Big 12 Power Rankings Tiers
TJ Inman
Host · Writer
Tier V: TCU, Houston, BYU, Baylor & Cincinnati
The bottom tier is a crowded group of five squads, none of them going bowling. TCU had the best record at 5-7, a huge step backwards after its dream 2022 season. Houston went 4-8 and gave up 314 points in Big 12 play. They hope new head coach Willie Fritz can do much better. Baylor had the worst defense in the Big 12, giving up 331 points in league play and going just 3-9. Newcomers BYU and Cincinnati were each outscored by more than 100 points on the year and combined to win only three league games.
Tier I: Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns stand alone in tier one for the Big 12. The Big 12 Champions are now the third seed in the College Football Playoff after a 12-1 season. Most recently, Texas handled Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game, capturing the title belt on their way out of the league. The defense is dominant and the offense looks good with a healthy Quinn Ewers.
Tier II: Oklahoma Sooners & Oklahoma State Cowboys
The two Oklahoma schools no longer will play Bedlam but they are forced to share tier two on this list. The Cowboys fell well short in the Big 12 Championship Game, but they went 9-4 (7-2) with a win over Oklahoma. The Sooners are 10-2 and had a strong second season under Brent Venables. They now embark on a new challenge in the SEC.
Tier III: West Virginia, Iowa State, Kansas State & Kansas
Tier three is crowded with three 8-4 teams and the 7-5 Iowa State Cyclones. Iowa State went 6-3 in the Big 12 and had four road wins in the conference. Kansas State and West Virginia went 6-3 in the Big 12 and will play in solid bowl games, while Kansas battled major injuries at quarterback and still managed to go 8-4 on the season.
Tier IV: Texas Tech & UCF
The Red Raiders and the Knights will be going bowling. Texas Tech had higher expectations entering 2023 but they fell to 6-6 with a 5-4 record in the Big 12. They were outscored by 30 points in league play. UCF, playing in the Big 12 for the first season, were only outscored by one point in league play. A 6-6 record and holding on to Gus Malzahn for another season is a success.
Tier V: TCU, Houston, BYU, Baylor & Cincinnati
The bottom tier is a crowded group of five squads, none of them going bowling. TCU had the best record at 5-7, a huge step backwards after its dream 2022 season. Houston went 4-8 and gave up 314 points in Big 12 play. They hope new head coach Willie Fritz can do much better. Baylor had the worst defense in the Big 12, giving up 331 points in league play and going just 3-9. Newcomers BYU and Cincinnati were each outscored by more than 100 points on the year and combined to win only three league games.
Tier I: Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns stand alone in tier one for the Big 12. The Big 12 Champions are now the third seed in the College Football Playoff after a 12-1 season. Most recently, Texas handled Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game, capturing the title belt on their way out of the league. The defense is dominant and the offense looks good with a healthy Quinn Ewers.
