BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS: BYU Climbs, Utah Soars, Texas Tech Holds, Iowa State Elite, West Virginia Meh

The Big 12 proved its status as one of college football's most competitive and volatile leagues this weekend, featuring a slate packed with razor-thin margins, major comebacks, and immediate shake-ups to the conference hierarchy.The most intense competition came in the two one-score thrillers that defined the Saturday atmosphere. The rivalry game between No. 25 BYU and Colorado went down to the wire, with the Cougars just holding on for a 24-21 victory in a game that was close throughout, highlighting the difficulty of securing a win in the Big 12's new landscape. Even more dramatic was the finish in Lawrence, where newcomer Cincinnati secured a stunning road win against Kansas with a late touchdown drive, topping the Jayhawks 37-34.Friday night set the tone, with Arizona State mounting a massive comeback from a 17-0 deficit to edge out TCU 27-24, proving that no lead is safe in the conference. Another major test of competitiveness came from the Kansas State Wildcats, who defeated previously undefeated UCF 34-20 in a game that saw K-State pull away late, but only after a tense battle for control in the third quarter.While some games resulted in larger margins, such as No. 14 Iowa State's impressive 39-14 win over Arizona and Utah's 48-14 bounce-back against West Virginia, the overall narrative was one of parity. The close finishes and significant comebacks underscored the league's competitive balance, where every week presents a legitimate challenge, and the race for the Big 12 Championship is truly wide open. This weekend emphatically showed that in the new Big 12, every victory must be earned.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYEnough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today. SquareTo learn more, go support your favorite neighborhood spot and see what Square has been up to in your neck of the woods. And then if you have extra time, check out https://square.com/go/lockedoncollegePelotonLet yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com. QuoSee why over 90,000 businesses trust Quo, formerly OpenPhone. Get started free and get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.Quo.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. DoorDashWith DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18.MazdaIt’s the small details that make the big plays. And just like there’s more to every player, there’s more to a Mazda vehicle. Mazda. Move and Be Moved. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at https://www.monarchmoney.com/lockedoncollege for 50% off your first year.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)