Big 12 Power Rankings Week 9: Kansas State and Texas Falling Off?
As Halloween approaches, the Big 12 Conference race powers on with a four-game slate, minus the Jayhawks and Longhorns: the final byes before the stretch run month of November.
Entering week nine, undefeated TCU remains the league's best hope for a Playoff participant. Elsewhere, the Pokes and Wildcats battle for sole second place in Manhattan, Iowa State, and Oklahoma try to fend off new lows, while fresh off rebound wins, Baylor and Texas Tech get ready to dance in the dark.
Here are my latest Big 12 Power Rankings, entering week nine of the college football regular season.
1. TCU (7-0, 4-0)
W 38-28 vs. #17 Kansas State
Last Week: #1
TCU occupies the Big 12 driver's seat all to themselves after the comeback win over Kansas State. And as a current unbeaten in one of the country's top leagues, the Playoff remains in distant sight. The Frogs have a flair for finishing and reoccurring good fortune when it comes to the poor health of opposing quarterbacks. They've also played with fire and remained unscathed, for now. Challenges still await, but the trip to Morgantown has the lowest risk level in quite some time.
Up Next: @ West Virginia // Saturday, 11:00 am, ESPN
2. OKLAHOMA STATE (5-2, 3-1)
W 41-34 vs. #20 Texas
Last Week: #3
Spencer Sanders continues fulfilling the role of star quarterback in a gritty, impressive fashion, but the talented Pokes are also a disciplined, well-rounded team. Discipline came into play against Texas, as the Cowboys won the battles of turnovers, penalties, and big plays down the stretch and to the wire. The upcoming trip to Manhattan will be a challenge but handle their business, and an outline of Jerry's World starts appearing on the horizon.
Up Next: @ #22 Kansas State // Friday, 2:30 pm, ABC
3. KANSAS STATE (5-2, 3-1)
L 38-28 @ #8 TCU
Last Week: #2
The Wildcats must have felt cursed in Fort Worth, given the brutal timing of quarterback injuries. Adrian Martinez's status remains uncertain after lasting only one drive last week. On the other hand, backup Will Howard should be fine after entering, exiting, returning, and finishing the game. But, of course, health is an essential part of any championship equation, and it's biting KSU at the wrong time. Nevertheless, a tremendous opportunity to bounce back as host and spoiler on Saturday night. The winner retains control of their own Big 12 destiny, and there may not be another mulligan.
Up Next: Home vs. #9 Oklahoma State // Friday, 7:00 pm, FS1
4. TEXAS (5-3, 3-2)
L 41-34 @ #11 Oklahoma State
Last Week: #4
The Longhorns lost a one-score game to a Top 10 team on the road. Not that bad on the surface, but a lousy time for Quinn Ewers to play the worst game of his young career, by far, in a small sample size. A terrible time to rack up 14 penalties, period. And a lousy example of playing to your strengths on offense. So now UT catches its breath and regroups before a closing stretch that could end 0-4 just as easily as 4-0. Elsewhere, when do the Hudson Card sweepstakes begin?
Up Next: OPEN
5. TEXAS TECH (4-3, 2-2)
W 48-10 vs. West Virginia
Last Week: #9
The Red Raiders roared out of their bye week with a thrashing of West Virginia. As a result, Tech stares straight into a green and golden opportunity with Baylor on Saturday night. It will be a definite home-field advantage and a chance to grab some shine, not to mention a leg up in the standings, recruiting, and whatever else. It appears we're in the beginning stage of the Behren Morton era.
Up Next: Home vs. Baylor, 6:30 pm, ESPN 2
6. BAYLOR (4-3, 2-2)
W 35-23 vs. Kansas
Last Week: #6
The win over Kansas was a refreshing departure from recent results, although the Homecoming victory proved more difficult than necessary. Nevertheless, the Bears have a fantastic opportunity to play spoiler on Saturday night in West Texas. The atmosphere and buildup are unavoidable, and Tech enters slightly favored as a result, but this is a winnable game if the Bears avoid hyperventilating or hurting themselves.
Up Next: @ Texas Tech // Saturday, 6:30 pm, ESPN 2
7. OKLAHOMA (4-3, 1-3)
Open
Last Week: #7
The return of Dillon Gabriel led to a much-needed win, allowing the program to carry some positives into the bye week. Returning from the break with Iowa State in Ames doesn't seem like the most fantastic matchup in the world. Win, and there's some life; lose, and the Sooners find themselves squarely in the Big 12 gutter entering November. Are they any better on defense?
Up Next: @ Iowa State // Saturday, 11:00 am, FS1
8. KANSAS (5-3, 2-3)
L 35-23 @ Baylor
Last Week: #8
The Jayhawks have dropped three straight after a failed come-from-behind loss in Waco last week. The game should have been a blowout.
QB Jalon Daniels remains unavailable, and it just feels like they've lost their superpower. Can they avoid the complete fiery crash back down to Earth? The bye week is a godsend.
Up Next: OPEN
9. IOWA STATE (3-4, 0-4)
Open
Last Week: #10
The Cyclones are America's best winless-in-conference-play team. Following a breather, a vulnerable OU squad rolls into town, a shell of their Heisman-Playoff self. Still, we'll see strength on strength as the Cyclones' defense meets the Sooners' offense — a terrific opportunity to win their first Big 12 contest. Either way, I'm convinced they're better than WVU.
Up Next: Home vs. Oklahoma // Saturday, 11:00 am, FS1
10. WEST VIRGINIA (3-4, 1-3)
L 48-10 @ Texas Tech
Last Week: #5
Unfortunately for Neal Brown, Texas Tech elected not to give WVU a world of breaks and instead went for the jugular. Unfortunately for Mountaineers fans, Brown's contract makes his departure unlikely in this current climate. They had a chance to move toward and stick in the middle of the pack but completely squandered the Baylor victory and might not budge from last place over these final five weeks. To add insult to injury, mega-star alum Pat McAfee has openly voiced his displeasure with the current direction, so yeah, it's like that in Morgantown.
Up Next: Home vs. #7 TCU // Saturday, 11:00 am, ESPN