Kansas head coach Lance Leipold comes to slap hands with Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) after a touchdown during the third quarter on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Photo by Nick Krug

Texas Tech is No. 1 in the final Big 12 power rankings of the season.

The Red Raiders were the unanimous pick, receiving all 16 first-place votes from a panel of media who regularly cover the Big 12, and will meet BYU on Saturday in the Big 12 championship game in Arlington, Texas.

Utah was third, followed by Arizona and Houston to round out the top five. Kansas finished the season at No. 12, where it had remained for much of the latter part of the year, after going 5-7 and missing the postseason for the second year in a row.

1. Texas Tech

Previous ranking: 1

Points: 256 (16 first-place votes)

Record: 11-1 (8-1 Big 12)

Last week: beat West Virginia, 49-0

This week: vs. No. 11 BYU in Big 12 championship game

Comment: Distracted? Looking ahead? Bigger fish to fry? These didn’t apply to Texas Tech against West Virginia as the Red Raiders wrapped the regular season as dominant as they started the 2025 campaign.

Did you know? The Red Raiders are just the sixth team in the last 100 years to win at least 11 regular-season games by at least 20 points. — Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

2. BYU

Previous ranking: 2

Points: 239

Record: 11-1 (8-1 Big 12)

Last week: beat UCF, 41-21

This week: vs. No. 4 Texas Tech in Big 12 championship game

Comment: BYU is going to the Big 12 title game in its third year in the league.

Did you know? BYU has won 22 games in the last two years, the most in the conference. — Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune

3. Utah

Previous ranking: 3

Points: 225

Record: 10-2 (7-2 Big 12)

Last week: beat Kansas, 31-21

Next game: Bowl TBA

Comment: Devon Dampier showcased why he’s one of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12 versus the Jayhawks, finishing with 253 passing yards and three touchdowns in the win. He’ll finish the regular season with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Did you know? Kyle Whittingham has now led Utah to eight 10-win seasons after the Utes’ win over Kansas to end the regular season. — Jason Batacao, The Salt Lake Tribune

4. Arizona

Previous ranking: 5

Points: 204

Record: 9-3 (6-3 Big 12)

Last week: beat No. 20 Arizona State, 23-7

Next game: Bowl TBA

Comment: Arizona punctuated its nine-win season with a win over its in-state rival. The Wildcats have outscored their last two opponents (ASU and Baylor) 47-0 in the second half. Arizona enters the postseason on a five-game winning streak, the longest winning streak since it won nine games between 2023 and ’24. Arizona’s Pac-12 affiliation will likely have the Wildcats in the Holiday Bowl on Jan. 2.

Did you know? Arizona’s defense is tops in college football in takeaways (28). The Wildcats have the second-best passing defense nationally. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita has passed for a career-high 26 touchdowns and a career-low five interceptions this season. — Justin Spears, Arizona Daily Star

5. Houston

Previous ranking: 6

Points: 179

Record: 9-3 (6-3 Big 12)

Last week: beat Baylor, 31-24

Next game: Bowl TBA

Comment: Houston completed an impressive turnaround in Year 2 under coach Willie Fritz with just its second nine-win season in the last decade. The five-win improvement matched Virginia (5-7 to 10-2) for the best among Power Four programs. Brighter days are ahead, as the Cougars just signed quarterback Keisean Henderson, the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2026. But first, Houston will enjoy its first bowl since joining the Big 12, likely between the Alamo, Pop-Tarts or Texas bowls.

Did you know? Houston was the only FBS team with a 6-0 record on the road this season. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle

6. Arizona State

Previous ranking: 4

Points: 176

Record: 8-4 (6-3 Big 12)

Last week: lost to No. 25 Arizona, 23-7

Next game: Bowl TBA

Comment: The Sun Devils turned the ball over five times in losing to their state rival. They were held to a season low 214 yards total offense and lost the time of possession 40:01 to 19:59.

Did you know? The Arizona defense has been revamped and turned around by first-year defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales, who served in the same capacity at ASU in 2018 and 2019. — Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic

7. TCU

Previous ranking: 8

Points: 152

Record: 8-4 (5-4 Big 12)

Last week: beat Cincinnati, 45-23

Next game: Bowl TBA

Comment: The Frogs righted the ship a bit at the end of the year, pulling away from Cincinnati in the second half for a convincing win. TCU now awaits its bowl fate, which looks much better than it did just two weeks ago.

Did you know? TCU’s win over Cincinnati gives the Frogs a 10-6 record in Novembers under Sonny Dykes. — Jamie Plunkett, Horned Frog Blitz

8. Iowa State

Previous ranking: 9

Points: 147

Record: 8-4 (5-4 Big 12)

Last week: beat Oklahoma State, 20-13

Next game: Bowl TBA

Comment: Iowa State has finished the regular season with a winning record — both overall and in Big 12 play — in eight of the past nine seasons under head coach Matt Campbell. Before he took over the program in 2016, the Cyclones hadn’t recorded a winning season in conference play since the 2000 season.

