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The Cowboys have played two good games on both sides of the football. Both games have been on the road in the state of Texas. It has been difficult to find a real weakness in the team thus far despite the early quarterback controversy. The offense looks like Oklahoma State and the defense, at least the starters, look like an SEC defense. After two games, it looks like only Sports Illustrated has the best chance to slow the Pokes.
#2. Baylor Bears (2-0)
The Bears have score 139 points in two game and given up only 16. Having said that, the opponents were Wofford and Buffalo. The difference? Baylor would have struggled against competition this kind of competition in the past, now they are humiliating them. OU and Texas used to do the same to similar competition and they also beat strong teams. Baylor looks real but we'll have to wait for week 6 when they take on WVU to start the conference season.
#3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0)
Like Baylor, Texas Tech has been lighting up the scoreboard scoring 101 in their first two games. Unlike the Bears they started their season on the road at SMU. New head man Kliff Kingsbury looks to lead the team as coach in much the same way he did as QB. The Red Raiders defense looks stout to start the season giving up only 36 points in their first two games. Reality might hit Lubbock next week though as they open the conference season at home against #24 TCU.
#4. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0)
Ok, before the Sooner faithful storm my bunker, let me explain. I would have ranked the Sooners higher based on the defensive improvement alone. But, the days of outscoring opponents will cease once they get deep in conference play. Unless Stoops and company get the offense on track the defense will only wear. The key to the renewed defensive pressure displayed by the Sooners is rest between series. The OU offense can not afford to go 3 and out or end drives without putting points on the board. The bright spot on offense is the renewed running attack. However, without an effective passing game opposing defenses will stack the line making the run game far less effective.
#5. TCU Horned Frogs (1-1)
A season opening loss to #12 LSU is nothing to be ashamed of. A home win against Southeastern Louisiana is nothing to write home about, especially when you were only up 17-14 at the half. The Horned Frogs offense caught speed in the second half but the vaunted TCU defense is not what it has been in recent years. The loss of Sr. QB Casey Pachall to injury might be a bright spot as Sophomore QB Trevone Boykin has clearly outplayed Pachall and gives the Horned Frogs their best chance to win.
#6. Kansas State Wildcats (1-1)
Kansas State rebounded from a humiliating home loss last week to 2 time FCS National Champion North Dakota State by defeating Louisiana Lafayette 48-27 in Manhattan. The Wildcats always start slow at the start of the season but they don't normally lose. The Wildcats defense is a concern giving up 51 points in two games to lesser quality opponents at home. The offense looks like a typical Bill Snyder offense. The Wildcats play Oklahoma State in week 6, in Stillwater. we'll know a lot more about the Wildcats after that game.
#7. West Virgina Mountaineers (1-1)
The Mountaineers lost to OU yesterday but they showed a lot of promise during the game. Either WVU started the second team against William and Mary in week 1 or they just didn't care. The Mountaineers that played in Norman Saturday were a far better team. While they couldn't do much against the Sooner defense the West Virginia defense gave the Sooners fits all night. WVU played a sloppy game but their defense looks vastly improved and the offense will catch up.
#8. Texas Longhorns (1-1)
A loss to un-ranked BYU in Provo is not horrible unless you're ranked in the top 15. Texas was. The loss itself wasn't as bad as how they lost. BYU rushed a Texas record 550 yards against the Longhorns. BYU quarterback Taysom Hill, on a surgically repaired knee, ran for 259 by himself. The Texas offense was so woeful that Mack Brown took QB David Ash out in the second half in favor of Case McCoy. New quarterback, same anemic offense. I thought the Longhorns were overrated to start the season, they certainly weren't the #15 team in the country. I'm not sure they belong in the top 25. I picked Un-ranked KSU and WVU ahead of Texas in the rankings because I believe they can both beat the Longhorns. We'll find out in two weeks when the Wildcats visit Austin.
#9. Kansas Jayhawks (1-0)
Jayhawk fans have a lot to be excited about in the first two weeks of school this year. The Jayhawks had a bye week in week 1, the football team won it's home opener and Jayhawk basketball is just around the corner. Kansas defeated South Dakota (Not to be confused with North Dakota State) in Lawrence Saturday 31-14. The Jayhawks travel to Rice next week and finish the non-conference schedule with a home game against Louisiana Tech in week 4. They should emerge 2-1 which is the last time they will be over .500 for the rest of the season. That's ok though, by mid-season most Jayhawk fans will be watching basketball.
#10. Iowa State Cyclones (0-1)
The good news for the Cyclones is that they didn't lose Saturday. The bad news, they have to play again this week against Iowa to determine who will be second in the state to Northern Iowa. After Iowa the Cyclones visit Tulsa, not a lock either. If Iowa State plays at this level in the big 12 conference it will be a long season in Ames. unlike Kansas, the Cyclones aren't dominant in basketball anymore. It looks to be a long, cold winter in Iowa.
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