The Big 12 men’s basketball season has four more games to go and we’re starting to see some real separation at the top of the league.
A Big 12 regular season title race that some thought might go down to the wire looks like it could be decided this week. Houston is the team to beat. Realistically, only one team has a chance to catch them, and it’s only because Texas Tech plays the Cougars on Monday.
There is plenty else to decide, though.
Big 12 Men’s Basketball Power Rankings: BYU Surges as the Stretch Run Begins
Last updated: February 23, 2025 | 9:33 PM
Image – Feb. 11, 2025 – Morgantown, WV: BYU guard Egor Demin (3) celebrates after a hard-fought win over the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum
With just four games remaining in the Big 12 regular season, the race for the top spot is heating up — and while Houston is holding strong at No. 1, one team is making a fast and impressive climb: BYU.
This week’s Big 12 Power Rankings reflect some serious shifts in momentum as we enter the final stretch before the conference tournament in Kansas City. From Houston’s dominance to BYU’s recent surge, the top half of the conference is separating itself. Meanwhile, the middle and lower tiers are still trying to make sense of their postseason hopes.
Let’s take a closer look at the full updated rankings:
No. 1 Houston (23-4, 15-1) – Last Week: 1
The Cougars remain the class of the Big 12. They’ve proven week in and week out they can beat anyone in the country. With a solid lead in the standings and one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, Houston is not just eyeing a conference title — they’re focused on a deep March Madness run.
No. 2 Texas Tech (21-6, 12-4) – Last Week: 2
The Red Raiders dropped a game to TCU but bounced back strong. Monday’s showdown with Houston is the biggest game left on their regular season schedule and could shake up the title race if they pull off the upset.
No. 3 Iowa State (21-6, 11-5) – Last Week: 3
Despite being short-handed, the Cyclones fought hard in a loss to Houston. That grit keeps them steady in the rankings and solidly in the national conversation.
No. 4 BYU (19-8, 10-6) – Last Week: 7
No team in the Big 12 is hotter than BYU right now. The Cougars have won four straight, including statement wins over Kansas and Arizona. Under first-year head coach Kevin Young and with breakout star Egor Demin leading the way, they’re turning heads as March approaches.
No. 5 Arizona (18-9, 12-4) – Last Week: 4
The Wildcats went 1-1 and dropped just one spot. Their ceiling remains high, but they’ll need more consistency down the stretch to hold off rising programs like BYU.
No. 6 Kansas (17-8, 8-6) – Last Week: 6
Kansas continues to ride a rollercoaster season. Their blowout win over Oklahoma State was impressive, but the Jayhawks haven’t found much consistency in Big 12 play.
No. 7 TCU (15-12, 8-8) – Last Week: 9
The Horned Frogs climb the rankings thanks to a key win over Texas Tech. They’ll need to keep the momentum going if they want a shot at sneaking into the NCAA Tournament.
No. 8 Baylor (16-11, 8-8) – Last Week: 5
It was a rough week for Baylor. A home loss to Arizona is understandable, but a defeat at the hands of Colorado? That’s unacceptable. Still, the Bears stay ahead of the lower pack — for now.
No. 9 West Virginia (16-11, 7-9) – Last Week: 10
The Mountaineers benefit from a week where few teams below them did anything to move up. They’re not overly impressive, but they remain competitive in most matchups.
No. 10 Utah (15-12, 7-9) – Last Week: 11
Utah moves up a spot after recent solid performances. While their loss to UCF was disappointing, wins over Kansas and Kansas State give them a little momentum.
No. 11 Cincinnati (16-11, 6-10) – Last Week: 12
The Bearcats’ win over TCU gives them a slight bump. They still have work to do, but .500 in conference play isn’t completely out of reach.
No. 12 Kansas State (13-14, 7-9) – Last Week: 8
Kansas State is sliding fast. Once a hopeful tournament team, the Wildcats are now on the outside looking in. Their offense has gone cold, and time is running out.
No. 13 UCF (14-13, 5-11) – Last Week: 13
No. 14 Oklahoma State (13-14, 5-11) – Last Week: 14
No. 15 Arizona State (13-14, 4-12) – Last Week: 15
No. 16 Colorado (11-16, 2-14) – Last Week: 16
The bottom four remains unchanged. Truthfully, any of these teams could beat each other in a round-robin and go 2-2. It’s been that kind of year.
Our Heartland College Sports men’s power rankings will come out every Monday until we get to the conference tournament in Kansas City.
Let’s dig in.
No. 1 Houston (23-4, 15-1; Last Ranking: 1)
I mean, if you’re not a believer at this point, I can’t help you. Houston is the Big 12’s best chance to win a national title for the second time in four years.
No. 2 Texas Tech (21-6, 12-4; Last Ranking: No. 2)
The Red Raiders split for the week. I can’t punish them too much for the loss to TCU. It’s a Big 12 road thing.
No. 3 Iowa State (21-6, 11-5; Last Ranking: 3)
The Iowa State Cyclones went 1-1 for the week and showed some real guts short-handed against Houston. They’ll hold steady.
No. 4 BYU (19-8, 10-6; Last Ranking: No. 7)
Outside of Houston, BYU is the hottest team in the conference. The Cougars should be ranked on Monday.
No. 5 Arizona (18-9, 12-4; Last Ranking: No. 4)
Arizona only drops one spot after a 1-1 week. That says a lot more about the teams behind them than the Wildcats.
Related: Five Biggest Takeaways From Saturday’s Big 12 Basketball Games
No. 6 Kansas (17-8, 8-6, Last Ranking: 6)
I guess? I mean, yeah beating Oklahoma State like a drum looked like fun, but one game doesn’t fix what ails this team.
No. 7 TCU (15-12, 8-8; Last Ranking: No. 9)
This is more about the win over Texas Tech than the loss to Cincinnati. The Horned Frogs make their last stand for the NCAA Tournament this week at West Virginia.
No. 8 Baylor (16-11, 8-8; Last Ranking: 5)
Losing at home to Arizona? Forgivable. Losing on the road to one-win Colorado? Absolutely not. Still, the Bears are better than everyone below them.
No. 9 West Virginia (16-11, 7-9; Last Ranking: No. 10)
I don’t think the Mountaineers really deserve to be this high, if we’re being honest. But they benefit from a week where only Houston and BYU were truly dominant.
No. 10 Utah (15-12, 7-9; Last Ranking: No. 11)
I’m not 100% sure Utah deserves to be here, either. But the cross-country loss to UCF is tempered by the recent wins over Kansas and Kansas State.
No. 11 Cincinnati (16-11, 6-10; Last Ranking: No. 12)
A little recency bias with the win over TCU. But the Bearcats still have their moments — and a small chance at a .500 league season.
No. 12 Kansas State (13-14, 7-9; Last Ranking: No. 8)
Remember when we thought these guys might be NCAA Tournament-bound? Good times. It’s been a stinky 10 days for the Wildcats.
No. 13 UCF (14-13, 5-11; Last Ranking: No. 13)
No. 14 Oklahoma State (13-14, 5-11; Last Ranking: No. 14)
No. 15 Arizona State (13-14, 4-12; Last Ranking: No. 15)
No. 16 Colorado (11-16, 2-14; Last Ranking: No. 16)
I didn’t move the final four spots because, if we’re being brutally honest, we could stick these four teams in a round-robin format and they would each go 2-2.
You can find Matthew Pontins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
