​So why exactly were two Big 12 teams from Arizona and Kansas playing a college football game in London in Week 3? And why was the biggest game of the season in the conference played on a Friday night? These are questions that don’t have answers. But regardless, the Big 12 continues to provide us with the most entertaining football on Earth. MORE: College Football risers & fallers after Week 310. CincinnatiCincinnati Bearcats quarterback JC French IV (4) throws a pass in the first quarter of the football game between Cincinnati Bearcats and Miami RedHawks at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)The Bearcats fall one spot this week, but they almost fell off the list entirely. The Bearcats trailed Miami (Ohio) 28-7 at the half, and were able to rally to win 35-31. Disaster averted. 9. West VirginiaThe Mountaineers didn’t really do a whole lot to impress in Week 1, with a 7-point victory over Coastal Carolina. But in Week 3, Michael Hawkins and Cam Cook ran wild, each rushing for 123 yards, and West Virginia defeated Virginia 38-27. If this is a sign of things to come, West Virginia is going to be able to run on anyone in the Big 12. 8. TCUIt was just a ho-hum 31-7 victory over Arkansas State in Week 3, but the Horned Frogs continue to leave us breadcrumbs that they are turning the corner. Jaden Craig topped 300 passing yards, and Ed Small continued his breakout season by going 7-164-1. 7. Kansas StateKansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) throws a pass during the game against Nicholls Colonels inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.This is a case of the box score not telling the whole story. According to the box score, Avery Johnson dominated with 379 total yards. But watching the game revealed that Johnson is still below average in terms of accuracy and decision-making in the pocket, and it gives me pause before picking this team against the upper echelon of the Big 12. 6. Arizona StateIt’s only fitting that the London game featured not one, but two return touchdowns. In a strange football game, Arizona State beat Kansas without topping 100 passing yards. The lack of total offense was helped by the fact that they didn’t turn the ball over, which was their achilles heel in Week 2 against Texas A&M. 5. Oklahoma StateThe Cowboys get to move up a spot this week, not because their 59-0 win over Murray State was anything impressive, but because some other teams around them had to move down. We have seen the ceiling for this team — if they can sustain it, they can reach the Conference Championship game. 4. HoustonIt’s hard to knock Houston too far down after a 28-26 loss to Texas Tech. They were literal inches away from tying the game on a two-point conversion with under a minute remaining. It was not a bad showing, but not quite good enough to get the job done. It would require some help, but we could still see this team reach