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| POWER RANKINGS |
#1. Baylor Bears (4-0, 7-0)
Last Week - Beat Kansas 59-14
Baylor continued it's torrid scoring by dismantling Kansas in Lawrence this weekend. The Bears did not get to 70 but they did put 59 on the Jayhawks. Baylor lead 38-0 at the half and put it on cruise control in the second half. The Bears look stout and haven't been challenged yet this season but their strength of schedule is nothing to be proud of. Baylor has not played a top 25 team or even a top tier Big 12 team yet. That schedule starts in two weeks when 4 of its last 5 teams are ranked.
Up next: Bye
#2. Oklahoma Sooners (4-1, 7-1)
Last Week - Beat Texas Tech 38-30
the Sooners dispatched previously unbeaten and 10th ranked Texas Tech Saturday. Oklahoma showed spunk and resiliency fighting off the Red Raiders all day and coming from behind twice. After a horrid start to the game which saw the Sooners fall behind again, the offense came to life. Oklahoma used a balanced attack and strong defense to pull out the win. The Sooners did take a hit though as fullback Trey Millard suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.
Up next: Bye
#3. Texas Longhorns (4-0, 5-2)
Last Week - Beat TCU 30-7
Ok, so they beat another opponent. I'm still not ready to crown them Big 12 champs. Texas beat the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth spoiling the return of quarterback Casey Pachall. The fact that TCU only scored 7 is not what bothers me. Switching quarterbacks is never a good thing, and expecting Pachall to be accurate in his first game back is crazy. What bothers me is that TCU gave up 30 points to the Longhorns and a lot was due to the passing of Case McCoy. Texas used the long ball to score and get in to scoring position. Someone better beat the Horns or I am going to have to admit the win against OU wasn't a fluke.
Up Next: Kansas
#4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-1, 7-1)
Last Week - Lost at Oklahoma 38-30
Texas Tech lost at Oklahoma but they didn't play that bad. They threw for 388 yards and put a total of 460 on the Sooner defense. They also pulled a couple of trick plays on OU. Kingsbury has the team believing in themselves and the loss Saturday will hurt, but shouldn't shake their belief that they are a good team. And they are. Tech should finish the season with no more than 3 losses. Not bad for a young head coach that first met Bob Stoops as a Quarterback playing against the Sooners. Tech is good and they will only get better.
Up Next: at Texas Tech
#5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-1, 6-1)
Last Week - Beat Iowa State 58-27
The Cowboys win in Ames looks more impressive than it was. The Pokes went in to the half only leading 28-20. The biggest difference for the Pokes was running back Desmond Roland who ran for 219 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Cowboy passing game continued to be suspect as Clint Chelf only managed 10 completions on 26 passes for 78 yards. The running game will not produce at that level against stiffer competition unless it can be complimented by a passing game. The Pokes still have some work to do to get back in the top tier of the Big 12.
Up Next: At Texas Tech
#6. Kansas State Wildcats (1-3, 3-4)
Last Week - Beat West Virginia 35-12
The Wildcats made good use of their bye week bye returning to the field and beating West Virginia. KSU took and early 7-0 lead but fell behind 9-7 at the half and then 12-7 early in the 3rd. However, the Wildcats scored the next 28 points and kept the Mountaineers off the scoreboard the rest of the game. It was a win for Kansas State but, it was at home, and against the reeling Mountaineers. Not a marquee win by any stretch.
Up Next: Iowa State
#7. TCU Horned Frogs (1-4, 3-5)
Last Week: Lost to Texas 30-7
The Horned frogs are not accustomed to losing under Gary Patterson yet, that's all they are doing lately. They have a decent defense and if they had a reliable quarterback they might have only 1 loss, LSU. It is becoming clear that the switch to the Big 12 has hurt TCU. Prior to joining, they were dominant in their conference and played their toughest game at the start of the season in their non conference schedule. In the Big 12 there is no time to rest as your opponents are usually tougher and ranked as the season progresses. TCU will likely finish this season with a losing conference record for the second straight year.
Up Next: West Virginia
#8. West Virginia Mountaineers (1-4, 3-5)
Last Week - Lost at KSU 35-17
Dana Holgerson probably wishes this season was over so he can look for his next job. This once proud program has taken a serious turn down under Holgerson and it doesn't look like its going to get better. This team has no identity and is losing any motivation as each game ends. If the players have not given up by now, another loss will likely insure a losing season and guarantee the Mountaineers will be watching bowl games from home.
Up Next: At Texas Christian
#9. Iowa State Cyclones (0-4, 1-6)
Last Week - Lost to Oklahoma State 58-27
The Cyclones have one more loss than the Jayhawks but I believe they are a tougher team than KU. The Cyclones loss to Texas might have sealed their fate this season. A win and they might have gained the needed momentum to compete. The manner in which the game was taken from them surely had to hurt mentally. I'm not saying they would be a top ten team but they are competitive and play with a lot of emotion. As it is, this season will likely cost a good coach his job.
Up Next: At Kansas State
#10. Kansas Jayhawks (0-4, 2-5)
Last Week - Lost to Baylor 59-14
It's a good thing the Jayhawks can play basketball, otherwise there would be nothing to do in Lawrence in the fall, winter and spring. Losing to Baylor this season is not a shame, everyone has. Giving up 59 to Baylor at home, including 38 in the first half alone, is a shame. Kansas will likely go 0-9 for the second straight season in the conference. In this era of limited scholarships and football parity, no conference wins in two years is unacceptable at any program.
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