Did you know? Iowa State tailbacks Carson Hansen (950 yards) and Abu Sama III (732 yards) both crossed the 700-yard threshold on the ground this season — becoming the first Cyclone duo to do so since 1975. — Rob Gray, Cedar Rapids Gazette

9. Cincinnati

Previous ranking: 7

Points: 132

Record: 7-5 (5-4 Big 12)

Last game: lost to TCU, 45-23

Next game: Bowl TBA

Comment: TCU scored before and after an hour-and-33-minute weather delay and the Bearcats could never get closer than a touchdown. It was 31-17 at halftime and the Bearcats were pounded in time of possession, which has been a trend in their slump.

Did you know? UC played difficult teams down the stretch, including three that were ranked. But, going from 7-1 to 7-5 is disappointing and reminds fans of last year’s slide from 5-2 to 5-7. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer

10. Kansas State

Previous ranking: 10

Points: 129

Record: 6-6 (5-4 Big 12)

Last week: beat Colorado, 24-14

Next game: Bowl TBA

Comment: Joe Jackson rushed for three touchdowns for the second week in a row as K-State got a snowy and sleepy win over Colorado in the regular season finale.

Did you know? The Wildcats now await their bowl destination after clinching their sixth win on Saturday. It’s the fifth year in a row that K-State will play in a bowl game. — Tim Everson, The Manhattan Mercury

(Note: K-State coach Chris Klieman announced his retirement on Wednesday. KSU athletic director Gene Taylor said in the press conference following the announcement that the Wildcats could potentially decide not to play in a bowl game after all, and that the program would seek input from its players.)

11. Baylor

Previous ranking: 11

Points: 91

Record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)

Last week: lost to Houston, 31-24

Next game: Season over

Comment: Saturday’s loss to Houston resembled Baylor’s football season in many ways. The Bears fell into an early hole and suffered a couple of significant injuries to running backs Bryson Washington and Caden Knighten, only to see a fourth-quarter comeback fall short. With so many huge contributors leaving via graduation, the Bears will have to hit the transfer portal hard if they want to compete next season.

Did you know? Baylor is 36-37 in six full seasons under head coach Dave Aranda, who will return as head coach of the Bears as the school searches for a new athletic director. — Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald

12. Kansas

Previous ranking: 12

Points: 85

Record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)

Last week: lost to No. 13 Utah, 31-21

Next game: Season over

Comment: KU came out inspired and despite some early errors managed to possess a 14-10 lead over the playoff-hopeful Utes in the fourth quarter. But quarterback Jalon Daniels threw two late red-zone interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, to kill the Jayhawks’ hopes and end his distinguished collegiate career on a sour note. KU missed a bowl at 5-7 for the second straight season.

Did you know? If punter Finn Lappin had not had a snap sail over his head against Iowa State on Nov. 22, which he managed to retrieve in order to kick a 27-yard punt with his left foot, he would have possessed KU’s single-season yards-per-punt record. Instead, he had to settle for third place on the all-time list. — Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World

13. UCF

Previous ranking: 14

Points: 56

Record: 5-7 (2-7 Big 12)

Last week: lost to No. 11 BYU, 41-21

Next game: Season over

Comment: UCF jumped out to a quick start, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter before BYU went on a 31-0 run and cruised to a 41-21 win over the Knights. Quarterback Tayven Jackson tossed two touchdown passes — both in the first quarter — and later had a touchdown catch, the first of his career. Running back Agyeman Addae recorded his first touchdown catch and first touchdown pass of his college career.

Did you know? The Knights failed to qualify for the postseason in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2003-04 seasons. — Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel

14. West Virginia

Previous ranking: 13

Points: 52

Record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)

Last week: lost to No. 5 Texas Tech, 49-0

Next game: Season over

Comment: Rich Rodriguez has championship aspirations now that he’s back at WVU, but the Mountaineers saw just how far they still have to go during a 49-0 beatdown by Texas Tech. Rodriguez believes he can build a winner in Morgantown, and he got an up-close look at one on Saturday.

Did you know? The last time WVU was beaten that badly in a home shutout, World War I hadn’t even begun. — Cody Nespor, Gold and Blue Nation

15. Colorado

Previous ranking: 15

Points: 37

Record: 3-9 (1-8 Big 12)

Last week: lost to Kansas State, 24-14

Next game: Season over

Comment: The final game went pretty much how much of the season has gone. The Buffs pulled within 17-14 with seven minutes left but couldn’t get a late stop to make a push for the lead. It was sixth time this season CU was either in the lead, tied, or within four points of the lead in the fourth quarter and wound up losing.

Did you know? CU is 9-18 (.333) in conference play in three seasons under head coach Deion Sanders. The Buffs haven’t had a head coach with a better conference winning percentage since Gary Barnett from 1999-2005 (.607, 34-22). — Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera

16. Oklahoma State

Previous ranking: 16

Points: 16

Record: 1-11 (0-9 Big 12)

Last week: lost to Iowa State, 20-13

Comment: Oklahoma State ended the season losing 20 consecutive games against FBS opponents. However, there’s reason for optimism as OSU hired Eric Morris before things got crazy last week and is now a win away from watching the new coach in the College Football Playoff with North Texas.

Did you know? Oklahoma State’s defense gave up 17 points per game and 30.23% of third-down conversions in the final three games. Both stats would rank 13th or higher nationally based on the entire season. — Tyler Waldrep, Pistols Firing