Big 12 Power Ranking After Week 11: Only #1 is set.
The top of the Big 12 conference is set, as TCU secured a spot in the Big 12 Championship game during last week's action. But there was plenty of churn below them as some teams made big statements and others took huge steps back.
So as Big 12 action for Week 12 gets underway let's get into this week's snapshot of the conference.
A quick reminder on how I intend to do this power ranking. It is NOT just going to be restating the standings. It is entirely possible that a team that has a worse record lands higher on the list, especially if they are playing really well as of late. Similarly, it is also not going to be a "who's hottest" list. Instead, it will be a subjective mix of which team is playing better and which team I think IS better, with a tiebreaker going to teams that have significantly outperformed my expectations.
Previous Power Rankings:
- After Week 2
- After Week 3
- After Week 4
- After Week 5
- After Week 6
- After Week 7
- After Week 8
- After Week 9
- After Week 10
So with that, here are the Blue Wings Rising Big 12 Football Power Rankings after Week 11:
1. TCU Horned Frogs (10-0, 7-0 Big 12) (LW: 1 High: 1)
Last Week: 17-10 W at #18 Texas
This Week: at Baylor (6-4, 4-3 Big 12)
There isn't much else to say about this team at this point. They are clearly the best in the conference this year, so it's only a matter of if they slip up in the next three weeks and lose a chance to make it into the College Football Playoff.
2. Kansas State Wildcats (7-3, 5-2 Big 12) (LW: 5 High: 1)
Last Week: 31-3 W at Baylor
This Week: at West Virginia (4-6, 2-5 Big 12)
Even though it took another injury to get Will Howard into the game, there is no doubt any more who the best quarterback is on this roster. The only question now is if he has eliminated the poor decision making that plagued him last year when he played in place of Skylar Thompson.
3. Texas Longhorns (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) (LW: 2 High: 2)
Last Week: 17-10 L vs #4 TCU
This Week: at Kansas (6-4, 3-4 Big 12)
Bijan Robinson is an absolute beast, but TCU showed that it is possible to stop him, and there are questions about what Texas can turn to if he doesn't get going. Sure, they aren't going to face a defense as good as TCU every week, but add adaptability to the growing list of questions about this team..
4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) (LW: 7 High: 3)
Last Week: 43-28 W vs Kansas
This Week: at Iowa State (4-6, 1-6 Big 12)
They got an important win against Kansas, and Tyler Shough got back to the form that made him the starter coming into the season. With two winnable games left on the schedule, it's a good bet that they will do enough to sneak into a bowl in the first year under Joey McGuire.
5. Baylor Bears (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) (LW: 3 High: 3)
Last Week: 31-3 L vs #19 Kansas State
This Week: vs #4 TCU (10-0, 7-0 Big 12)
That was a huge flop. Every time that Baylor reels me back in, they disappoint with an absolute stinker. Every time I get ready to count them out, they somehow come back with a huge step forward. So in other words, they'll get a huge upset of TCU this week to completely destroy any sense of what they actually are this season..
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-3, 4-3 Big 12) (LW: 8, High: 1)
Last Week: 20-14 W vs Iowa State
This Week: at Oklahoma (5-5, 2-5 Big 12)
They were able to right the ship before one of the strangest Bedlam games that I can remember. This game feels like an afterthought, and a lot of that has to do with both of these teams struggling recently. But even a limited Spencer Sanders is better than any of the backup options for Oklahoma State.
7. Kansas Jayhawks (6-4, 3-4 Big 12) (LW: 4, High: 1)
Last Week: 43-28 L at Texas Tech
This Week: vs Texas (6-4, 4-3 Big 12)
It's clear that the Jayhawks miss Jalon Daniels, as Jason Bean made one too many mistakes on the road. But the bigger issue is the run defense, especially when Kansas is on the road. Brian Borland better figure something out this week, as Texas is well equipped to attack a rushing defense if they aren't ready for the challenge that awaits them..
8. Oklahoma Sooners (5-5, 2-5 Big 12) (LW: 6, High 3)
Last Week: 23-20 L at West Virginia
This Week: vs #22 Oklahoma State (7-3, 4-3 Big 12)
I still don't know what this team is, other than bad. And it is weird seeing an Oklahoma team that is bad. Sooner fans better hope that this is a transitional issue, where Brent Venables just needs time to bring in his roster and recover from the exodus of players when Lincoln Riley left.
9. Iowa State Cyclones (4-6, 1-6 Big 12) (LW: 9 High: 5)
Last Week: 20-14 L at Oklahoma State
This Week: vs Texas Tech (5-5, 3-4 Big 12)
They had a chance to pick up a big win against a reeling Oklahoma State team, but they couldn't keep from making big mistakes en route to an excruciating loss. Hunter Dekkers has struggled mightily, and it's still an open question as to whether it is an offensive line issue or a Dekkers issue.
10. West Virginia Mountaineers (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) (LW: 10 High: 8)
Last Week: 23-20 W vs Oklahoma
This Week: vs #15 Kansas State (7-3, 5-2 Big 12)
It was another bizarre win in a bizarre season, and it seems like the Mountaineers may have found something in Garrett Greene. Unfortunately it has come a bit too late to save the season and likely Neal Brown's job, given that AD Shane Lyons was fired earlier this week.
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