Another wild week in the Big 12. Iowa State nearly knocks off the Corn for a second year in a row, Tech beats the once mighty Mizzou in Lubbock, K-State owns Texas and Oklahoma falls to an A&M team that now looks completely different since the benching of preseason offensive player of the year Jerrod Johnson.
What's going on? It's madness in November! College football is shaping up to be as wild as college basketball anymore. Perhaps that bodes well for the future of our Kansas Jayhawks as anymore it seems the gap between the top and the bottom has narrowed.
1. Oklahoma State
How They Fared: 55-28 win over Baylor
Week Eleven: Texas
Previous Ranking #5
I should have stuck with my instincts. Early in the year I had the Cowboys at or near the top and minus a loss to the Corn they didn't do anything to deserve the drop. What they did do is fly under the radar and emerge at the top in complete control of their own destiny. Oklahoma State handled a good Baylor team on Saturday and now sit just four games away from making T. Boone Pickens one happy man. Who says money can't buy you happiness?
2. Nebraska
How They Fared: 31-30 win over Iowa State
Week Eleven: Kansas
Previous Ranking #2
Somebody has to be #2. Right now the Huskers have the best resume, but they sure don't feel like the same team they were just a few weeks ago. A bit of a quarterback shuffle, and some problems in Ames might raise further concern in Lincoln. What's scary to think is that the only thing standing between the Corn and what would be National Title talk is a loss to Texas. The same Texas that EVERYONE is beating this year. The same Texas that Nebraska fans had built up as their Superbowl this season. Bet somebody wishes they had a mulligan on that one.
3. Texas A&M
How They Fared: 33-19 win over Oklahoma
Week Eleven: Baylor
Previous Ranking #8
#3 might have been the toughest pick this week. Oklahoma lost, Mizzou lost, Baylor lost, Kansas State beat Texas but is that enough? The answer is no. Texas A&M made a quarterback change a few weeks back and since that move they've looked much better offensively. A three game win streak after a four game skid and they're back in the top half of the South. This week they get a chance to jump up another notch as they take on Baylor and then they'll need some help but Oklahoma State is in view.
4. Baylor
How They Fared: 55-28 loss to Oklahoma State
Week Eleven: Texas A&M
Previous Ranking #4
It's crazy to think that Baylor was one game away from controlling their own destiny. Art Briles definitely seems to have the program on track. Obviously a big part of that is a down Big 12 South, but he didn't make the schedule and he's won 7 games by beating the team in front of them. Two more very tough tests remain. Win one and Baylor will be sitting at 8 wins, a winning conference record and at least a pair of victories over top 25 opponents.
5. Kansas State
How They Fared: 39-14 win over Texas
Week Eleven: Mizzou
Previous Ranking #7
Kansas State owns Texas winning their last three games against the Longhorns. Can ANYONE else say that? Beyond that Bill Snyder owns Missouri and this week the Wildcats take a trip to Columbia for a matchup against a team reeling after a tough loss in Lubbock. Two weeks ago Kansas State looked like they could be headed toward a four game skid in the conference. After snagging a solid win against Texas, they could very well be the favorite against the Tigers.
6. Missouri
How They Fared: 24-17 loss to Texas Tech
Week Eleven: Kansas State
Previous Ranking #3
I believe the Tigers are better than this, but in what has become classic Gary Pinkel fashion a Tiger team sitting on the brink of greatness can't get over the hump and trips on the way back down. The Tigers let a loss in Lincoln turn into two in Lubbock this past Saturday. Now a well coached and tricky Kansas State Wildcat team comes to Columbia looking to take the skid to three.
7. Oklahoma
How They Fared: 33-19 loss to Texas A&M
Week Eleven: Texas Tech
Previous Ranking #1
Oklahoma now sits at fourth in the Big 12 South. There wins in the Big 12 are over Iowa State, Colorado and Texas. Not that impressive of a list. With games against Baylor, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State remaining the Sooners could redeem themselves a bit, but is anyone sure they will?
8. Iowa State
How They Fared: 31-30 loss to Nebraska
Week Eleven: Colorado
Previous Ranking #6
Iowa State was one throw away from reaching bowl eligibility for the second year in a row. One throw away from beating Nebraska in back to back years to close out the series. Problem was the holder decided to throw it like a girl and Nebraska picked of a surprise 2 point conversion to clinch the win. I still have a lot of respect for the job Paul Rhoades has done. Close out the season with a win or two and head to a bowl. That would be a nice deal for the Cyclones.
9. Texas Tech
How They Fared: 24-17 win over Mizzou
Week Eleven: Oklahoma
Previous Ranking #10
Texas Tech beat Mizzou, Mizzou beat Oklahoma. So Tech should beat Oklahoma right? A win get's them to bowl eligibility and even without a win over the Sooners that should be easy with games against Weber State and SMU still on the schedule.
10. Texas
How They Fared: 39-14 loss to Kansas State
Week Eleven: Oklahoma State
Previous Ranking #9
Wow, just wow. Who would have ever thought? Texas sits in last place in the South. Last place despite consistently landing more talent in the first month of recruiting than some teams manage in the entire calendar year. Right now with games against Oklahoma State, Florida Atlantic and Texas A&M remaining, the Longhorns will need an upset to go bowling.
11. Kansas
How They Fared: 52-45 win over Colorado
Week Eleven: Nebraska
Previous Ranking #12
YES!!! A comeback to remember and what it does is definitively say that Colorado is the worst team in the conference. I think. Either way Kansas gets out of the basement and into the #11 spot for this weeks power rankings. Before I said they'd have to win two in a row for me to move them up, but when you beat the #11 team in the rankings, it has to happen.
12. Colorado
How They Fared: 52-45 loss to Kansas
Week Eleven: Iowa State
Previous Ranking#11
How does one recover from a game like that? Go play intramurals brother, go play intramurals.