Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrates his touchdown run against Northern Arizona with Arizona State wide receiver Malik McClain (12) during the second half of an NCAA football game Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz.

Arizona State begins this season in the same spot as it ended last season – at the top.

The defending Big 12 champions are No. 1 in the first Big 12 power rankings, receiving 11 of a possible 16 first-place votes from a panel of media members who regularly cover the Big 12.

Iowa State picked up four first-place votes and TCU received the other after an impressive win over North Carolina.

1. Arizona State

Points: 246 (11 first-place votes)

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat Northern Arizona, 38-19

This week: at Mississippi State

Comment: The dynamic duo of quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson lived up to their billing. The biggest issue for the Sun Devils were the 12 penalties for 93 yards, one of which wiped out a 75-yard touchdown play. It was the most penalties called in a game in the Kenny Dillingham tenure.

Did you know? The Sun Devils have won 26 consecutive home openers, the second longest active streak in the nation behind Illinois (28). — Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic

2. Iowa State

Points: 253 (four first-place votes)

Record: 2-0 (1-0 Big 12)

Last week: beat South Dakota, 55-7

This week: vs. Iowa

Comment: The Cyclones have won two of the past three meetings with the Hawkeyes but haven’t won this in-state rivalry game at home since 2011. All six of Iowa State’s wins in the series since 2005 have come by three or fewer points — including last season’s 20-19 triumph that came on the strength of walk-on kicker Kyle Konrardy’s 54-yard field goal in the closing seconds.

Did you know? Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht set a school record for completion percentage in a single game (19 of 20, 95%) in the win against South Dakota. Thirteen of Becht’s 19 completions went to tight ends — as did all three of his touchdowns. — Rob Gray, The Cedar Rapids Gazette

3. Texas Tech

Points: 225

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 67-7

This week: vs. Kent State

Comment: It wouldn’t be a Texas Tech season without an injury to the starting quarterback. Behren Morton fixed his shoulder but now he has a leg issue after less than 1 1/2 quarters of play. It won’t matter against Kent State, but it’s not ideal for a team working in so many new elements.

Did you know? Texas Tech and Arkansas-Pine Bluff only played eight-minute quarters in the second half due to the weather that came on at halftime. – Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

4. Utah

Points: 207

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat UCLA, 43-10

This week: vs. Cal Poly

Comment: Utah started off the season with a bang. After the Utes ranked as the second-worst offense in the Big 12 a season ago, new quarterback Devon Dampier and offensive coordinator Jason Beck helped lead them to a 43-point outing. Dampier’s performance had USC Heisman winner Matt Leinart comparing him to Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray.

Did you know? Utah defenders Smith Snowden and Lander Barton both scored touchdowns on offense against the Bruins. — Jason Batacao, The Salt Lake Tribune

5. TCU

Points: 199 (one first-place vote)

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat North Carolina, 48-14

This week: Open date

Comment: There was plenty to like in the Horned Frogs’ opener, which spoiled the debut of UNC coach Bill Belichick. TCU rolled to 542 yards of total offense, held the Tar Heels to 222 and scored 41 unanswered points after falling behind 7-0 after the opening drive. Josh Hoover threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, while TCU got big performances from Kevorian Barnes (113 rushing yards and a touchdown) and wide receiver Jordan Dwyer (nine catches for 136 yards and a touchdown). TCU also scored twice on defense: a 25-yard interception return by Bud Clark and 37-yard fumble return by Devean Deal.

Did you know? TCU has scored in 408 consecutive games, the second longest streak in NCAA history behind only Florida (462). — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle

6. Kansas

Points: 167

Record: 2-0

Last week: beat Wagner, 46-7

This week: at Missouri

Comment: The Jayhawks took care of business against Group of Five and FCS opponents in their first two games of the year, led by a resurgent Jalon Daniels and a new-look receiving corps that features transfers Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (nine receptions, 154 yards, two touchdowns this year) and Cam Pickett (eight receptions, 106 yards, three touchdowns).

Did you know? KU will face Missouri for the 121st time on Saturday as part of the latest installment in the Border War rivalry, which had been dormant since 2011 because of the Tigers’ move to the SEC. The two schools do not agree on the all-time series standings, as a result of a controversy surrounding KU’s use of an ineligible player in the 1960 edition of the game. — Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World

7. Kansas State

Points: 158

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

Last week: beat North Dakota, 38-35

This week: vs. Army

Comment: Avery Johnson’s 6-yard pass to Joe Jackson with 42 seconds left allowed the Wildcats to escape with a win over the FCS Fighting Hawks. Johnson finished 28-for-43 for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Jayce Brown had 12 catches for 109 yards and a score. But there’s plenty of concern in the Little Apple after K-State allowed all five of North Dakota’s scoring drives to span at least 70 yards.

Did you know? The win against North Dakota marked KSU’s fifth come-from-behind victory since the beginning of 2024 when trailing in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats’ four victories last year in those situations tied for second in the nation behind Illinois (five). — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle

8. BYU

Points: 156

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat Portland State, 69-0

This week: vs. Stanford

Comment: Bear Bachmeier accounted for five touchdowns in the first half as BYU nearly broke its scoring record with 69 points.

Did you know? Bachmeier became the first true freshman to start a season opener for BYU, replacing former quarterback Jake Retzlaff. — Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune

photo by: AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda, left, shakes hands with Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze following an NCAA college football game Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Waco, Texas.

