The Big 12 power rankings are published weekly by the Hotline throughout the regular season. They are the result of a deep dive into the analytics, an assessment of subjective factors and, when necessary, flips of the coin. No conference has more parity. The parity leads to chaos, and the chaos creates an endlessly compelling product that is not always easy to unscramble.

(Here are last week’s rankings.)

The Big 12 is close to reaching a benchmark that could prove quite valuable months from now, when the TV talking heads are loudest and the College Football Playoff selection committee gets busy.

To this point, the conference is 6-6 against opponents from the ACC, Big Ten and SEC, with two games remaining. Those matchups come this weekend when TCU hosts SMU and UCF welcomes North Carolina.

Two wins would secure a winning record against Power Four opponents; one would ensure a .500 mark. The former would constitute a bonus while the latter is strongly advised.

The Big 12’s resume will get picked apart by the selection committee and the viewing public. A losing record in intra-Power Four competition undoubtedly would be used against the conference, particularly by the SEC’s media machinery, to undermine whichever CFP at-large candidates emerge.

There’s an added component to consider: The Big Ten is in jeopardy of finishing under .500 against power conference opponents.

After an underwhelming performance thus far, the Big Ten is 5-5 against the ACC, Big 12 and SEC with two games left: Purdue visits Notre Dame this weekend and USC makes the trek to South Bend next month.

One loss seems likely; two losses, entirely possible.

If November arrives and the CFP rankings begin their weekly rollout, the Big 12 would have a major talking point available if it can claim a better winning percentage against power conference opponents than the Big Ten.

Even owning the same winning percentage as the Big Ten would offer a compelling narrative in the public and private debates over at-large access to the CFP.

Put another way: The Texas Tech-Utah showdown Saturday on Big Noon is not the most important game of the week for the Big 12. Its twin showings against North Carolina and SMU will have a more lasting impact.

To the power rankings …

All times Pacific

1. Iowa State (4-0/1-0)

Result: won at Arkansas State 24-16
Next up: idle
Comment: Road games in Sun Belt country are always more difficult than they appear, which is reason numero uno that Big 12 teams should not schedule them ever again. That said, it’s the midpoint of September, and the Cyclones have four wins. Impressive. (Previous: 1)

2. Utah (3-0)

Result: won at Wyoming 31-6
Next up: vs. Texas Tech (9 a.m. on Fox)
Comment: The chance to appear on Big Noon is well worth any hassles (for the Utes or their fans) associated with the 10 a.m. local kickoff. As we see the schedule, they might not have many opportunities to appear on over-the-air TV in the second half of the season. (Previous: 2)

3. Texas Tech (3-0)

Result: beat Oregon State 45-14
Next up: at Utah (9 a.m. on Fox)
Comment: The Red Raiders lead the nation in scoring (58 points per game) and are second in both passing and total offense. That’s partly the result of an awful schedule, but they possess several high-level playmakers, too. Should be a stellar matchup with Utah’s defense that will hinge, as always, on the play at the line of scrimmage. (Previous: 3)

4. TCU (2-0)

Result: beat Abilene Christian 42-21
Next up: vs. SMU (9 a.m. on ESPN2)
Comment: North Carolina has shown enough life in recent weeks for us to give the Horned Frogs a bit more credit for the season-opening victory. (Previous: 5)

5. Arizona State (2-1)

Result: beat Texas State 34-15
Next up: at Baylor (4:30 p.m. on Fox)
Comment: The Sun Devils played a version of their Week 4 trip to Waco at this time last year — it was in Lubbock — and trailed throughout. We should have a first-rate benchmark available at the close of business Saturday evening. (Previous: 6)

6. Baylor (2-1)

Result: beat Samford 45-7
Next up: vs. Arizona State (4:30 p.m. on Fox)
Comment: Will the Bears perform Saturday evening like they did for the first 50 minutes at SMU or like they did for the last 10 minutes, plus overtime? If it’s the former, a decisive loss will follow. (Previous: 4)

7. Houston (3-0/1-0)

Result: beat Colorado 36-20
Next up: idle
Comment: The Hotline programmed its supercomputer to run 10,000 simulations of Houston’s schedule, and it spit out seven wins (or more) 5,001 times. Of those, 10 scenarios included a Big 12 title. (Previous: 8)

8. Brigham Young (2-0)

Result: did not play
Next up: at East Carolina (4:30 p.m. on ESPN2)
Comment: If it feels like the Cougars’ season hasn’t really started — and won’t for two more weeks, when they visit Colorado — well, you are more than welcome to join our little club. (Previous: 7)

9. Arizona (3-0)

Result: beat Kansas State 23-17
Next up: idle
Comment: Typically, hot teams want to keep playing. But we see the bye as well timed for the Wildcats in that it allows them to recalibrate emotionally and fix their numerous flaws (hello, offensive line) before a trip to Ames that will leave every glitch exposed. (Previous: 9)

10. Kansas (2-1)

Result: did not play
Next up: vs. West Virginia (3 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: Our advice to the Jayhawks: Secure the six wins needed for a bowl bid sooner than later, because the finishing stretch is brutal. They visit Arizona and Iowa State, then close with Utah. (Previous: 11)

11. Cincinnati (2-1)

Result: beat Northwestern State 70-0
Next up: idle
Comment: We can see it now: Cincinnati staggers through the second half of the season, and Scott Satterfield is dismissed. Meanwhile, Wisconsin struggles, Luke Fickell is axed, and calls emerge for a reunion between Fickell and the Bearcats. (Previous: 12)

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12. Colorado (1-2/0-1)

Result: lost at Houston 36-20
Next up: vs. Wyoming (7:15 p.m. on ESPN)
Comment: Not difficult to envision CU games that have been on broadcast and cable networks in the past two years ending up on streaming later this season if the losses mount. (Previous: 10)

13. UCF (2-0)

Result: did not play
Next up: vs. North Carolina (12:30 p.m. on Fox)
Comment: The Tar Heels offer Scott Frost a chance to collect a signature win for his second stint. Sure, it would come against an opponent that lost to TCU by five touchdowns, but who’s counting? (Previous: 13)

14. West Virginia (2-1)

Result: beat Pittsburgh 31-24
Next up: at Kansas (3 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: From 40,000 feet, we’d argue the loss to Ohio does more to undercut the Big 12’s collective resume that will inform the playoff process than the win over Pittsburgh does to bolster the conference. (Previous: 15)

15. Kansas State (1-3/0-1)

Result: lost at Arizona 23-17
Next up: idle
Comment: We have detected concern in the Kansas State social media space about the Wildcats becoming this year’s version of Oklahoma State and, well, yeah. We can see that. We can definitely see that. (Previous: 14)

16. Oklahoma State (1-1)

Result: did not play
Next up: vs. Tulsa (Friday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN)
Comment: The bye week has come and gone without a coaching change in Stillwater. Then again, there’s another break in the schedule, in early November. So yes, we’re saying there’s a chance. (Previous: 16)

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