CMan's Big 12 Power rankings - Week 10

POWER RANKINGS

#1. Baylor Bears (4-0, 7-0)

Last Week - Bye

Again, the only thing to keep Baylor off the scoreboard is a bye week. The schedule for the Bears gets a lot tougher from this point on. Four of Baylor's next five opponents are in the top tier of the Big 12. The only relief they get is a week 13 match up with TCU. Baylor's first four Big 12 opponents are a combined 11-22, the next three Baylor opponents have a combined record of 21-4. We'll see if the Bears can keep pace with the rest of the top 5.

Up next:  Oklahoma

#2. Oklahoma Sooners (4-1, 7-1)

Last Week - Bye

Oklahoma needed a bye week and it couldn't have come at a better time. Every team needs a break mid season to heal nicks and bruises. The Sooners face their biggest challenge of the Big 12 season this coming Thursday in Waco and getting 10 days to prepare should help. Oklahoma should be well rested and better prepared to face the second consecutive spread offense and undefeated foe. Games in Waco used to be easy, not any more.

Up next: At Baylor

#3. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1, 7-1)

Last Week - Defeated Texas Tech 52-34

The Pokes appear to be peaking at the right time. The victory over Texas Tech was made more impressive because it was on the road in Lubbock. Clint Chelf suddenly looks like the dual threat QB everyone thought he was and the Cowboy running game finally looks like it has for the last several years in Stillwater. The defense continues to impress and if the Pokes can cut down on turnovers they will be a tough team to deal with as the season winds down.

Up Next: Kansas

#4. Texas Longhorns (5-0, 6-2)

Last Week - Defeated Kansas 35-13

Mack Brown said that they still had their sights set on a Big 12 Championship after falling to 1-2 early in the season. Those that laughed then are concerned now. It getting harder to ignore the Longhorns as they continue to win in the conference. However, they must finish against three of the top five teams in the Big 12. If they can get through that stretch unscathed Mack will look like a prophet and likely resurrect his job.

Up Next: At West Virginia

#5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-2, 7-2)

Last Week - Lost to Oklahoma State 52-34

The Red Raiders have fallen back to reality in the last two weeks losing to OU and OSU in consecutive games. The Red Raiders are who we thought they were, good but not great. Things don't get easier for Tech as they face Baylor and Texas in two of the next three. The Red Raiders shouldn't hang their heads though, they are bowl eligible and have done far better than anyone predicted.

Up Next: Kansas State

#6. Kansas State Wildcats (2-3, 4-4)

Last Week - Beat Iowa State 41-7

Kansas State has rebounded from an 0-3 conference start to win their last two by an average score of 38-10. Sure, they were against West Virginia and Iowa State but they were wins. No one expected Bill Snyder to roll over and play dead and they might actually finish the season with a winning record. The Wildcats are still lacking an identity but at least they have figured out how to win again.

Up Next: At Texas Tech

#7. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-4, 4-5)

Last Week - Beat TCU 30-27

West Virginia and TCU switch spots this week because...well, The Mountaineers beat the Horned Frogs. West Virginia continues its up and down season and is surely questioning its decision to enter the Big 12. Aside from the fluke win against the Cowboys, the only other Big 12 team they have beaten is the other team that is questioning joining the conference. Don't look for anything to change in the near future for the Mountaineers, barring a coaching change.

Up Next: Texas

#8. TCU Horned Frogs (1-5, 3-6)

Last Week - Lost to West Virginia

Gary Patterson probably wishes it was 2010. TCU finished the season  13-0, ranked #2 nationally and defeated #4 Wisconsin 21-19 in the Rose Bowl. Right now that season seems like a decade ago. Like West Virginia, the Big 12 has not been kind to TCU. The Horned Frogs will finish their second season in worse shape than their first. Gary Patterson and the TCU fans are not accustomed to losing. TCU was picked to finish atop the Big 12 this season, with any luck they won't finish last.

#9. Kansas Jayhawks (0-5, 2-6)

Last Week - Lost to Texas 35-13

I hardly seems fair to rank Kansas above Iowa State but they do have 2 overall wins. The fact of the matter is neither team is very good. If not for weak, lesser teams in the state of Louisiana, the Jayhawks would be 0-8. The end of the season can't come soon enough in Lawrence. The good news is, the Jayhawk players can go ahead and make plans for Christmas and New Years eve. One thing is for sure, they won't be playing football before, during or after the holidays.

Next Up: At Oklahoma State

#10. Iowa State Cyclones (0-5, 1-7)

Last Week - Lost to Kansas State 41-7

Based on the Cyclones loss to Kansas State Saturday, they are making plans for life after football. Iowa State was at least competitive up to this point in the season. The 41-7 loss at the hands of the Wildcats may signal that Paul Rhodes team has lost any motivation that they might of had coming in to the season. The Cyclones have not been much better under Rhodes but they have been in the games till the end. The upsets that have identified his teams have not materialized this season. Without the upsets, the Cyclones are just bad.