Big 12 power rankings after Week 2: Red Raiders continue to plummet

The college football season is still in its infancy. However, after two weeks, we have an idea of how the Big 12 might shake out.

Right now, this looks like a one-bid league. That is because a number of the conference's contenders have struggled quite a bit in their quest to prove that they might deserve an at-large bid when the College Football Playoff spots are handed out.

So with that in mind, let's jump into our Big 12 power rankings. And we start at the bottom with the teams that appear to have little hope of winning the league. Unfortunately, that group is where our beloved Red Raiders now sit.

Week 2 result: 16-12 loss to No. 15 Oklahoma

The Cougars showed some pride and put up a fight in Norman, Oklahoma in week two. However, it wasn't enough as they fell to a Sooner team that looked uninterested in playing that game.

Thus far, Houston is putting up just 9.5 points per game. What's more, QB Donovan Smith has thrown for just 395 yards with one touchdown and three picks in two games.

In the next two weeks, the Cougars host Rice and travel to Cincinnati so they could get back on track. But for right now, they look like the worst team in the Big 12.

Week 2 result: 28-27 loss to Pitt

Cincinnati has to be down this week after blowing a 27-6 lead late in the third quarter to fall to Pitt at home in week two. The Panthers scored 22 unanswered points to stun the Bearcats and drop them to 1-1 on the year.

The good news for the Bearcats is that their next three games are winnable with a trip to Miami (OH), a home game against Houston, and a road trip to Lubbock. Still, Cincinnati will regret letting Pitt off the hook in week three.

Week two result: 38-16 loss to Washington State

The Red Raiders have looked awful in each of the first two games this year. Beating FCS opponent ACU in OT in the first week of the season was only slightly better than falling to Washington State on the road in a game that Tech was never in after the first quarter.

QB Behren Morton was dreadful in week two completing just 58.6% of his passes against Washington State. What's more, the Red Raiders are banged up after playing without star RB Tahj Brooks in Pullman and then seeing the left side of their starting offensive line leave that game with what looked like serious injuries.

Wee 2 result: 23-12 loss to Utah

This weekend, Baylor had a golden opportunity to stun No. 11 Utah when the Utes lost starting QB Cam Rising for half of the game with a hand injury. However, the Baylor offense could muster only 12 points and 223 yards of total offense in a losing effort.

Dave Aranda's seat continues to grow hotter in Waco with each passing loss. The next three games (at home vs. Air Force, at Colorado, and at home vs. BYU) will be massively important for the embattled head coach.

Week 2 result: 28-10 loss to Nebraska

After falling to Nebraska on national television in prime time (pun intended), Colorado's pride has taken a huge hit. The Buffaloes were never in the game against their rivals and everyone who watched that game knows that the final score is not indicative of how dominant the Cornhuskers were.

Colorado looks like a bad team across that board and their two future NFL Draft picks are not good enough to make up for their team's lack of legitimate talent elsewhere on the roster. Now, the question in Boulder is whether or not Deion Sanders can simply get his team to a bowl game. After what we've seen through two games, that looks like a tough hill to climb.

Week 2 result: 30-23 win vs. Mississippi State

After taking down Mississippi State in Tempe, Arizona this week, there is life in the Arizona State Wildcats. They are now 2-0 and they face winnable games against Texas State and Texas Tech in their next two outings.

Sure, Mississippi State is one of the worst teams in the SEC and sure, Arizona State had to hold on for dear life against the Bulldogs after jumping out to a 30-0 lead. Still, after a 3-9 season a year ago, Kenny Dillingham seems to have his program pointed north early in 2024.

Week 2 result: 45-0 win over Long Island

The TCU Horned Frogs still remain a bit of a mystery in the Big 12. If you squint, you can see a pretty good team in Fort Worth.

However, after a close win over Stanford in week one and a dismantling of FCS opponent Long Island in week two, Sonny Dykes team has yet to pick up a win against a decent team. They will get their shot to do that this weekend when they host UCF.

