Kellis Robinett’s weekly Big 12 report: Baylor doesn’t play TCU until November, but they are already in direct competition

The two best football teams in the Big 12 – Baylor and TCU – strolled through Kansas over the weekend and both won games in wildly different ways.

Could they also be the two best football teams in the nation?

If the season ended today, both teams would warrant consideration for a spot in college football’s playoff. Baylor is ranked second in both national polls. TCU is one spot behind. There are 16 undefeated teams left, and the Bears and Horned Frogs appear to be every bit as good as Ohio State, Utah, Clemson, LSU, Florida, Texas A&M and the rest of the unbeatens.

The playoff’s selection committee could have a difficult choice on its hands come December.

Think it’s too early to debate their playoff chances? Think again.

TCU, which owns road victories against Minnesota, Texas Tech and K-State, rallying from 18 points down to beat the Wildcats 52-25 on Saturday, fell a spot in the polls a day after winning a prime time game in suspensful fashion.

“I am tired of hearing about style points,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said.

He has a point. Should any coach really have to defend a 6-0 team, winning games against opponents giving their all for a shot at an monumental upset?

“I told (my players) before the season that this would be how all road games would be if we stayed this high of ranked all season,” Patterson said, “against some of the teams we have to play against. I am not surprised. Now I am just trying to win. I am not trying to be the No. 1 team in the nation. I am just trying to be an undefeated team.”

Next up for TCU is a road game against Iowa State. So it may be a while before it can leap Baylor, which next gets West Virginia at home.

Then again, Baylor oddly jumped TCU after beating Kansas 66-7, a game so lopsided the Bears’ starters took their pads off at halftime up 52-7. Is blowing out the Jayhawks more impressive than outlasting the Wildcats? Apparently, the answer is yes.

Art Briles said he expected a No. 1 ranking when the game ended.

“I think it's in there quite honestly,” Briles said. “I don’t think I have to throw it. I think somebody else is throwing it for us.”

The best thing going for the two best teams in the Big 12 is that there appears to be no dominant team out there. TCU has won close games, but so has No. 1 Ohio State. Baylor hasn’t beaten anyone better than Texas Tech on a neutral field, but neither have the Buckeyes.

The Big 12 race will eventually get sorted out in November, when its best teams begin playing each other. TCU at No. 16 Oklahoma State on Nov. 3 will be big. So will Baylor at Oklahoma State two weeks later.

Then comes the biggest game of all on Nov. 27: Baylor at TCU.

Anyone who watched them combine for 118 points and a pair of victories in the Sunflower State on Saturday is already looking forward to that one.

Big Game Bob?

Much was made about how deerly Texas coach Charlie Strong needed to beat Oklahoma on Saturday.

How about what a bad look the loss was for Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

Sooners fans used to fondly refer to Stoops as Big Game Bob, back when he won a national title, owned Texas and claimed conference championships. On Saturday, his team lost as a 17-point favorite to a Texas team that was off to its worst start in decades. Oklahoma was starting to receive national buzz as a top-10 team with victories over Tennessee and West Virginia. Now the Sooners need to win at Kansas State to remain in the top 25. It appears they are still working to turn the corner from a disappointing 2014.

Power rankings

1. TCU (6-0, 3-0): No defense. Tons of offense. TCU already has three road wins.

2. Baylor (5-0, 2-0): Bears look unstoppable, but their best win is Texas Tech on a neutral field.

3. Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0): Cowboys are masters of the ugly victory.

4. Texas Tech (4-2, 1-2): Red Raiders can really make noise with Baylor, TCU games behind them.

4. Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1): Bob Stoops should never be called Big Game Bob again after inexcusable loss to Texas.

5. West Virginia (3-2, 0-2): Things will only get tougher for the Mountaineers.

6. Kansas State (3-2, 0-2): Wildcats have blown back-to-back halftime leads, once unthinkable.

9. Texas (2-4, 1-2): No one needed a victory last weekend more than Charlie Strong.

8. Iowa State (2-3, 1-1): Will the Cyclones win another game?

10. Kansas (0-5, 0-2): Jayhawks could have used a running clock against Baylor.

Game times for Oct. 24 (announced Monday)

▪ Iowa State at Baylor, 11 a.m. (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2)

▪ Kansas State at Texas, 11 a.m. (Fox Sports 1)

▪ Kansas at Oklahoma State, 2:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

▪ Texas Tech at Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. (ABC or ESPN or ESPN2)

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 4:09 PM with the headline "Kellis Robinett’s weekly Big 12 report: Baylor doesn’t play TCU until November, but they are already in direct competition."