Wow! What a great weekend for Big 12 football with upsets, blowouts, and even a double-overtime game! The Big 12 is being portrayed as a joke this year, however, this is how it is every year. The only difference being now Oklahoma is losing. There is still one team who could make the College Football Playoffs and that team is ranked #10 in the latest AP poll. As always feedback and comments are appreciated by you guys. Here it is; Big 12 Power Rankings for Week 4.
10. Kansas (0-3) (0-2 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 10th
Next Opponent: @ West Virginia (Oct. 17th)
After getting blown out for the third straight game to start the season there is not much to look forward to for the Jayhawks this season as it is very likely they will not get a win. Les Miles will have difficulty motivating his guys after a 47-7 loss to Oklahoma State at home. But on the bright side, Kansas is tied with Oklahoma in the Big 12 rankings. Expect the Jayhawks to get blown out again as they head to Morgantown next week.
9. Texas Tech (1-2) (0-2 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 9th
Next Opponent: @ #24 Iowa State (Oct. 10th)
Texas Tech has fought hard in their two big 12 games this season coming down to the wire with Texas and keeping it close with Kansas State last Saturday. Quarterback, Alex Bowman, was injured during the game against the Wildcats, potentially costing them a win. The Red Raiders have another tough match this week with a trip up to Ames, Iowa, to face the Cyclones. If Bowman doesn't play, anticipate a blowout.
8. Baylor (1-1) (1-1 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 4th
Next Opponent: #10 Oklahoma St. (Oct. 17th)
Baylor has showed me they are very overrated and that they have a lot to still get settled after changing head coaches last season. Quarterback, Charlie Brewer, threw two interceptions last week, one of which came in the endzone in overtime costing the Bears the win. The Baylor offense also struggled to capitalize on their good field position stemming from four Mountaineers turnovers. Baylor will need to figure a lot of things out if they want to score even a point against the top 10 nationally ranked defense of Oklahoma State in their matchup on October 17th.
7. Oklahoma (1-2) (0-2 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 3rd
Next Opponent: #22 Texas (Oct. 10th) (Dallas, TX)
If they want to remain competitive, the Sooners need to realize soon that other teams in the Big 12 such as Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Kansas State are developing and recruiting better than they are. Iowa State dominated the ground game against Oklahoma with Breece Hall rushing for 139 yards and two scores. Iowa's quarterback, Brock Purdy, was good enough to get the win and the defense came up huge in the 4th quarter when they picked off Spencer Rattler's throw in the endzone to end the game. Rattler is a very talented QB he just needs to be developed, which is something Lincoln Riley hasn't had to do as a Head Coach. Oklahoma will try to avoid starting 0-3 in conference play when they head to Dallas to play a Texas team that was also upset on Saturday.
6. West Virginia (2-1) (1-1 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 6th
Next Opponent: Kansas (Oct. 17th)
In an unimpressive performance on Saturday, the Mountaineers beat a Baylor team that couldn't get anything to go there way. WVU has had a sloppy start to conference play with five turnovers and only five touchdowns in two games. However, West Virginia's defense is legitimately showing some life for a Big 12 title game birth after Oklahoma and Texas both lost on Saturday. The Mountaineers will have a cake walk next Saturday when they welcome Kansas to Morgantown.
5. TCU (1-1) (1-1 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 8th
Next Opponent: Kansas State (Oct. 10th)
Before I rank TCU ahead of Texas I want to see if their win over the Longhorns last week was a fluke or not. They really showed that they are a threat in the Big 12 and they could easily get into the conference's title game. Max Duggan showed out on Saturday and led his team to an upset victory over Texas. Kansas State will come to TCU on Saturday to give the Horned Frogs a match that, surprisingly, will be very fun to watch as long as their quarterback, Skylar Thompson, plays.
4. Kansas State (2-1) (2-0 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 5th
Next Opponent: @ TCU (Oct. 10th)
Kansas State is a legitimate team only when Skylar Thompson is playing. Although they were still in control, the Wildcats looked a little rough against a tough Red Raider team last week. But when Thompson left the game, things changed completely and led to Texas Tech keeping it close. Kansas State can prove that they are real threats to the Big 12 title if they can pull out a victory when they play TCU on Saturday.
3. Texas (2-1) (1-1 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 2nd
Next Opponent: Oklahoma (Oct 10th) (Dallas, TX)
Texas is a very good team and they got caught slipping by a TCU squad that was grossly underrated by everyone, including myself. Texas needs to try and get the defense in order and teach their running backs to hold onto the ball. If Ingram got into the endzone, Texas would still be the best shot for the a Big 12 CFP birth. Expect this Texas v Oklahoma game to be very close as both teams are trying to prove something. I expect Texas to win this game closely but don't be surprised if Oklahoma prevails.
2. Iowa State (2-1) (2-0 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 7th
Next Opponent: Texas Tech (Oct. 10th)
The Cyclones beat the Sooners in Ames on Saturday for the first time since 1960 in impressive fashion. The Cyclones are now real threats for the Big 12 title and are looking to go on a run for a big bowl birth. The Cyclones pounded the ball on Saturday to set up Brock Purdy passes and the defense stepped up when it needed to. Iowa State will matchup with Texas Tech on Saturday. Look for them to win by moving the ball through the air consistently.
1. Oklahoma State (3-0) (2-0 Conf.)
Previous Rank: 1st
Next Opponent: @ Baylor (Oct. 17th)
Hello to all of the people who called me crazy or stupid thinking that the Cowboys were the best team in the Big 12 (Myles and Paul). The Cowboy defense is ranked top 10 nationally with rankings of 1st in 3rd down conversion percentage, 6th in scoring defense, and 7th in total defense. Malcolm Rodriguez leads the NCAA with five forced fumbles and Rodarius Williams has not allowed a single yard while in coverage in 70 snaps. The offense is coming along with a bye week to get Spencer Sanders back to full health. Expect this team to come firing on offense next saturday when they play in primetime on ABC in Waco.