Despite the chaos in the Big 12, the conference has at least one team that has emerged as a true contender in the college football landscape.

Coming off a bye week after a statement win, the Red Raiders secured a dominant victory over their in-state rival, Houston, with a 35-11 victory.

One of the bigger storylines heading into this game was coach Joey McGuire sticking with senior quarterback Behren Morton. This comes after fans clamored for freshman quarterback Will Hammond as he statistically outplayed Morton in Texas Tech’s win over Utah.

But Morton proved his doubters wrong, throwing for 345 yards on the day with a touchdown.

Sophomore running back J’Koby Williams had 107 yards rushing and found the endzone twice. Sophomore running back Cameron Dickey had 98 yards on the ground and had a 69-yard touchdown reception.

Defensively, senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had an interception. Senior linebacker David Bailey picked up two sacks to increase his sack total to 5.5 on the season.

The Red Raiders moved from No. 11 to No. 9 in the Top 25, marking the first time since 2013 that they’ve been ranked as a top-10 team. This season marks the first time since 2018 that Texas Tech has been ranked.

The Red Raiders return home this weekend to host Kansas for the team’s blackout game. Despite this, all eyes will remain on their game next week against Arizona State.

2. Arizona State (4-1) - Last Week: 2

Despite not playing last week, the Sun Devils jumped up four spots in the recent AP Poll, mainly due to chaos within college football this season.

Arizona State began the season sluggishly, losing to unranked Mississippi State, which caused the team to fall out of the national media spotlight.

But after winning their past three games, including a come-from-behind victory at home against TCU, the Sun Devils stormed back into the AP Top 25.

There has been a lot of talk about ASU’s game against Texas Tech in Week 8. Speculation has spun around that College Gameday or Big Noon may come to Tempe for this game. 

Although these are talking points that should be had, they shouldn’t distract ASU from its next matchup. The Sun Devils have a challenging game against Utah – a team that they have struggled to play against in Salt Lake City.

The Sun Devils have not beaten the Utes at Rice Eccles Stadium since 2017. Playing there has become the team’s kryptonite since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011.

However, with coach Kenny Dillingham at the helm, the team feels things will be different.

It also helps that ASU played in a raucous environment earlier this year when it played against Mississippi State. Although Rice Eccles Stadium is a tough place to play, there should be no doubt that the Sun Devils should be more prepared this time.

A win this Saturday and it will set up the team’s biggest game at Mountain America Stadium since their game against BYU last season.

3. BYU (5-0) - Last Week: 4

A lot can be said about the Cougars right now.

Are they truly a contender within the conference? It’s not known yet, since a case can be made that they’ve had a favorable schedule.

Regardless of what you think, BYU is 5-0 and one of two teams in the conference that is still undefeated.

Freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier has had a solid season and is now coming off a career game against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Bachmeier threw for 351 yards and a touchdown.

It was also a big day for the Cougars' wide receivers, as senior wide receiver Chase Roberts and junior wide receiver Parker Kingston who combined for 280 yards receiving.

The final score didn’t do the game justice, as BYU led 28-10 at halftime and led 38-17 in the fourth quarter before West Virginia put up one garbage-time score.

The Cougars head down to Southern Arizona to face off against Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcats are 4-1 on the season, although similar to BYU, their schedule has been favorable.

Coach Kalani Sitake’s squad will have to be careful not to overlook this game before returning home for the Holy War against Utah.

4. Utah (4-1) - Last Week: 3

The next two games for Coach Kyle Whittingham’s squad will define the Utes true positioning in the Big 12.

Utah is 4-1 on the season but has already picked up a loss at home against Texas Tech. If the Utes want to stay in contention to win the conference, they need to win these next two games.

Utah’s first test will be this weekend when they host former Pac-12 foe No. 21 Arizona State. It hasn’t lost to the Sun Devils at home since 2017

Following that game, the Utes will stay within the state of Utah but will head South to face off against No. 18 BYU.

One loss within this two-game stretch could be passable, but facing off against Cincinnati and Baylor at the end of the season, it makes the margin of error for Utah low.

The last time the Utes hosted Arizona State, they won 55-3 at home against a depleted Sun Devils team.

But a lot has changed since then, not only did both teams switch conferences, but the Sun Devils have emerged as a contender in the conference. Utah is getting there but has been a step behind ASU since last season.

The Utes are also still seeking their first conference win at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The last time they won a conference game was in 2023 — when Utah was still in the Pac-12.

5. Cincinnati (4-1) - Last Week: 7

Before the season, I said that Kansas would be the sleeper team within the Big 12.

I was incorrect about that.

The Bearcats are now 4-1 on the season, with a statement win at home. They defeated No. 14 Iowa State 38-30 at Nippert Stadium as the students, dressed in red, stormed the field in celebration.

