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| POWER RANKINGS |
#1. Oklahoma Sooners (4-0, 1-0)
Last week: Defeated Notre Dame 35-21
Oklahoma secured the top spot this week based, not only on the win in South Bend, but the way they won. The swagger that the Sooners have missed the last few seasons has returned and the Sooners look like a potentially dominant football team again. The defense set an early tone Saturday with two interceptions that resulted in a 14 point lead for OU inside the first three minutes of the game. On offense, it's safe to say that Blake Bell solidified his hold on the starting QB position. There are still a few areas that the Sooners can improve on the field, however, the OU mental game is as strong as it has been since Bob Stoops arrived in Norman. Up next, TCU.
#2. Baylor Bears (3-0, 0-0)
Last week: Bye
Baylor entered it's bye week as one of the most prolific scoring teams in college football this year. While it would appear that the Bears are firing on all cylinders they should be concerned about what happened to OSU in Morgantown. The Bears opponents have all been sub-par and all three victories have come in the comfortable confines of Waco. Baylor host the Mountaineers next Saturday and, while its not a road test, it will be the first real competition the Bears have faced this year. We should know a lot more about Baylor after the game next Saturday. Up next, West Virginia.
#3. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-0, 1-0)
Last Week: Bye
The Red Raiders enjoyed a well deserved bye week. After a 4-0 start, the rest came at a good time. The victory over then ranked TCU, remains Techs biggest win although the Horned frogs are not who we thought they were. The road ahead looks winnable for the Red Raiders as they sweep through the bottom of the big 12. Tech doesn't look to have a real hurdle until they take on OU in Norman on October 26th. Up next, at Kansas.
#4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-1, 0-1)
Last week: Lost to West Virginia 30-21
It has been said that you can't play a Kansas State non-conference schedule and be prepared for the Big 12. That caught up with the Pokes Saturday and should haunt Baylor, for at least a week. Losing to the Mountaineers on the road is bad enough but the Cowboys really beat themselves. Poor special teams play and a lack of the stout defense that has defined their early season. The Cowboys have three winnable games upcoming before they visit Texas Tech on the first weekend of November. we'll find out how they respond next week in Stillwater. Up next, Kansas State.
#5. Texas Longhorns (2-2, 1-0)
Last week: Bye
The best thing about the bye week for Texas is that they won their last game and Mack Brown didn't have to answer any really tough questions. There have been a slew of conversations out side of Texas about the future of the Longhorns coaching staff. Will Mack stay or ascend to the AD chair at the end of the season. time will tell. Oklahoma and the Red River Rivalry loom in two weeks so the answer could come quickly. A tune-up with the Cyclones in Austin comes first. Win, lose or draw the next couple of weeks, I still believe a new coach will be stalking the Texas sidelines in 2014. Up next, Iowa State.
#6. TCU Horned Frogs (2-2, 0-1)
Last week: Beat SMU 48-17
Despite the drubbing of SMU at home last week, I no longer believe TCU belongs in the top 5 of the Big 12. The Horned Frogs will have to earn their way back in. Two of their next three games are against the top tier of the conference....on the road. If they finish these next three at 1-2, my instincts will be correct. TCU looks to be a decent football team, just in the wrong conference. The days of 10-1 seasons for TCU appear to be long gone. Up next, at Oklahoma.
#7. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-2, 1-1)
Last week: Beat Oklahoma State 30-21
After a big win Saturday against the Cowboys, the Mountaineers probably wish their bye week was this week not next week. The reality is they have to travel to Waco and take on the undefeated Bears next Saturday. However, coming in after a big win gives West Virginia renewed confidence and the Bears wins, all blowouts, have come against some very bad teams. The victory over OSU is not enough to be considered a turning point. A victory in Waco would. If the Mountaineers play a near perfect game they could win. If they don't, the victory over Oklahoma State will just be a high point in a very long season for West Virginia. Up next, at Baylor.
#8. Kansas State Wildcats (2-2, 0-1)
Last week: Bye
The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Wildcats. A loss to Texas punctuated what has been a disappointing season thus far for Bill Snyder. The Wildcats next two games come against top tier Big 12 competition and they cannot afford to fall to 0-3 in conference. If they do, it would appear that Snyder's magic is running out. The fans in Manhattan have become accustomed to winning. A bad season for KSU might not be enough to save one of the best coaches the college game has seen. Up next, at Oklahoma State.
#9. Iowa State Cyclones (1-2, 0-0)
Last week: Beat Tulsa 38-21
I said last week that a win would get the Cyclones out of the cellar. Beating the Hurricane in Tulsa was a big win for Iowa State. The first one always is. However, it was Tulsa. Reality now stares at the Cyclones as they start the Big 12 conference schedule. Their move up to #9 may be short lived but, then again, they are trying to stay ahead of the Kansas Jayhawks. Up next, Texas.
#10. Kansas Jayhawks (2-1, 0-0)
Last week: Bye
The Jayhawks come in at #10 because.....that's where they belong. Kansas had a bye week so that their fans could attend the Jayhawks first basketball practice. The good news for Kansas, they didn't lose last week. The bad news, there is more football to play. The Jayhawks will be hard pressed to win again until they host the Wildcats in week 14. By then the basketball season will be in full swing and no one in Lawrence will care what happens at memorial stadium. Up next, Texas Tech.
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