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| POWER RANKINGS |
#1. Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-1, 10-1)
Last Week - Bye
Oklahoma State enjoyed a week off after destroying Baylor and its hopes of competing for a National Title. The Pokes one slip up at West Virginia has already clouded any hopes of a title game for them. However, a win over the Sooners and they will likely be in the second best BCS bowl game.
Up Next: Oklahoma
#2. Baylor Bears (7-1, 10-1)
Last Week - Beat TCU 41-38
An interception prevented a two game slide and kept alive hopes that the Bears can at least share the Big 12 Title in 2013. The disappointment of the loss to Oklahoma State was evident as the Bears barely escaped Fort Worth with a victory. A share of the Big 12 title would salvage a disappointing end to the season, however, Baylor must still beat the Longhorns. A win against Texas and a loss by the Pokes to OU give the Bears the title outright.
Up Next: Texas
#3. Oklahoma Sooners (6-2, 9-2)
Last Week - Bye
The Sooners are in the uncharacteristic position of underdog going in to the Bedlam game. OU holds an 84-17-7 edge over the Pokes in the series but this season looks like it belongs to OSU. Two weeks is normally plenty of time to prepare for an opponent but the two teams do not match up well. If the game were played in Norman I still might give the edge to the Pokes. This match up is in Stillwater where it is becoming as difficult a place to win as Owen Field has been. Oklahoma is playing for bowl position and pride. It will take a mighty amount of Sooner magic to pull this one out.
Up Next: At Oklahoma State
#4. Texas Longhorns (7-1, 8-3)
Last Week - Beat Texas Tech 41-16
No one can say the Longhorns haven't improved. I expected them to lose 5-7 games this season. I don't think it was all Manny's fault and I still believe that Greg Robinson is an average coach. Emotion can carry a team a long way. Will it produce a win in Waco? I doubt it. But, I have been wrong about Texas all year. Oddly enough, Mack can still win the Big 12 outright if they beat Baylor and OU wins Bedllam. That's a tall order, even for Texas. But, Stranger things have happened.
Up Next: At Baylor
#5. Kansas State Wildcats (5-4, 7-5)
Last Week - Beat Kansas 31-10
Darned if Bill Snyder didn't go and do it again. The Wildcats finish with a winning record and are bowl eligible. Impressive for a team that started the season with a loss at home to and FCS school and started the conference season 0-3. Snyder is truly one of the best college football coaches to ever grace a sideline. The Wildcats finished the regular season with a dominant road victory over in state rival Kansas. KSU pulled ahead of Texas Tech in the standings with the win, a feat no one thought possible a month ago.
Up Next: Bowl Game TBD
#6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-5, 7-5)
Last Week - Lost to Texas 41-16
I stated a few weeks ago that I believed Tech had sewn up the #5 spot in the Power Rankings. I was wrong. I didn't see the Red Raiders finishing with 5 straight losses. I don't think anyone did. I really thought they would beat Texas. Again, I was wrong. The Red Raiders are still bowl eligible, perhaps they can still finish the season with a win. If not, it will be a long off season in Lubbock.
Up Next: Bowl Game TBD
#7. TCU Horned Frogs (2-7, 4-8)
Last Week - Lost to Baylor 41-38
Despite the season that TCU has endured they played their last game tough. If TCU quarterback Pachall completes his last pass and the Horned Frogs kick a field goal to send the Baylor game in to OT, who knows? As it was, the pass was intercepted and TCU lost. Gary Patterson now has a very long off season to figure out how to compete in the Big 12. If he doesn't, the Horned Frogs will quickly become a "remember when" team.
Up Next: Basketball
#8. Iowa State Cyclones (2-7, 3-9)
Last Week - Beat West Virginia 52-44 (3 OT)
How do you turn around an 0-7 conference start? You win your final two games in an inspiring fashion. Paul Rhodes and the Cyclones did just that. A shut out over Kansas and a thrilling, 3 overtime victory, on the road in West Virginia. A 3-9 record is never good, but finishing the season with two victories and turning the campus over to a nationally ranked Basketball team will make a cold winter in Ames a little bit warmer.
Next Up: Basketball
#9. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-7, 4-8)
Last Week - Lost to Iowa State 52-44
I have rarely seen a team spiral out of control worse that the Mountaineers. Their victory over Oklahoma State proved to be a fluke as they couldn't win much else at home or away. They never really never got on track or developed an identity. All fingers point to the complete failure of Head Coach Dana Holgerson to control any aspect of the program. They finished the season with a triple over time, home loss, to one win Iowa State. You couldn't write a worse ending. Now, the team is facing the prospect of a new coaching staff and, like TCU, trying to figure out how to win in the Big 12.
Up Next: A long, cold winter in Morgantown
#10. Kansas Jayhawks (1-6, 3-9)
Last Week - Lost to Kansas State 31-10
The lone bright spot this season for the Jayhawks was snapping a 27 game, conference losing streak. The win came against West Virginia making it less impressive and, the fact that they started another the following week, makes it almost meaningless. To make matters worse, The Jayhawk basketball team suffered a rare, early season, loss last week as well. I wouldn't want to be in the KU athletic department offices in Lawrence right now.
Up Next: I'm sure there is a frat party somewhere on campus.
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