Big 12 Power Rankings: Where Does Iowa State Football Rank Heading Into Week 9?

As Week 9 of the 2026 college football season approaches, here are our Big 12 power rankings: 

No. 16: Colorado Buffaloes (2–5, 0–4) 

Colorado lackluster season continued last weekend with a 23-13 loss to Baylor, extending the Buffaloes' losing streak to five games. With Kansas State up next on Saturday, Colorado will need to find a way to get back on track and turn its season around.

No. 15: TCU Horned Frogs (3-4, 1-3)

TCU suffered another setback in Week 8, falling to West Virginia at home after defeating Baylor the previous week. The Horned Frogs were looking to regain momentum after losses to BYU and UCF, but three turnovers and eight penalties proved costly against the Mountaineers. TCU has also struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, adding to its challenges heading into Week 9.

No. 14: Kansas Jayhawks (3-4, 1-3)

Kansas heads to Fort Worth to take on TCU after a thrilling 25-24 victory over Baylor last Saturday. The Jayhawks held on for the win thanks to a key special teams play, as Blake Herold blocked Baylor's field goal attempt to preserve the one-point lead. Kansas will look to carry that momentum into its Week 9 matchup against the Horned Frogs. 

No. 13: Iowa State Cyclones (4-3, 1-3)

The Cyclones are coming off a tough 39-3 loss to Arizona and are looking to get back in the win column after consecutive losses to BYU and the Wildcats. Iowa State's offense remains a major concern, as the Cyclones have struggled to put points on the board with more imposing offensive and defensive units. They will need to find answers on offense heading into Week 9 if they hope to get back on track.

No. 12: Kansas State Wildcats (4-3, 1-3)

Kansas State may have defeated rival Kansas two weeks ago, but the Wildcats have struggled to secure notable wins outside of that matchup despite consistent offensive production. This weekend’s game against Colorado presents an opportunity to get back on track, with Kansas State looking to build momentum before its November 7 matchup against Oklahoma State. The Wildcats have a chance to rest key players and regroup ahead of the challenging conference matchup.

No. 11: West Virginia Mountaineers (5-3, 2-3)

West Virginia picked up its second conference victory of the season with a win over TCU last weekend. The Mountaineers capitalized on three TCU turnovers, with linebacker Ben Cutter recovering a late fumble to seal the victory after the defense applied pressure. The win gives West Virginia some momentum as it looks to build on its conference performance.

No. 10: UCF Knights (4-3, 2-2)

UCF delivered one of the biggest upsets of Week 8, defeating No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime and handing the Cougars their first loss of the season. The victory gives the Knights a significant boost heading into Friday night's matchup against Baylor, where they will look to carry that momentum into another conference win.

No. 9: Arizona State Sun Devils (4-3, 2-2)

Arizona State defeated Kansas State 28-17, adding another conference win to its record. However, the Sun Devils continue to search for consistency on the field. Arizona State faces BYU this weekend, where the Cougars will look to bounce back after their upset loss to UCF. The Sun Devils will need a strong performance on both sides of the ball to pull off another conference win.

No. 8: Cincinnati Bearcats (5-2, 2-2)

Cincinnati pulled off another major upset in Week 8, defeating previously unbeaten Texas Tech 37-24. Quarterback JC French IV bounced back from an early pick-six to throw four touchdown passes. Cincinnati will now welcome undefeated Utah, presenting another opportunity to prove it belongs among the Big 12's top contenders. 

No. 7: Baylor Bears (4-3, 2-2)

Baylor had a chance to secure a late win, but Kansas's defense came up with a key stop, leading to a 25-24 loss. Following the loss, Baylor fired head coach Dave Aranda after six seasons with the program. The Bears will need to regroup quickly heading into the rest of the season.

No. 6: Houston Cougars (6-2, 3-2)

Houston lost 21-13 to Utah. The Cougars led early in the second half but were unable to score again as Utah rallied late. Despite the setback, Houston has put together a strong season and remains a competitive team in the conference. The Cougars have a bye in Week 9.

No. 5: Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-2, 3-1)

Oklahoma State had a dominant 57-24 win over Colorado, handing the Buffaloes another loss. The Cowboys' offense continues to produce, establishing them as one of the top offensive teams in the confernce. Oklahoma State will travel to Ames to face Iowa State on Saturday night, looking to maintain its offensive momentum. 

No. 4: Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1)

Texas Tech was handed its first loss of the season by Cincinnati, falling 37-24. The Bearcats led 24-6 at halftime, putting the Red Raiders in a tough position heading into the second half. Texas Tech was able to add points to the board, but multiple turnovers proved costly as the Red Raiders were unable to maintain their undefeated record. 

No. 3: Arizona Wildcats (6-1, 3-1)

Arizona has dominated this season and emerged as a conference title challenger after a 39-3 win over Iowa State. The Wildcats will head to Texas Tech in hopes of handing the Red Raiders another loss.

No. 2: BYU Cougars (6-1, 3-1)

BYU is no longer undefeated after a 39-31 double-overtime loss to UCF. The Knights secured the upset by outscoring the Cougars in overtime. Despite the loss, BYU remains one of the conference's strongest teams and will look to rebound against Arizona State on Saturday. The Cougars will need to stay confident over the next few weeks as they prepare to face Utah in Week 10.

No. 1: Utah Utes (7-0, 4-0)

Utah enters Week 9 as the Big 12's only undefeated team after a 21-13 win over Houston. The Utes rallied from a 10-0 deficit, led by quarterback Devon Dampier's two rushing touchdowns and 354 total yards. Utah's defense also forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter, setting up the offense to score from Houston's 9-yard line and help secure the win.