Big 12 Power Rankings after Week 4: Deion Sanders' Colorado mesmerizes with OT thriller while Baylor loses
The Big 12 certainly had a wild Week 4. Utah took down Oklahoma State, Kansas State faceplanted against BYU, and Colorado amazed.
But when it's time to untangle it all, the league is still hard to call. Here's where our power rankings land the teams of the Big 12 after Week 4.
Big 12 Power Rankings after Week 4
16. Houston
A 34-0 loss to Cincinnati is pretty embarrasing. This Houston team is by far the worst team in the league and looks destined for the league's cellar.
15. Baylor
Baylor probably isn't this bad, but anybody who watched the closing minutes of the Colorado game might argue. Yes, the Buffs did amazing things to grab the victory. On the other hand, Baylor looked like a team avoiding fundamental football like it was a hand grenade.
14. Kansas
The disappointment of the Big 12 season so far, the Jayhawks found a way to lose, and could well end up missing a bowl given this 1-3 start.
13. Arizona
Off this week, Arizona can still right the ship, but a team with a QB/WR combo like Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan should be much, much better than the Wildcats have been so far.
12. Arizona State
The Sun Devils came up short in a game with Texas Tech that they badly needed to win for their long-term bowl eligibility prospects. It's not the end of their season or anything, but this wasn't the statement ASU was looking to make.
11. TCU
The Horned Frogs got blasted by SMU to the tune of 66-42. This certainly wasn't the kind of game to establish 2-2 TCU as an upwardly mobile team in the Big 12.
10. West Virginia
West Virginia may have saved its season with a 32-28 win over Kansas. At 2-2, the Mountaineers have still been disappointing, but had they lost, WVU and Kansas likely flip in our power rankings.
9. Colorado
Colorado is 3-1 and was incredibly lucky to pull it out. This Buffalo defense still has a lot of work to do, and this seems likely to be the most exciting 6-6 or 7-5 team in America. But criticism is much easier to handle off a win.
8. Texas Tech
Tech took care of business over Arizona State. ESPN's FPI now projects the Red Raiders to win seven regular-season games, which is on the upper end of their potential.
7. Cincinnati
Speaking of potential, with an easy 34-0 win, Cincinnati improved to 3-1 and looks increasingly like one of the better teams in the Big 12. Scott Satterfield's just footing in on more solid ground by the week.
6. Kansas State
A potential league winner, Kansas State is certainly back to the drawing board after a 38-9 spanking from BYU. Until the passing game gets better, alleged dual-threat QB Avery Johnson is pretty much a single threat.
5. BYU
Meanwhile, the Cougars made a massive statement in beating down the Wildcats. After a 4-0 start, ESPN gives the Cougars a 12% chance of making the College Football Playoff.
4. Oklahoma State
OSU's 22-19 loss to Utah looks better than it was, considering that the game was 22-3 with six minutes to play and that Utah won without its starting QB. The Cowboy offense (and particularly Ollie Gordon on the ground) have definitely underwhelmed.
3. Iowa State
An easy 52-7 win over Arkansas State didn't prove much, but a 3-0 Iowa State team is exactly as solid as expected. ESPN gives them a 16% chacnce of pulling a Playoff bid.
2. UCF
UCF was off this week, but in a league full of possible title winners falling on their own feet, that wasn't a bad thing. The 3-0 Golden Knights are actually ESPN's favorite to win the league, with a 34% chance to make the Playoff.
1.Utah
The Utes haven't quite clicked yet, but they keep winning. At 4-0, the nation's No. 10 team just keeps rolling. If the team can ever get healthy and assembled, Utah remains the Big 12 power.
What do you think of the teams of the Big 12 this week? Share your opinions in our comments section below!