Big 12 Power Rankings: Baylor, West Virginia move up as OU, Texas take center stage
Under normal circumstances I would lead off this week’s edition of Big 12 Power Rankings by looking ahead to the Red River Rivalry.
Oklahoma and Texas will meet in the final Big 12 edition of the game this weekend in Dallas, and there is no understating how important this battle of undefeated teams will be. The winner will have an inside track to the conference championship game and quite possibly the College Football Playoff.
But these aren’t normal circumstances.
You see, we have a change at the bottom our power rankings. I would rather focus on that.
Baylor pulled off a comeback for the ages against UCF on Saturday. The Bears won 36-35 despite trailing 35-7 late in third quarter. Just when it looked like their disappointing season was about to get even worse, they rattled off 29 points in less than 20 minutes to complete their biggest come-from-behind victory in school history.
Quarterback Blake Shapen threw for 293 yards, Caden Jenkins returned a fumble 72 yards for a touchdown and Baylor ruined what was shaping up as a tremendous Big 12 home debut for the Knights.
Winning a game like that was enough for me to elevate Baylor out of the cellar.
First place in the conference standings will be decided this weekend in Dallas, but a fascinating battle for last place will unfold in the coming weeks now that the Bears have their first Big 12 win of the season.
That leads us into this week’s Big 12 Power Rankings:
1. Texas (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
Last game: 40-14 win over Kansas
Next game: Oklahoma
Analysis: It’s probably time to forget about how often the Longhorns have disappointed over the past decade. A new era is underway in Austin. Steve Sarkisian has Texas looking good. Like really, really good. This team is starting to remind me of some of the best squads that Mack Brown had back in his coaching prime. Case in point: The Jayhawks were no match for the Longhorns over the weekend. Would you believe Texas won the yardage battle 661-260?
2. Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
Last game: 50-20 win over Iowa State
Next game: Texas
Analysis: The Sooners are undefeated and they are averaging 47.4 points per game. But many remain skeptical of Oklahoma, because it has faced a soft schedule. The teams it has played so far have a combined record of 11-9. Is Brent Venables’ team any good? We will find out this weekend.
3. Kansas State (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)
Last game: 44-31 win over UCF
Next game: at Oklahoma State
Analysis: The Wildcats needed to get healthy during their off week, because now they must play eight Big 12 games in eight weeks.
4. West Virginia (4-1, 2-0 Big 12)
Last game: 24-21 win at TCU
Next game: at Houston
Analysis: There are only four teams in the Big 12 that haven’t suffered a conference loss, and the Mountaineers are one of them. How about that? Neal Brown clearly knew what he was talking about when he guaranteed that West Virginia would finish well above expectations this season. This team should have no problem making a bowl. The Mountaineers have found an identity by running the ball behind CJ Donaldson and Garrett Greene.
5. Kansas (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
Last game: 40-14 loss at Texas
Next game: UCF
Analysis: The Jayhawks couldn’t keep pace with the Longhorns, but they put up a good fight for three quarters. Kansas needs to get Jalon Daniels healthy at quarterback if it wants to stay in the top five of these rankings. Jason Bean is a fine backup quarterback, but you can notice a drop-off when he plays instead of Daniels.
6. TCU (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
Last game: 24-21 loss to West Virginia
Next game: at Iowa State
Analysis: I’m not ready to give up on the Horned Frogs just yet. They have lost a pair of games by a field goal against teams that have turned out to be solid. I won’t be surprised if they put a scare into Oklahoma and/or Texas late in the year. Still, two home defeats removes any margin for error the rest of the way.
7. BYU (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
Last game: 35-27 win over Cincinnati
Next game: at TCU
Analysis: The atmosphere at LaVell Edwards Stadium was absolutely electric for BYU’s first home conference game as a Big 12 member on Friday. It may have played a big role in the Cougars finding a way to win, because Cincinnati out-gained them by 203 yards.
8. Texas Tech (2-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Last game: 49-28 win over Houston
Next game: at Baylor
Analysis: It’s too bad that Texas Tech made some excellent defensive adjustments at halftime and completely shut down Houston in the second half on Saturday. It looked like we were heading for a classic Big 12 shootout when the score was 35-28 at halftime. It’s possible a win like that could get the Red Raiders back on track.
9. UCF (3-2, 0-2 Big 12)
Last game: 36-35 loss to Baylor
Next game: at KU
Analysis: How do you blow a 35-7 lead? That question will probably keep Gus Malzahn awake at night. The good news for UCF is that quarterback John Rhys Plumlee is nearing his return from an injury.
10. Iowa State (2-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Last game: 50-20 loss at Oklahoma
Next game: TCU
Analysis: The Cyclones gave us an incredibly entertaining game against Oklahoma ... for about 20 minutes. Iowa State traded scores with the Sooners early on and Oklahoma led 21-20 at the 9:06 mark of the second quarter. But then Matt Campbell’s offense turned into a pumpkin and Oklahoma pulled away.
11. Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)
Last game: 34-27 loss at Iowa State
Next game: Kansas State
Analysis: How bad is Oklahoma State playing at the moment? Well, beating the Cowboys hasn’t meant much this season. South Alabama throttled them 33-7 in Stillwater and then lost back-to-back games against Central Michigan and James Madison. Iowa State beat them in Ames and then got crushed at Oklahoma. That probably explains why Oklahoma State is a double-digit underdog against K-State on Friday.
12. Baylor (2-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Last game: 36-35 win at UCF
Next game: Texas Tech
Analysis: The Bears didn’t just jump out of last place with their victory at UCF, they moved up two spots to No. 12. You’ve got to give Dave Aranda and his team credit for coming back against the Knights. It will be interesting to see if the Bears can build on that win now that Blake Shapen is back in the starting lineup.
13. Cincinnati (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)
Last game: 35-27 loss at BYU
Next game: Iowa State
Analysis: The Bearcats head into their off week on a three-game losing streak. Head coach Scott Satterfield needs to work on finishing drives before his team returns to action. Cincinnati is moving the ball just fine. It simply isn’t scoring.
14. Houston (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)
Last game: 49-28 loss at Texas Tech
Next game: West Virginia
Analysis: The Cougars started Big 12 play with blowout losses to TCU and Texas Tech. Things could get worse for Dana Holgorsen, as his former team is next up on the schedule.