Kellis Robinett’s Weekly Big 12 Report: Championship week arrives early

Championship week arrives early for the Big 12 this season.

Baylor heads to TCU on Friday for a game that could play a role in determining the conference title, even if it won’t live up to its preseason billing. Then Oklahoma travels to Oklahoma State on Saturday for one of the most anticipated Bedlam games in history.

Here are the scenarios:

▪ Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) is the only team that controls its destiny. The Sooners can clinch a Big 12 championship with a victory over the Cowboys.

▪ Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1) can win a conference title with a victory over Oklahoma and a loss from Baylor in either of its final two games against TCU and Texas.

▪ Baylor (9-1, 6-1) can win its third-straight league crown if it wins its final two games and Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma.

All three contenders – particularly Oklahoma – can put themselves in position to reach college football’s playoff by winning the conference. But that topic is better left alone until championship week is finished.

“Why would that have anything to do with it?” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said of the playoff talk. “The bottom line is we are trying to win the outright Big 12 title this weekend. That is where all our goals begin and that is the primary thought on our mind.”

Outside of a bizarre loss to Texas, Oklahoma has been the most dominant team in the Big 12. The Sooners handed Baylor its lone loss and held off TCU without star quarterback Baker Mayfield for much of the second half on Saturday.

One more victory would put the finishing touches on an excellent season.

But don’t count out Baylor or Oklahoma State. The Bears hammered the Cowboys with their third-string quarterback, Chris Johnson, playing in relief of backup Jarrett Stidham. If they play the same way against TCU, who is to say they are out of the running for a playoff spot?

And Oklahoma State was the conference’s final undefeated team. A surprising victory at Oklahoma last season sparked the Cowboys to their recent success. They know how to win Bedlam.

“We’ve won a championship and have been in this game many times before,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “November games like this are a lot of fun, and that is what you come here for.”

Big 12 honors Burns again

Kansas State defensive back Morgan Burns is once again the Big 12’s special teams player of the week. Burns, a Wichita native, returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Iowa State on Saturday. It was the second straight game in which he scored. He also returned a kick the distance against Texas Tech.

Rhoads reaction

Iowa State fired Paul Rhoads on Sunday, a day after the Cyclones blew a 35-14 halftime lead against Kansas State by fumbling twice and allowing the Wildcats to score 10 points in the final 1:31. Rhoads was 32-54 in his seventh season. He will coach the Cyclones at West Virginia this weekend.

K-State coach Bill Snyder said he was heartbroken for Rhoads and that his firing “dampens everything considerably.” Rhoads said he was disappointed, but not surprised by the news. On Monday, he said the Cyclones have the talent to be back in a bowl next season.

Power rankings

1. Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1): Bold prediction – the Sooners will make the playoff if they win Bedlam.

2. Baylor (9-1, 6-1): Bears aren’t out of the playoff mix. Two more wins would put them on the bubble.

3. Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1): Cowboys can still win the Big 12 with a victory and a Baylor loss.

4. TCU (9-2, 6-2): Fell one play short of upsetting Oklahoma.

5. West Virginia (6-4, 3-4): Mountaineers could go from 3-4 to 9-4 if they win their bowl.

6. Texas Tech (6-5, 3-5): Beating Texas would make this a special season for the Red Raiders.

7. Texas (4-6, 3-4): Can Texas win its final two games and qualify for a bowl?

8. Kansas State (4-6, 1-6): Saturday’s comeback is a perfect example of why players should never give up.

9. Iowa State (3-8, 2-6): Cyclones are looking for a new coach after losing a heartbreaker at K-State.

10. Kansas (0-11, 0-8): Jayhawks need to beat K-State to avoid a winless season.

This week’s game times

Thursday

Texas Tech at Texas, 6:30 p.m. (FS1)

Friday

Baylor at TCU, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday

Iowa State at West Virginia, 11 a.m. (FS1)

Kansas State at Kansas, 3 p.m. (FS1)

Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m. (ABC)

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 2:38 PM with the headline "Kellis Robinett’s Weekly Big 12 Report: Championship week arrives early."