Here is BYU and the big 12

13. Utah (4-0)

SP+ and FPI rankings: 13th and 22nd

SP+ strength of schedule to date: 71st

What the Utes did in Week 4: def. Oklahoma State 22-19

Last week's ranking: 18th

Why they're ranked here: Facing a tough road trip to Stillwater without injured quarterback Cam Rising, Utah played its most impressive defensive game in quite a while. The Utes charged to a 22-3 lead, outgaining the Cowboys by a 368-156 margin through three quarters and getting OSU quarterback Alan Bowman benched. (He returned when his backup fared even worse.) The Pokes made a late charge, but Utah survived and seized early control of the Big 12 race in the process.

Almost half of Utah's opponents' plays (45.4%) have gained zero or fewer yards this season. If Rising is ever 100% again — it's always something — this team has a top-10 ceiling.

Next test: Week 8 vs. TCU

14. UCF (3-0)

SP+ and FPI rankings: 29th and 16th

SP+ strength of schedule to date: 91st

What the Knights did in Week 4: bye

Last week's ranking: 16th

Why they're ranked here: Granted, TCU's blowout loss to rival SMU didn't do anything for UCF's résumé — the Knights' only win over an SP+ top-90 team was a 1-pointer against the Horned Frogs — but this is still a team with absurd offensive potential. The Knights are leading the nation in rushing at the moment, ahead of two thriving service academy teams (Army and Navy) and the Ashton Jeanty-led Boise State attack, and KJ Jefferson is averaging 9.9 yards per dropback too. The pass defense is a liability, to put it politely, but the ceiling is high in Orlando.

Next test: Week 6 at Florida

15. Iowa State (3-0)

SP+ and FPI rankings: 26th and 25th

SP+ strength of schedule to date: 66th

What the Cyclones did in Week 4: def. Arkansas State 52-7

Last week's ranking: 22nd

Why they're ranked here: The Cyclones opened things up a bit in Week 4; after winning a pair of Midwest-flavored rock fights against North Dakota (21-3) and Iowa (20-19), ISU cruised to a 52-7 win over Arkansas State. An experienced defense appears as legit as ever — especially a pass defense that ranks fifth in yards allowed per dropback and sixth in interception rate — and the run game perked up a bit as well. Quarterback Rocco Becht brings a fascinating combination of explosiveness (13.8 yards per completion) and escapability (1.3% sack rate) to the table, and per SP+ Iowa State is now the No. 2 favorite in the Big 12.

Next test: Week 6 vs. Baylor

19. BYU (4-0)

SP+ and FPI rankings: 42nd and 37th

SP+ strength of schedule to date: 47th

What the Cougars did in Week 4: def. Kansas State 38-9

Last week's ranking: 31st

Why they're ranked here: Over the past three seasons, BYU's arc hasn't been rise-and-fall so much as just ... fall.

2020: fourth in SP+ (ninth on offense, fourth on defense)

2021: 26th in SP+ (28th offense, 32nd defense)

2022: 66th in SP+ (47th offense, 76th defense)

2023: 76th in SP+ (75th offense, 94th defense)

That's three straight years of regression on both sides of the ball. The offense isn't trustworthy this year, but the defense has rebounded with vengeance, especially against the pass. The Cougars held Kansas State to 5.1 yards per play and forced a trio of turnovers to turn a tight game into a blowout win. A couple more wins like that, and they'll reach "Big 12 contender" status.

Next test: Week 5 at Baylor