It’s the team’s first-ranked win since defeating Houston in the AAC Championship Game in 2021. The Cougars were ranked No. 21 at the time.

The road for Cincinnati fans has not been easy these past few years. Since joining the Big 12 in 2023, it had a miserable 2023, and in 2024, it lost its last five games to miss a bowl game.

Now Cincinnati’s offense is soaring, averaging 39.2 points per game through the first five games of the season, and the team’s aspirations within the conference are rising.

UCF comes to town this Saturday. The Bearcats will be seeking their first appearance in the Top 25 since 2022.

6. TCU (4-1) - Last Week: 6

The Horned Frogs picked up a bounce-back win against Colorado on Saturday, but it wasn’t one of their prettier wins of the season.

Junior quarterback Josh Hoover did his part by not turning the ball over, following his showing against Arizona State, where he had three turnovers.

The problem for TCU was its defense, as Colorado was efficient moving the football. However, the Horned Frogs racked up four takeaways on the day.

TCU’s schedule for the rest of the season is not a very easy one. They’re avoiding Texas Tech but still play Iowa State, BYU, and Cincinnati.

Coach Sonny Dykes’ team will need to finish strong for a chance to play in the Big 12 Title game.

The Horned Frogs will have another road game this week as they play Kansas State.

7. Iowa State (5-1) - Last Week: 3

This might be a steep drop for the Cyclones, but their stock once again dropped after a loss to the Bearcats.

Yes, Iowa State is dealing with injuries, particularly in the secondary. But the offense went 4 for 16 on third downs in the game and started slow, trailing 17-0.

Once thought to be a top team in the Big 12, the Cyclones have slowed down after that. Their week zero win against Kansas State in Ireland, initially thought to be impressive, has not been seen as such since then.

Iowa State momentarily silenced some doubters following their 39-14 win over Arizona with a strong defensive performance. But injuries began to mount up for Coach Matt Campbell’s squad, and now the team can only afford one more loss, if any at all, to return to the Big 12 Championship.

The most important stretch of the season for the Cyclones will be against BYU, ASU, and TCU. The first of those two opponents they will host, and they will visit Fort Worth.

This week, it’s a road game against Colorado. Hopefully for Iowa State, a trap game will be avoided.

8. Kansas (4-2) - Last Week: 9

Not the most dominant win by any means, but the Jayhawks were able to hold off UCF twice in the final two minutes of the game to win 27-20.

It’s another good win for coach Lance Leipold’s squad as Kansas moves to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in conference play.

Senior quarterback Jalon Daniels was once again efficient for the Jayhawks, although the team struggled on third downs, converting 3 of 11 on the day.

Senior running back Leshon Williams had a solid game on the ground, racking up 58 yards and scoring three times on the ground.

The biggest test for Kansas will be next week when they head down to Lubbock, Texas, to play the No. 9 Red Raiders.

The Jayhawks' specialty from last season was upsetting three of the top four teams from the Big 12 last season. Even if it’s a big ask, don’t count Kansas out.

9. Baylor (4-2) - Last Week: 8

If it wasn’t clear already, Baylor’s defense is what’s holding it back from becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12.

Yes, the Bears won 35-34 at home, but against a team like Kansas State, which lost to Army earlier in the season, it’s not a very good look for the team.

Baylor was trailing 31-17 in the fourth quarter before senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson put the team on his back to lead them back. 

The Bears snatched victory on a blocked 56-yard field goal.

Coach Dave Aranda’s defense is becoming an area of concern. It has been a question for them since their loss to Auburn at the beginning of the season, and it has not gotten better.

They also had troubles putting away Oklahoma State, who is arguably the worst team in the conference, as Baylor led by eight in the fourth quarter before putting the game away.

The offense will keep the team in games, but the defense needs to step up, or else the team will be seen as nothing more than a mid-tier team in a conference full of chaos.

The Bears will head to a bye week to get things figured up before their rivalry game against TCU.

10. Arizona (4-1) - Last Week: 11

Give credit where credit is due. Coach Brett Brennan faced a lot of adversity from last season’s showing, and although his team may not be a contender, Arizona is one of the more improved teams from the conference.

Going up against Oklahoma State at home, junior quarterback Noah Fifita put on a show. He threw for 376 yards and five touchdowns on the day.

It was a bounce-back game for Fifita following a poor showing against Iowa State, in a game where most of the Wildcats’ production came through the air.

Arizona feels like they’ve cemented who it is. They’re not a team that’s going to contend this season. We saw how they looked against Iowa State.

But they could be this season’s version of Kansas from last season. Potentially playing spoiler within the conference this season and causing some shake-up.

And what better way to start with it than hosting No. 18 BYU? A team that still has some uncertainty despite being 5-0 on the season.

Fifita is going to need to play his best ball as the Wildcats hope to exceed their win total from 2024.

