the ride. The Cowboys find themselves in a decent spot, needing just one more win to lock in a bowl game, but with the way the season’s gone, nothing’s been easy. Every game feels like a battle, and there are no "gimme" wins left on the schedule. It's the kind of season where every victory feels hard-earned, and every loss stings just a little more. So, while Oklahoma State's bowl hopes are still alive, the road to clinch that last win is more like a slog through quicksand than a smooth, celebratory sprint to the finish line.
7. (-)
TCU Horned Frogs 5-3 (3-3) has been a tale of two worlds: a dream season against unranked teams and a nightmare against ranked opponents. Against the "little guys," the Horned Frogs look like national champions, racking up wins like they're collecting trophies at a yard sale. But as soon as they face a ranked team, it's like the fantasy fades and the reality hits: turnovers, missed tackles, and a suddenly unrecognizable offense. The good news? There’s only one more ranked team on the schedule, which means they’ve got a shot at finishing strong—provided they can avoid tripping over their own feet when the lights shine brightest. TCU’s goal? Just get to that last ranked opponent and hope it’s more dream than nightmare this time.
6. (+4)
Arizona Wildcats 6-3 (4-2) Arizona’s season is the ultimate underdog story. For most of the year, they were the team everyone forgot about, tucked away in the “other” column of the standings. But now? They’re out here quietly putting together a dream season and sneaking up on everyone like that one friend who doesn’t show up to the party but then ends up being the life of it. With a legit shot at winning their last three games, the Wildcats are playing with confidence, and suddenly, the rest of the conference is nervously checking their calendars. Arizona’s not just hoping for a strong finish—they’re making it look easy. At this point, if they keep this up, they might even start getting a mention in the same breath as the top dogs.
5. (-1)
Colorado Buffaloes 6-2 (3-2) Colorado's season was supposed to be a dream, with the Buffs riding high on a strong record and some thinking they could take down the top dog. But after gut-punch losses to Baylor and Cincinnati, that dream quickly turned into a nightmare. Suddenly, Colorado’s record looks a lot less shiny, and their postseason hopes are hanging by a thread. To make matters worse, the remaining schedule is no cakewalk—it's more like a giant bowl of melting ice cream with a cherry on top that’s about to slide off. With every game a potential trap, the Buffs now have to claw their way through the toughest part of the season, hoping to wake up from this bad dream before it’s too late.
4. (+1)
Utah Utes 7-1 (4-1) Their season has been the ultimate "easy street" ride, thanks to a conference schedule that’s been softer than a cloud made of marshmallows. The Utes have been cruising through their games like they’re on a scenic drive, barely breaking a sweat. But, as with all good things, the fun might be coming to an end. With two tough games coming up, Utah’s dream season could quickly turn into a nightmare if they can’t handle the upcoming challenges. It’s like driving a sports car on a smooth road, only to find a pothole-filled detour ahead. The Utes are hoping they can keep their dream season alive, but the road to the finish line is about to get a lot bumpier.
3. (+1)
Cincinnati Bearcats 6-1 (5-0) Not to take anything away from Cincy but their schedule has been the epitome of good fortune. With what’s probably the second-easiest schedule in the conference, the Bearcats have managed to dodge some of the toughest teams, including Baylor, Kansas, and Utah—three squads that could’ve potentially spoiled their dream season. They did take down Colorado and still have to face Iowa State, a great unknown right now, but if they can successfully navigate the final stretch, they’ll find themselves in the conference championship without ever having faced the some of the toughest competition. It’s like being invited to the big dance and somehow avoiding all the people who can actually dance. If they can keep up the good luck, they might just waltz their way to a title.
2. (-)
Baylor Bears 9-0 (6-0) Baylor’s 2024 season has been nothing short of a dream, sitting pretty at 9-0 and looking like one of the conference’s top contenders. But lurking just ahead is a potential nightmare: a showdown with Kansas in the final block of the season. Both teams are primed for a shot at the conference championship, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The loser of this game will most likely be watching the title game from the sidelines, turning what was once a dream season into a bitter disappointment. It’s the ultimate "win or go home" scenario, and Baylor’s perfect record could be hanging by a thread if they can’t survive the Jayhawks’ challenge. Let the high-stakes drama unfold—one game could decide it all.
1. (-)
Kansas Jayhawks 8-0 (5-0) cruising through back-to-back dream seasons have made the Jayhawks one of the most talked-about teams in the NDL. But as the season winds down, a nightmare looms on the horizon. Their final stretch pits them against three ranked teams, all of whom are eager to prove they can knock off the big bully in town. These upcoming games are more than just regular matchups—they're high-stakes battles where every opponent is hungry to take down Kansas and make a statement. The Jayhawks have had it easy up until now, but if they’re going to finish this dream season on a high note, they’ll have to survive the ultimate test and fend off hungry challengers who are all gunning for them.
HOME
Live
Discord