The 2025 college football season has already begun. You even missed the first week, well, kind of. Week 0 took place this past weekend, which included a massive Big 12 matchup in Dublin, Ireland, with No. 22 Iowa State taking down No. 17 Kansas State, 24-21.
With Week 0 out of the way, Week 1 now gets our full attention. Colorado will kick off against Georgia Tech as part of a solid Friday night slate that includes 11 Division 1 matchups. The other notable matchup Friday evening is Auburn at Baylor.
Advertisement
Those matchups, as well as Thursday’s loaded schedule, are only the beginning of what is a marquee weekend, which is headlined by No. 1 Texas visiting Columbus to take on No. 3 Ohio State. A true national title preview gracing our screens in late-August, what could be better?
With the Big 12 season having already begun in Ireland, here is a final breakdown of the conference power rankings. By this time next week, every Big 12 team will have played at least one game.
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy walks the sidelines in the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 60
ESPN FPI forecast: 5.3 – 6.8
Analysis: After a miserable 2024 season, Mike Gundy is still left with seemingly zero answers at the quarterback position. Is it really going to be another long season for the Cowboys?
Advertisement
15. Arizona Wildcats
Nov 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan walks on the sidelines during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 66
ESPN FPI forecast: 4.9 – 7.1
Analysis: Brent Brennan is firmly on the hot seat. He’ll need a successful season in Tucson to save his job. Quarterback Noah Fifita also needs a solid season as he closes out his collegiate career.
14. UCF Knights
UCF Head Football Coach Scott Frost during UCF Spring football practice at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Friday, April 11, 2025.
ESPN FPI rank: No. 41
ESPN FPI forecast: 7.1 – 4.9
Analysis: I am much lower on the Knights than most people in the industry. Nearly every position is new on Scott Frost’s squad, and that usually takes a few weeks to iron out.
13. West Virginia Mountaineers
Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez speaks with the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 55
ESPN FPI forecast: 5.5 – 6.5
Advertisement
Analysis: Another new head coach and another roster that has been completely overhauled. Running back Jahiem White will be one of the best backs in the Big 12, but everything else is a significant question mark. The Mountaineers are ones to watch for the future, however.
12. Houston Cougars
Oct 26, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Willie Fritz reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Utah Utes at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 69
ESPN FPI forecast: 5.1 – 6.9
Analysis: Texas A&M transfer Connor Weigman is the new quarterback in Houston, and I think that leads to a few more wins. They only won three conference games last season, so five wins seems possible.
11. Cincinnati Bearcats
Nov 23, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield looks on during the fourth quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 52
Advertisement
ESPN FPI forecast: 6.1 – 5.9
Analysis: A win against Nebraska could give Cincinnati significant momentum going into the season. The Bearcats, with quarterback Brendan Sorsby, can surprise some people this year.
10. BYU Cougars
Dec 28, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 22
ESPN FPI forecast: 8.7 – 3.6
Analysis: BYU has a fantastic defense, a great head coach, and some talented skill players on offense, so why isn’t it higher on these rankings? Well, the Cougars have true freshman Bear Bachmeier starting at quarterback, and that is just too big a question mark to rank them higher than No. 10.
Advertisement
ESPN FPI rank: No. 48
ESPN FPI forecast: 6.4 – 5.7
Analysis: The Buffs are a hard team to rank without seeing them on the field first. A new quarterback, a revamped offense, a new wide receiver, new running backs and several new defensive pieces. It is all still very talented, but they have yet to play together, and as of Monday morning, no starting quarterback has been announced.
8. Utah Utes
Nov 23, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham watches the game against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 45
ESPN FPI forecast: 6.3 – 5.8
Analysis: Utah should be back in the mix this season with a new offense led by Jason Beck and New Mexico transfer quarterback Devon Dampier. The Utes will go as far as Beck and Dampier can take them.
Advertisement
7. TCU Horned Frogs
Oct 26, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Josh Hoover (10) throws a pass against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 36
ESPN FPI forecast: 6.6 – 5.5
Analysis: Josh Hoover is one of the Big 12’s top quarterbacks, and the Horned Frogs returned several critical defensive pieces. They finished 2024 winning six of their final seven games, and that should continue into this year. A big opening test against North Carolina awaits them on Labor Day.
6. Kansas Jayhawks (1-0)
Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) throws the ball during the game between Fresno State and Kansas at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Aug. 23, 2025.
ESPN FPI rank: No. 25
ESPN FPI forecast: 8.5 – 3.8
Analysis: Lance Leipold’s crew can be a solid team in 2025, and that was evident this past weekend when the Jayhawks blew out Fresno State at home. Jalon Daniels having a career season would thrust Kansas into Big 12 title contention, if they aren’t already there.
Advertisement
5. Baylor Bears
Nov 30, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda looks on from the sideline against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 28
ESPN FPI forecast: 7.6 – 4.7
Analysis: My Big 12 sleeper pick is the Baylor Bears, and they even have enough to hold off Kansas, which won during Week 0, for a top 5 spot. The Bears boast a vastly underrated quarterback in Sawyer Robertson, alongside an elite running back in Bryson Washington. Add those two studs to a team with a Dave Aranda-coached defense, and you’ve got yourselves a team that should make some noise.
4. Kansas State Wildcats
Aug 23, 2025; Dublin, IRELAND; Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson scores a touchdown during the Aer Lingus Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO via Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 21
ESPN FPI forecast: 7.7 – 4.4
Analysis: A loss in Dublin to Iowa State did knock the Wildcats down a few places, but they still are one of the top teams in the Big 12. Avery Johnson played well, but K-State’s own mistakes, including fumbles and a muffed punt, ultimately got in the way. A loss hurts the season outlook a tad, but no one should be surprised to see the Wildcats on top come December.
Advertisement
3. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire looks on against Colorado in a Big 12 game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
ESPN FPI rank: No. 35
ESPN FPI forecast: 7.5 – 4.6
Analysis: I picked the Red Raiders to make it to the Big 12 title game, so they are in my top three heading into Week 1. Texas Tech owns the No. 2 transfer portal class in the country, and that is a big reason why they are a hot pick to win the conference. Behren Morton is a talented signal caller, but another step forward would go a long way in deciding how good this Texas Tech squad can be.
2. Iowa State Cyclones
Aug 23, 2025; Dublin, IRELAND; Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht holds up the trophy after defeating Kansas State during the Aer Lingus Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO via Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 31
ESPN FPI forecast: 8.0 – 4.2
Analysis: A win in Dublin moves the Cyclones above Texas Tech as my No. 2 team. I think Iowa State takes a step back from its record 11-win season a year ago, but perhaps that step is not as big as I originally predicted. Never doubt a Matt Campbell-coached team.
Advertisement
1. Arizona State Sun Devils
Nov 23, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham against the Brigham Young Cougars at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
ESPN FPI rank: No. 24
ESPN FPI forecast: 8.6 – 3.7
Analysis: The Sun Devils are my top team due to Kansas State’s loss to Iowa State in Week 0. ASU boasts an elite quarterback (Sam Leavitt), an elite receiver (Jordyn Tyson) and a talented head coach (Kenny Dillingham). Now, it just needs to prove that it can be a dominant team without running back Cam Skattebo.
Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Big 12 Power Rankings entering Week 1 of 2025 football season
