Kansas made history, and Oklahoma’s no longer perfect, while Ollie Gordon continued an elite run and Maalik Murphy made a successful starting debut.
Five Big 12 teams are in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, and those five teams enter the week all locked up at 4-1 in the conference race. That changes this weekend as four of the five square off in Stillwater and Austin.
Move over Pac-12 — again — the Big 12 suddenly has the most exciting conference race in America, and in that regard, a seismic slate on tap for Week Ten.
Here are the Big 12 Mojo Rankings entering Week 10.
Last Week: (#2) W 35-6 vs. BYU
Maalik Murphy looked like a QB making his first collegiate start but overcame a couple of turnovers and mistakes, with an encouraging showing overall, as the Longhorns ran over BYU in Austin. Texas also debuted at #7 in the initial CFP rankings, the highest of any Big 12 team. Now, a mega showdown at home with Kansas State, in a game that will separate these two in the conference title chase and either fuel or extinguish Texas’ playoff hopes. There’s also the subplot of Arch Manning potentially making his debut at some point soon, out of necessity or luxury.
Up Next: Home vs. Kansas State, Saturday @ 11:00 am on FOX
Last Week: (#3) W 41-0 vs. Houston
The Wildcats obliterated Houston in one of the harsher ‘Welcome to the Big 12’ exchanges during this inaugural season of change. The win sets the stage for a massive showdown on the road against Texas, where we’ll see some good-on-good, like KSU’s run game vs. UT’s run defense.
Up Next: AT Texas, Saturday @ 11:00 am on FOX
Last Week: (#1) L 36-33 @ Kansas
The Sooners played with fire following the Texas win and finally got burned. Now, they have no room for error to reach Arlington or grander dreams after debuting at #9 in the initial CFP rankings. Huge stakes are on the line this weekend in Stillwater as the Bedlam rivalry reaches its potential conclusion in football after 114 straight games. Are LB Danny Stutsman and RB Tawee Walker healthy and available?
Up Next: AT Oklahoma State, Saturday @ 2:30 pm CT on ABC
Last Week: (#4) W 45-13 vs. Cincinnati
The Ollie Gordon Show rolled on last week, as the sophomore from Dallas racked up another 271 yards on the ground, making him the nation’s leading rusher entering week ten. The Pokes are also bowl eligible, but more importantly, firmly in the conference title race. Wins over Oklahoma are rare, and combined with other factors like title hopes and bragging rights, the atmosphere in Stillwater should be boiling hot, even if Gundy feels the series has lost its real heat in recent years.
Up Next: Home vs. Oklahoma, Saturday @ 2:30 pm on ABC
Last Week: (#5) W 30-18 @ Baylor
The Cyclones earned their third straight victory after mauling Baylor’s Homecoming hopes last Saturday in stormy Waco. ISU is just a solid, well-coached football team and currently finds itself in a five-way tie for first place at 4-1. A win over KU would put them in a narrower three-way tie, thanks to Bedlam and K-State/Texas this weekend. A win would also get them bowl-eligible after missing the postseason a year ago.
Up Next: Home vs. Kansas, Saturday @ 6 pm on ESPN
Last Week: (#6) W 36-33 vs. #6 Oklahoma
They rushed the field and tore down the goalposts in Lawrence as the Jayhawks made all sorts of history with their upset win over then #6 Oklahoma. Coincidentally, it was their first top-ten home victory since beating a #2-ranked Sooners squad back in 1984. It was a monumental day for Lance Leipold’s program, and it was easy to pick up on the excitement around the rest of Big 12 country. The Jayhawks are also back in the Top 25 and bowling once again with plenty of room to spare. But much of that excitement could thrive or subside quickly this weekend as a considerable challenge looms in Ames, Iowa.
Up Next: AT Iowa State, Saturday @ 6 pm on ESPN
Last Week: (#7) W 41-28 @ UCF
The Mountaineers rebounded from back-to-back losses and avoided falling victim to an upset bid in Orlando. WVU grabbed four interceptions and cut UCF’s scoring hopes off at the pass repeatedly. Offensively, surprise, surprise, WVU’s run game had a career day against the Knights’ defense. Everyone does, but it was a promising showing for CJ Donaldson and the ‘Eers backfield, which has been a work in progress. They can clinch a bowl berth and remain in the hunt for Arlington with a win at home this weekend.
Up Next: Home vs. BYU, Saturday @ 6 pm on FS1
Last Week: (#8) OPEN
The Frogs enjoyed a well-timed bye week after the shellacking from Kansas State two weeks ago. The defense is up and down, and offensively, young QB Josh Hoover took some lumps against K-State. TCU currently owns a four-game win streak in the Battle for the Saddle, but weeknight games can get weird, and it’s a big one for both team’s bowl hopes and, most of all, morale.
Up Next: AT Texas Tech, Thursday @ 6:00 pm on FS1
Last Week: (#9) L 35-6 @ #7 Texas
Taysom Hill wasn’t walking through that door on Saturday in Austin. The Cougars got a reality check on the road against a Texas team that’s better and farther along. BYU’s home-field advantage (4-0) can overcome flaws in Provo, but life on the road (1-3) is a different story. And now they walk into another tough atmosphere and challenge in Morgantown.
Up Next: AT West Virginia, Saturday @ 6:00 pm on FS1
Last Week: (#10) OPEN
Tech got a much-needed breather after a grueling couple of months. RB Tahj Brooks is a stud, although OC Zack Kittley’s offense has had its ups and downs. Good news: QB Behren Morton returns this week. A weeknight game at home against rival TCU has the makings for an exciting return to action for the Red Raiders. But a loss here would leave postseason hopes in severe jeopardy.
Up Next: Home vs. TCU, Thursday @ 6:00 pm on FS1
Last Week: (#11) L 30-18 vs. Iowa State
The Bears fell in a rain-drenched Homecoming contest to Iowa State, pushing their home record to a miserable 1-5 as postseason hopes dwindle. The Bears aren’t a good football team right now and are running out of time to prove otherwise. Houston feels like a must-win for morale. In general, I see this as a gut-check game for the program.
Up Next: Home vs. Houston, Saturday @ 2:30 pm on ESPN+
Last Week: (#12) L 41-0 @ Kansas State
The Cougars had reason to wonder about the narrow Texas loss. But a week later, the follow-up against Kansas State left zero doubts about Houston’s latest defeat. There are no positives to take away from getting beat 41-0. But it’s a new week, and the Cougars have plenty to gain from a win against Baylor in Waco.
Up Next: AT Baylor, Saturday @ 2:30 pm on ESPN+
Last Week: (#13) L 41-28 vs. West Virginia
UCF squandered numerous opportunities against WVU, with four turnovers dooming their efforts. The run defense remains problematic, as the Knights have lost five straight games. But someone will earn their first Big 12 win in this weekend’s matchup.
Up Next: AT Cincinnati, Saturday @ 2:30 pm on FS1
Last Week: (#14) L 45-13 @ Oklahoma State
The Bearcats continue to bring up the bottom of the rankings and have now lost six straight contests—their worst losing streak in 25 years. To try and stop the bleeding, Cincy switched QBs last week, with redshirt sophomore Brady Lichtenberg ultimately taking over for Emory Jones. However, it’s unclear whether that remains the case this week. Meanwhile, a usually proud defense was run over by Ollie Gordon last week. They’re not alone in that regard, but still, there aren’t many positives around the program right now.
Up Next: Home vs. UCF, Saturday @ 2:30 pm on FS1
