Week 9 Big 12 football power rankings: BYU and Iowa State escape home upsets

Big 12, you scare me. From top to bottom, any team is in contention to take down anybody--and that includes Cincinnati and Houston! The BYU Cougars and Iowa State Cyclones stand at the top of the conference; no one is going to argue with that fact as these two programs are the only unbeaten squads remaining, but each received a major scare at the hands of bottom-half teams in these power rankings.

It's chaos, it's havoc, and it's Big 12 football. And while SEC and Big 10 teams are busy taking each other down to be praised for parity, the Big 12 Conference is shunned for its competitive nature. If a lower-level team like UCF stands toe-to-toe with Iowa State, the Cyclones are seen as weak. But when Georgia takes down the Texas Longhorns, suddenly their conference receives an abundance of praise in the form of ranking approval.

The Big 12 is a competitive and highly talented league, and I'm tired of pretending it's not.

But as the dust settles on week 8 and we all scan the landscape in search of understanding, let me take you through this week's Big 12 power rankings.

Week 9 Big 12 Conference Power Rankings

1. BYU Cougars | 7-0 (4-0 Big 12)

BYU had a wake-up call against Ollie Gordon and Oklahoma State on Friday night. In a game the Cougars were supposed to win comfortably, this game came down to the wire.

Thanks to the heroics of Jake Retzlaff and Darius Lassiter, BYU remains unbeaten, but the Cougars will need to tighten up some screws if they want to avoid falling apart.

2. Iowa State Cyclones | 7-0 (4-0 Big 12)

The Cyclones are still the Big 12's leading playoff contender, but a late-night scare from Central Florida suddenly leaves onlookers with a stench of mortality emanating from Matt Campbell's sideline.

A win is a win, and Iowa State proved they can pull out ahead in close games. But with 5 more games to complete, the Cyclones will need a statement win to build confidence.

3. Kansas State Wildcats | 6-1 (3-1 Big 12)

Kansas State is still a highly talented and well-coached football team, with only one slip-up on the season. A big win against upset-minded West Virginia was a terrific step in the right direction, and the Wildcats should have no trouble maintaining this trajectory through the rest of the season.

4. Colorado Buffaloes | 5-2 (3-1 Big 12)

With a dominant win over Noah Fifita and the Arizona Wildcats, Coach Prime's Buffs have already surpassed last season's win total. Though they still haven't beaten one of the Big 12's elite, they took K-State to the very end of last week's contest.

This looks like a brand-new Colorado.

5. Cincinnati Bearcats | 5-2 (3-1 Big 12)

Somebody forgot to tell Cincinnati that they aren't supposed to be winning Big 12 matchups--especially not against surging teams like Arizona State. The Bearcats are cooking, and could be one of many dangerous teams that sneak up on a contender (watch your back, Colorado).

6. TCU Horned Frogs | 4-3 (2-2 Big 12)

Are the Horned Frogs one of the best teams in the Big 12? No, not by a while, but a win at Utah is not easy--even in a down season like this--so here's some praise, TCU. Don't spend it all in one place.

7. West Virginia Mountaineers | 3-4 (2-2 Big 12)

Ok, so you lost to Kansas State--big whoop. The Mountaineers are a dangerous football team and they'll have a chance to hop right back up with a win over Arizona this upcoming weekend.

8. Arizona State Sun Devils | 5-2 (2-2 Big 12)

I can't place this team for the life of me. One week, they look like world-beaters, and the next they could lose to anybody. Maybe a win over Utah isn't as impressive as we thought, but the Sun Devils can still get something out of this season if they can learn and move forward.

9. UCF Knights | 3-4 (1-3 Big 12)

The Knights collapsed down the stretch in their efforts to take down the Iowa State Cyclones, and should be respected for the result, though it wasn't the one they wanted. Not to fear, though, as their new QB can throw the ball downfield and will have another shot at a Big 12 giant as BYU comes to town on Saturday.

10. Baylor Bears | 3-4 (1-3 Big 12)

So you won a Big 12 game. Good for you! Last week, the Bears looked dead in the water, but a blowout win over Texas Tech should cool down Dave Aranda's seat--even if only a little bit.

11. Texas Tech Red Raiders | 5-2 (3-1 Big 12)

Just as you thought the Red Raiders could get something going to cook up a dark horse championship run, they fell to the Baylor Bears in blowout fashion. The season isn't over, and this is only their first conference loss, but it's a major shot to Tech's confidence.

12. Kansas Jayhawks | 2-5 (1-3 Big 12)

Kansas picked themselves up and took down the Big 12's weakest link in Houston. An impressive, resume-boosting win? No. But at this point in the season, any positive momentum is a big deal for the Jayhawks.

13. Arizona Wildcats | 3-4 (1-3 Big 12)

As quickly as the Wildcats inspired some hope behind their win over Utah, we've learned that both Utah and Arizona are absolutely hopeless when it comes to championship contention.

14. Utah Utes | 3-4 (1-3 Big 12)

Life comes at you fast, eh, Utah? For a team that was supposed to dominate their new conference, the Utes are struggling just to put points on the board. A home loss to TCU doesn't inspire confidence in the Utes' ability to turn this season around, and even OC Andy Ludwig has officially jumped ship.

Utah seriously may not win another game this season if something doesn't change.

15. Houston Cougars | 2-5 (1-3 Big 12)

Sure, you lost to Kansas, but having 2 wins at this point in the season is probably more than anyone could have foreseen. So congratulations, I suppose?

16. Oklahoma State Cowboys | 3-4 (0-4 Big 12)

The only team in the conference that has yet to beat a Big 12 team is the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and my preseason pick to win the conference now sits at the bottom of the standings.

It's a cruel fate to almost beat the top team in these power rankings and still finish dead last at week's end.