9. Baylor

Points: 119

Record: 0-1

Last week: lost to Auburn, 38-24

This week: at No. 17 SMU

Comment: Friday was one of the most hyped games in the 11-year history of McLane Stadium, with a nationally televised game featuring black jerseys, a pregame flyover and halftime drone show, and the return of chrome helmets. The Baylor defense was underwhelming, allowing Auburn to rush for 307 yards, the most yards given up in a game in nearly seven years. They’ll have their hands full with another run-capable quarterback in SMU junior Kevin Jennings. The one positive for the Bears was the offense, as Sawyer Robertson threw for the second-most yards of his career (419) and senior receiver Kole Wilson set a new career mark with 134 yards.

Did you know? Old Southwest Conference rivals Baylor and SMU have played 82 times dating back to 1916. The two teams last met in 2016, and the Bears have won the last 13 meetings, outscoring the Mustangs 556-121 in that span. — Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald

10. Houston

Points: 87

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat Stephen F. Austin, 27-0

This week: at Rice

Comment: The Cougars’ defense shined with its first season-opening shutout since 1989. While the defense took care of the FCS Lumberjacks, the offense is a work in progress. Conner Weigman, a former five-star prospect who spent the past three seasons at Texas A&M, threw three touchdowns in his debut. There was some bad news: Re’Shaun Sanford II, the team’s leading rusher in 2024, will miss the season with a knee injury.

Did you know? Saturday’s 44th meeting for the Bayou Bucket is the last scheduled game for the foreseeable future between Houston and Rice, the two closest FBS schools, separated by less than five miles. Houston leads the series 34-12, which includes three games before the schools began playing a rivalry game. — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle

11. Arizona

Points: 86

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat Hawaii, 40-6

This week: vs. Weber State

Comment: Following a disastrous first season under head coach Brent Brennan, the Wildcats debuted their revamped roster that included three new coordinators — Seth Doege (offense), Danny Gonzales (defense) and Craig Naivar (special teams) — and 61 newcomers.

Did you know? Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita played without star receiver Tetairoa McMillan for the first time since the seventh grade. — Justin Spears, Arizona Daily Star

12. Colorado

Points: 84

Record: 0-1

Last week: lost to Georgia Tech, 27-20

This week: vs. Delaware

Comment: After finishing last in the country in rushing the past two seasons – averaging 68.9 yards per game in 2023 and 65.2 in 2024 – the Buffs vowed to be better on the ground and ran for 146 yards against Georgia Tech. However, the defense gave up a whopping 320 yards on the ground, which proved to be the difference in the loss to the Yellow Jackets.

Did you know? CU head coach Deion Sanders lost a season opener for the first time in his career as a college coach. Sanders was 3-0 in openers at Jackson State and won his first two season openers with the Buffaloes. — Brian Howell, Boulder Daily Camera

13. West Virginia

Points: 73

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat Robert Morris, 45-3

This week: at Ohio

Comment: Losing three fumbles in the first half led to an unsettling 10-3 halftime lead in Rich Rodriguez’s return to Morgantown, but the Mountaineers played a clean second half to run away from their FCS opponent. WVU rushed for nearly 400 yards in the game, with five players rushing for at least 40. The defense held RMU to just 123 yards of total offense.

Did you know? Saturday’s win was Rich Rodriguez’s first victory with the Mountaineers since Nov. 24, 2007. It was his 61st victory as WVU head coach, moving him into a tie with Dana Holgorsen for the second-most coaching wins in program history. – Cody Nespor, Gold and Blue Nation

14. Cincinnati

Points: 66

Record: 0-1

Last week: lost to Nebraska, 20-17 in Kansas City

This week: vs. Bowling Green

Comment: Cincinnati marched from its own 9-yard line to the Nebraska 33, but with 39 seconds left Brendan Sorsby’s pass to the end zone for Caleb Goodie was intercepted by Malcolm Hartzog.

Did you know? The Bearcats will be heavy favorites versus Bowling Green, but historically they’re 0-4 vs. the Falcons. The teams last played in 1994. Bowling Green is coached by 1995 Heisman winner Eddie George, formerly of Ohio State and the NFL’s Tennessee Titans/Tennessee-Houston Oilers. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer

15. Oklahoma State

Points: 43

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat UT Martin, 27-7

This week: at No. 6 Oregon

Comment: Oklahoma State quarterback Zane Flores will be making his first start in 1,029 days when he takes the field at Oregon. He attempted his first collegiate pass after coming off the bench for injured starter Hauss Hejny last week. Hejny will now miss significant time following surgery on Friday.

Did you know? Coach Mike Gundy has won 40 career games against AP Top 25 teams, which ranks No. 1 in the nation among active FBS coaches at their current schools. – Tyler Waldrep, Pistols Firing

16. UCF

Points: 33

Record: 1-0

Last week: beat Jacksonville State, 17-10

This week: vs. North Carolina A&T

Comment: UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson stepped in for the injured Cam Fancher and threw for 282 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead the Knights to a win in Scott Frost’s return to the program. Linebacker Keli Lawson blocked a field goal and cornerback Jayden Bellamy had an interception for the defense.

Did you know? The win was the 14th straight under Frost, who previously coached UCF to a perfect 13-0 season in 2017 that was capped off by a victory over Auburn in the 2018 Peach Bowl. — Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel