Big 12 Power Rankings: Oklahoma State continues surge while Texas faces QB injury
We almost had two major shake-ups in the Big 12 over the weekend.
First, the undefeated Oklahoma Sooners had to survive an upset bid from struggling UCF. A loss would have hit the college football world like an earthquake, but OU found a way to win 31-29. Disaster averted.
A few hours later, Texas lost quarterback Quinn Ewers to an injury and nearly blew a huge lead at Houston. But the Longhorns held on 31-24 thanks to a controversial call in the final moments. A loss would have opened the door for a flood of teams to feel like they had a pathway to the Big 12 championship game. But Texas won. Nothing to see here.
The top of the conference standings stayed the same ... for now.
But last week showed us that major changes could be on the way.
That leads us into this week’s Big 12 Power Rankings:
1. Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0 Big 12)
Last game: 31-29 win over UCF
Next game: at Kansas
Analysis: I’m not one to punish a team for winning, but I wasn’t impressed by what I saw from Oklahoma against UCF. Every other team in the conference has scored at will on the Knights. But the Sooners punted five times against them. Maybe it was just a letdown coming off an open week and an emotional win over Texas. We will learn more about the Sooners over the next two weeks when they travel to Kansas and then Oklahoma State.
2. Texas (6-1, 3-1 Big 12)
Last game: 31-24 win at Houston
Next game: BYU
Analysis: Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is out indefinitely with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, which could make the next few weeks interesting for the Longhorns without him. Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning both have much more talent than your typical backup quarterback, so Texas might be just fine no matter who lines up behind center. But Murphy only attempted two passes as he filled in for Ewers against Houston. That could make for a tricky game when K-State visits Austin in two weeks.
3. Oklahoma State (5-2, 3-1 Big 12)
Last game: 48-34 win at West Virginia
Next game: Cincinnati
Analysis: I can’t explain why the Cowboys struggled so mightily at the beginning of the year, but they have clearly turned a corner since. It’s a travesty they aren’t ranked this week. Oklahoma State has surged near the top of these rankings by winning consecutive games against K-State, Kansas and West Virginia. It seems like Mike Gundy’s team has staying power with Ollie Gordon at running back. The sophomore from Fort Worth already has 816 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He has eclipsed 100 yards in four straight games, but he was at his best against West Virginia as he posted 282 yards and four touchdowns.
4. Kansas State (5-2, 2-1 Big 12)
Last game: 41-3 win over TCU
Next game: Houston
Analysis: The Wildcats are a hard team to judge. Their two losses (at Missouri and Oklahoma State) have aged well, but their five victories (SEMO, Troy, UCF, Texas Tech, TCU) have come against overmatched opponents and backup quarterbacks. K-State is clearly one of the best teams in the Big 12, especially now that Avery Johnson has added a new wrinkle on offense. But it’s too early to tell if K-State can seriously challenge for another league championship.
5. Iowa State (4-3, 3-1 Big 12)
Last game: 30-10 win at Cincinnati
Next game: at Baylor
Analysis: It’s time to find out if the Cyclones are for real. If Iowa State took advantage of its open week it will have a chance to win its next three games against Baylor, Kansas and BYU. Then Texas comes to Ames. Matt Campbell can do something special with this team. Or Iowa State can turn into a pumpkin and miss out on a bowl game. Anything seems possible for this group.
6. Kansas (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)
Last game: 39-32 loss at Oklahoma State
Next game: Oklahoma
Analysis: The Jayhawks are off to a perfect 4-0 start at home this season, with all four victories coming by double digits. But its home-field advantage is about to get put to the test against Oklahoma. This will be the biggest game of the Lance Leipold era. Kansas QB Jalon Daniels also remains “doubtful (to) questionable,” per Leipold.
7. West Virginia (4-3, 2-2 Big 12)
Last game: 48-34 loss to Oklahoma State
Next game: at UCF
Analysis: The Mountaineers clearly aren’t as good as they looked during a 4-1 start to the season, but I think it’s too early to give up on them. If West Virginia can take advantage of remaining games against UCF, BYU, Cincinnati and Baylor (teams that are all ranked below it here), then Neal Brown’s team can still have a successful season.
8. TCU (4-4, 2-3 Big 12)
Last game: 41-3 loss at Kansas State
Next game: at Texas Tech
Analysis: The Horned Frogs might be the hardest team to figure out in the entire conference. TCU owns three impressive blowout wins over Houston, SMU and BYU. It has also been on the wrong side of two ugly losses against Iowa State and K-State. In the last two weeks they went from beating BYU 44-11 to losing at K-State 41-3. That’s a 71-point swing.
9. BYU (5-2, 2-2 Big 12)
Last game: 27-14 win over Texas Tech
Next game: at Texas
Analysis: LaVell Edwards Stadium might already be one of the toughest venues in the Big 12. BYU is 4-0 at home this season. The Cougars could be a tricky late-season road game for both Iowa State and Oklahoma.
10. Texas Tech (3-5, 2-3 Big 12)
Last game: 27-14 loss at BYU
Next game: TCU
Analysis: The Red Raiders entered the season with Big 12 championship hopes when they had a healthy Tyler Shough at quarterback. But there isn’t much to like about Texas Tech now that he is out with an injury and his backup is also hurt. A bowl game is starting to look unlikely.
11. Houston (3-4, 1-3 Big 12)
Last game: 31-24 loss to Texas
Next game: at Kansas State
Analysis: Donovan Smith threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns in a near upset against the Longhorns. He has been terrific all season, actually. Too bad the Cougars don’t have much of a defense.
12. UCF (3-4, 0-4 Big 12)
Last game: 31-29 loss at Oklahoma
Next game: West Virginia
Analysis: The Knights looked much improved with John Rhys Plumlee at quarterback and nearly pulled off an upset against Oklahoma on Saturday. That provides some hope that this team could still make a run at bowl eligibility.
13. Baylor (3-4, 2-2 Big 12)
Last game: 32-29 win at Cincinnati
Next game: Iowa State
Analysis: The Bears have made the most out of their brand new road trips to UCF and Cincinnati this year, going 2-0 against those opponents with a pair of dramatic victories that came by a total of four points. Unfortunately, Baylor has been subpar in every other setting.
14. Cincinnati (2-5, 0-4 Big 12)
Last game: 32-29 loss to Baylor
Next game: Oklahoma State
Analysis: The Bearcats are the worst team in the Big 12, and I’m not sure it’s all that close. Cincinnati has lost five straight games and is starting to look like a squad that could go without a win in conference play.