It's time to come around to the reality of the situation: the Big 12 Conference is deeper than the SEC and Big Ten, and might be the most competitive league in the country.
Dash of hyperbole aside, we're starting to establish who's for real in the race to Arlington, but there's still plenty to sort out in this week's power rankings.
1. BYU (4-0, 2-0)
Last week: 1, def. TCU 17-10
This week: vs. Iowa State
(Friday)What to know: Losing RB LJ Martin would be a major blow to an offense that hasn't been super effective.
2. Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0)
Last week: 2, def. Colorado 29-7
This week: Open
What to know: It's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for Texas Tech right now, outscoring opponents 68-9 in the second half of the last three games while trailing at the break in two of those games.
3. Houston (4-1, 1-1)
Last week: 3, def.
UCF 27-17
This week: at Kansas State (3-1, 0-1)
What to know: Cougar fans were with the team in spirit, not the flesh, with a 27-0 second half run to escape vaunted UCF.
4. Oklahoma State (3-1, 1-0)
Last week: 4, Open
This week: vs. UCF (3-2, 1-1)
What to know: The Cowboys might be the most dangerous team in the conference. They just have to prove it the rest of the way.
5. Arizona (4-1, 1-1)
Last week: 5, def. Cincinnati 34-7
This week: at West Virginia (3-2, 0-1)
What to know: Wildcats put Cincinnati in a locker early to show where the pecking order really is in the conference.
6. Utah (4-0, 0-1)
Last week: 6, Open
This week: vs. Kansas (2-2, 0-1)
What to know: The Utes might finally be getting tested. Wait, they play the Jayhawks next. Never mind.
7. Baylor (4-1, 2-0)
Last week: 11, def. Arizona State 55-19
This week: Open
What to know: DJ Lagway putting his 10,000 hours on the VR headset to use and, dare we say, finally putting it together?
8. Iowa State (3-2, 1-1)
Last week: 12, def. West Virginia 45-42
This week: at BYU (5-0, 2-0)
What to know: Iowa State lost its head coach and most of its team to Penn State, yet might have a better team than the Nittany Lions? Scandalous.
9. Cincinnati (4-1, 1-1)
Last week: 8, lost 34-7 to Arizona
This week: Open
What to know: Bearcats had to chance to show they belong. They blew it. Out of sight, out of mind.
10. Kansas State (3-1, 0-1)
Last week: 9, Open
This week: vs. Houston (4-1, 1-1)
What to know: If the Wildcats are going to contend, they need to win the battle of the felines.
11. West Virginia (3-2, 0-2)
Last week: 7, lost 45-42 to Iowa State
This week: vs. Arizona (4-1, 1-1)
What to know: The Mountaineers' win over Virginia might have been a giant mirage, like a Pepsi machine in the Mojave Desert.
12. Arizona State (2-2, 1-1)
Last week: 10, lost 55-19 to Baylor
This week: vs. Hawai'i (1-4)
What to know: Usually it's the team that loses an international game whose season comes crumbling down. Sun Devils trying to change that narrative.
13. UCF (3-2, 1-1)
Last week: 13, lost 27-17 to Houston
This week: at Oklahoma State (3-1, 1-0)
What to know: Blew a 17-0 point on the road and now might get run over at Stillwater. Rough timing for the Space Force.
14. Kansas (2-2, 0-1)
Last week: 14, defeated Middle Tennessee 55-0
This week: at Utah (4-0, 1-0)
What to know: What do you want me to do with this win over the Blue Raiders, Kansas? Take it seriously? C'mon son.
15. TCU (2-3, 0-2)
Last week: 15, lost 17-10 to BYU
This week: Open
What to know: On the one hand, the Fighting Kermits put up a fight against BYU. On the other hand, they have 33 points in three games against power-conference teams.
16. Colorado (2-3, 0-2)
Last week: 16, lost 29-7 to Texas Tech
This week: Open
What to know: Sloppier aspect of Coach Prime's program: not having a playable QB on the roster, or leaving your trick playbook at a hotel bar for the visiting fans to find?
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 football power rankings: BYU not a firm No. 1 anymore