12. Houston (4-1) - Last Week: 10

Feels weird to rank Houston this low since it just picked up its first loss of the season last Saturday. But many questions about the team turned out to be true.

The Cougars had a chance to make a statement in the Big 12 as they hosted No. 11 Texas Tech at home. But it was clear when the game started who the better team was.

The Red Raiders dominated Houston in nearly every category, including doubling their yardage total. 

It’s a bad loss for the Cougars, but they shouldn’t have too much shame from it. They’re still a team that is retooling and were up against arguably the best team in the conference.

Their schedule the rest of the way is favorable for coach Willie Fritz’s squad, as Houston only has one more currently ranked team on this season's schedule (Arizona State).

The Cougars will head to Stillwater, Oklahoma, this weekend for a matchup against Oklahoma State.

13. Kansas State (2-4) - Last Week: 13

Despite losing in heartbreaking fashion against Baylor, it’s become clear that the Wildcats seemed to have woken up from whatever slump they were in the first few weeks of the season.

Kansas State played the brand of football we’ve seen from it the past few seasons in the first three quarters of the game. But its defense eventually let up, and the Bears came back to win 35-34.

Junior quarterback Avery Johnson had his best game of the season, throwing for over 300 yards.

Junior running back Dylan Edwards had a pretty slow game, but sophomore running back Joe Jackson picked up the slack. He had 61 yards rushing and 41 yards receiving.

Although a Big 12 Title may be out of sight, it’s nice to see what was advertised from the Wildcats these past few weeks. They’ve picked up the slack, but it may be too little too late.

They’ll have a chance to pull an upset when they host TCU next week.

14. Colorado (2-4) - Last Week: 12

Yet another frustrating performance for the Buffaloes in a 35-21 loss to TCU.

Senior quarterback Kaidon Salter threw for three interceptions on the day, in what was a very winnable game for Colorado, but the Horned Frogs ultimately pulled away in the end.

During the game, there was a lot of concern for coach Deion Sanders because he removed his left shoe and sat on a stool.

He revealed he had blood clots on his left leg and had surgery to get them removed.

This comes on the heels of Sanders having bladder cancer in the summer. Sanders revealed the news of this in a press conference a few weeks before the season began.

Thankfully, coach Sanders was back on the sideline for practice on Wednesday, the day after the surgery, and he’s expected to be on the sideline for the Buffaloes game on Saturday.

Colorado will host No. 22 Iowa State at home, a game where it is a slight underdog.

14. UCF (3-2) - Last Week: 14

It looks like the wheels are now falling off for the Knights.

UCF suffered a heartbreaking 27-20 loss against Kansas last week. 

The Knights had a couple of chances at the end of the game to come back, but they ultimately could not get past the Jayhawks' defense.

Junior quarterback Tayven Jackson started the game for UCF but left the game following an upper-body injury.

This meant that senior quarterback Cam Fancher, who started the first game of the season, was now back in at quarterback.

Fancher had been knocked out since then with an injury, and this was his first game of being active.

At the two-minute timeout, the Knights had first and goal at the Kansas five-yard line, and would get it down to the one-yard line the next play for second down.

UCF would then get stopped on each of the next three plays and turn the ball over on downs. They were able to force a three-and-out and get one more chance.

The Knights got to the Jayhawks 22 before Fancher would throw four consecutive incompletions to seal the loss.

UCF could be bowl eligible this season, but its rough second-half schedule may make it a tough ask. They head to Nippert Stadium to play Cincinnati next week.

15. West Virginia (2-4) - Last Week: 15

It’s now three straight losses for the Mountaineers, and a 0-3 start to conference play following their 38-24 loss to BYU.

Sophomore quarterback Nicco Marchiol missed his second consecutive game, and in LaVell Edwards Stadium, it was too tough a task for West Virginia.

Freshman quarterback Khalil Wilkins got the start and threw for only 81 yards and was picked off twice. He totaled more rushing yards in the game (89) than passing yards (81).

This is a Mountaineers team that has struggled to gain traction for most of the season outside of a win against their biggest rival. 

A case can be made that West Virginia could lose all of its last remaining games this season.

Coach Rich Rodriguez’s team will head into its bye hoping to figure things out before playing UCF.

16. Oklahoma State (1-4) - Last Week: 16

Another one in the loss column for the Cowboys following a 41-13 thumping at the hands of the Arizona Wildcats.

After a showing against Baylor where Oklahoma State had some life, it was put to rest in Arizona Stadium.

Freshman quarterback Zane Flores had another showing he’d like to forget, throwing for only 47 yards and averaging 2.4 yards per attempt.

Things are already at rock bottom for the Cowboys, and for this year at least, things will likely not get better.

Oklahoma State will return to Stillwater this weekend to play Houston at home.