Wee 2 result: 18-15 win over SMU

Though their 18-15 win at SMU was far from being beautiful, BYU's week-two victory was an important one for the Big 12. That's because it was a road win at an ACC opponent in SMU that many people thought might be a dark-horse candidate to win that conference.

Now, the Cougars head to Wyoming, which is a place that Texas Tech fans know can be tough to survive. If BYU can make it to 3-0 before Big 12 play, many people will be surprised given that prior to the season BYU was expected to finish near the bottom of the conference.

Wee 2 result: 23-17 loss to Illinois

Once again, Kansas has proven that its preseason hype was unwarranted. Falling 23-17 at Illinois is not what a Big 12 title contender should ever do but that is what the Jayhawks put forth in week two.

Now, Kansas hosts a dangerous UNLV team that already owns a win over a Big 12 team this year (though it was against Houston). If the Jayhawks want to prove they are still a conference contender, they need to have a strong showing in week three before opening Big 12 play at West Virginia.

Week 2 result: 45-14 win over Sam Houston

Yes, UCF is 2-0. However, the Knights own what is likely the worst 2-0 record of any Power 4 team with wins over New Hampshire and Sam Houston.

This week, business picks up for UCF thanks to a road trip to TCU. The Knights hope to get off to a strong start in Big 12 play after going just 3-6 in league play a year ago.

Week 2 result: 49-14 win over Albany

West Virginia might be a bit too high in this ranking because no one seems to be punishing them for their week-one blowout home loss to Penn State. They did rebound from that awful showing to take out some frustrations on Albany in week two, though.

Regardless, there is plenty that head coach Neal Brown's team must prove this year. The next six games (at Pitt, home vs. Kansas, at Oklahoma State, at home vs. Iowa State, at home vs. Kansas State, and at Arizona) will be a gauntlet for the Mountaineers and after that, we'll know for certain what WVU is.

Wee 2 result: 22-10 over Northern Arizona

In each of Arizona's two wins this year, the Wildcats have played with their food. They let New Mexico hang around through the first half in week one and they managed just a 12-point win over Northern Arizona this past weekend.

The Wildcats will now turn their attention to a Friday night non-conference top-25 showdown with No. 14 Kansas State. If the Wildcats can pick up that critical road win, they will show that they are truly a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12.

Week 2 result: 34-27 win at Tulane

Picking up a road win at Tulane is usually something to be proud of. That's why Kansas State is not apologizing for needing a late defensive touchdown to beat the Green Wave in week two.

Now, they have a chance to stake their claim as a Big 12 contender by hosting Arizona. The winner of that game will be one of the favorites to play in the conference title game.

Week 2 result: 39-31 Double-OT win over Arkansas

Though the Cowboys beat an SEC team on Saturday, the fact that a rebuilding team in Arkansas took them to double-OT is not a great sign. In fact, given that Oklahoma State trailed that game 21-7 at one point shows just how fortunate Mike Gundy's team was.

Now, the Cowboys host Tulsa before opening Big 12 play by hosting Utah. That game will be a defacto Big 12 playoff game with the winner emerging as one of the biggest threats to win the conference.

Wee 2 result: 20-19 win over Iowa

Iowa State fans have to be over the moon after seeing their team pick up a road win at rival No. 21 Iowa. That's a series that hasn't been too kind to the Cyclones over the years so to prevail in Iowa City, especially after being down multiple scores at halftime, was a huge step forward for head coach Matt Campbell's program.

ISU now has three very winnable games coming up next. Hosting Arkansas State and Baylor with a trip to Houston sandwiched in between will give the Cyclones an opportunity to get off to a great start in 2024.

Week 2 result: 23-12 win over Baylor

Utah survived a tough break when starting QB Cam Rising injured his throwing hand in the middle of this past week's non-conference win over Baylor. Had Rising not left that game, the Utes would have blown the Bears out.

Now, the Utes have one final tuneup (at Utah State) before opening Big 12 play with a tremendously tough pair of games. Traveling to No. 13 Oklahoma State and hosting No. 20 Arizona will be the tougest stretch of the year for Utah and will provide them a stiff welcome to the Big 12.