Big 12 Conference Football Power Rankings
We're officially a month into the college football season after the wild and crazy fourth week of the season. It's time to reveal the Big 12 Conference Power Rankings now that every school in the league has played at least three games.
1. TCU Horned Frogs (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)
Last week: defeated Texas Tech 55-52
This week: at home against Texas October 3rd, 11 a.m. ABC
The Horned Frogs survived a 55-52 shootout in Lubbock against a scrappy Texas Tech team. The Frogs still have a lot of questions with their numerous injuries on defense and a tough schedule remaining with road games at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Baylor at home all in November.
2. Baylor Bears (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week: defeated Rice 70-17
This week: against Texas Tech in Arlington
Baylor completed the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 70-17 thrashing of the Rice Owls in Waco. Baylor played their first complete game of the season against the Owls after struggling with SMU on the road and hosting FCS newcomer Lamar. Baylor will need to play a complete game to beat Texas Tech next week.
3. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week: Bye week, defeated Tulsa 52-38 on September 19.
This week: hosting West Virginia, 11 a.m. on ABC
The Sooners took a week off before entering Big 12 Conference play before they host the West Virginia Mountaineers. Baker Mayfield has played well this season with the comeback against Tennessee on the road and in the 52-38 shootout over Tulsa. Mayfield has thrown for nearly 1100 yards and ten touchdowns with only two interceptions so far and looks to be an early candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-1, 0-1 Big 12)
Last week: lost to TCU 55-52
This week: against Baylor in Arlington, 2:30 p.m. ABC
The Red Raiders dropped a heart breaking 55-52 game to TCU in Lubbock in a game that featured 11 lead changes. In spite of the loss, the Red Raiders still have an opportunity to put their stamp on the 2015 season taking on the No. 4 Baylor Bears in Jerry World.
5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-0, 1-0 Big 12)
Last week: defeated Texas 30-27
This week: hosting Kansas State, 3:00 p.m. on FS1
The Cowboys struggled with the Texas Longhorns in Austin winning in the last seconds. This wasn't the best game from the Cowboys and the offense let Texas back in the game with two defensive scores. I'm not sold on Oklahoma State offensively and don't believe they can keep up with the top half of the league.
6. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week: defeated Maryland 45-6
This week: on the road at Oklahoma, 11 a.m. FS1
The Mountaineers dismantled Maryland and look to be one of the best defensive teams in the Big 12. They face their first real test of the season this next week in Norman against the Sooners and the new spread offense lead by Baker Mayfield. We'll know how good the Mountaineers will be after this week.
7. Kansas State Wildcats (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week: Bye week, defeated Louisiana Tech 39-33 in triple overtime
This week: at Oklahoma State, 3:00 p.m. FS1
The Wildcats have had a week to rest their injured and beat up team, but questions still remain on the offense and the ability to move the football without a consistent passing game. If any coach turn the Wildcats around and into contenders in the Big 12, its Coach Bill Snyder.
8. Texas Longhorns (1-3, 0-1 Big 12)
Last week: lost to Oklahoma State 30-27
This week: at TCU, 11 a.m. ABC
The Longhorns have found new and excruciating ways to lose in the final seconds of games the past two weeks in losses to California and Oklahoma State. The Horns won't get a respite with back to back trips to the DFW Area facing TCU and Oklahoma. It's not out of the realm for Texas to start the first half of the season 1-6.
9. Iowa State Cyclones (1-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week: Bye week, lost to Toledo 30-23
This week: Kansas, 11 a.m. FSN
The Cylcones dropped two games in which they played well enough to win, but couldn't get over the hump in losses to Iowa and Toledo. They best remedy for a two-game losing streak is a home game against the hapless Kansas Jayhawks. A solid showing here and ISU can put itself in a position to be in the middle of the pack.
10. Kansas Jayhawks (0-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Last week: lost to Rutgers 27-14
This week: at Iowa State, 11:00 a.m. FSN
What can we say about the hapless Kansas Jayhawks? They put up a decent fight against Big Ten also-ran Rutgers on the road in a loss last week in New Jersey. This week Big 12 Conference play starts with the most winnable game against the Iowa State Cyclones.