Big 12 Power Rankings After Week 10: Injuries Have Big Impacts
Once again, there was a big shakeup in the Big 12 Conference this week, as multiple teams got big (either in impact or by margin) wins. But short of TCU clinching a spot in the Big 12 Championship game, there still isn't much clarity about the top teams in the conference
So as Big 12 action for Week 11 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:
So with that, here are the Blue Wings Rising Big 12 Football Power Rankings after Week 10:
1. TCU Horned Frogs (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) (LW: 1 High: 1)
Last Week: 34-24 W vs Texas Tech
This Week: at Texas (6-3, 4-2 Big 12)
Last week was the perfect example of something we've been saying all year long: that any team can win on any week. It is fair to question TCU at this point, despite the unbeaten record, because at some point they are going to have to play a team that doesn't lose their starting quarterback during the game. Win this week and you can put all those questions to rest.
2. Texas Longhorns (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) (LW: 3 High: 3)
Last Week: 34-27 W at #13 Kansas State
This Week: vs #4 TCU (9-0, 6-0 Big 12)
I was worried about having the Texas Longhorns at 3 last week because of their difficulty in finishing out games. And they justified that concern by nearly giving up a huge halftime lead against Kansas State. So here we are again, with Texas in a spot more because I can't figure out who deserves to be ahead of them, not because I think they are the second best in the conference right now.
3. Baylor Bears (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) (LW: 5 High: 5)
Last Week: 38-35 W at Oklahoma
This Week: vs #19 Kansas State (6-3, 4-2 Big 12)
The Baylor Bears have quietly impressed this season despite the loss on the road to West Virginia. Blake Shapen hasn't been a world beater by any means, but he has done enough to take advantage of what the defense has done, and they are in position to get back to the Big 12 Championship this season if they can finish strong.
4. Kansas Jayhawks (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) (LW: 8, High: 1)
Last Week: 37-16 W vs #18 Oklahoma State
This Week: at Texas Tech (4-5, 2-4 Big 12)
At first glance, this seems like a big bump for the Kansas Jayhawks after beating a depleted Oklahoma State team, but this is more about adjusting the expectations for the level of play on the offense with Jason Bean at quarterback instead of Jalon Daniels. Last week, we saw an offense that got back to being creative and finding new ways to keep teams off balance, and a defense that is much healthier and ready to do some damage.
5. Kansas State Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) (LW: 2 High: 1)
Last Week: 34-27 L vs #24 Texas
This Week: at Baylor (6-3, 4-2 Big 12)
I don't know what it is about the Kansas State Wildcats when Adrian Martinez is on the field, but I just know it isn't good. I don't know if Will Howard is able to handle the upcoming stretch for this team, but I do know that the offense gets much more one-dimensional when Martinez leads them, which makes them much easier to defend, as long as you execute properly.
6. Oklahoma Sooners (5-4, 2-4 Big 12) (LW: 4, High 3)
Last Week: 38-35 L vs Baylor
This Week: at West Virginia (5-4, 2-4 Big 12)
The Oklahoma Sooners don't seem to know what their team identity is, and I'm in the same boat with them. Every single week, I think they have finally figured out how they plan to be successful. Every week they find new ways to disappoint. This week, it was Dillon Gabriel throwing three interceptions and a defense unable to get consistent pressure in a game there Oklahoma needed a win.
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) (LW: 7 High: 3)
Last Week: 34-24 L at #7 TCU
This Week: vs Kansas (6-3, 3-3 Big 12)
That was a painful loss for Texas Tech, as the aggressiveness of Joey McGuire and his staff put the team in some very difficult situations down the stretch. The quarterback situation is an issue, as now all the starting quarterback have suffered a significant injury at some point this season. With Tyler Shough or Donovan Smith starting, the ceiling for this team falls. But they will get a chance at home against Kansas to get back on track.
8. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) (LW: 6, High: 1)
Last Week: 36-17 L at Kansas
This Week: vs Iowa State (4-5, 1-5 Big 12)
Um, yikes...
The Oklahoma State Cowboys completely feel apart last week, which isn't entirely unexpected given the number of significant injuries they were dealing with. Without Spencer Sanders, it's difficult to know how low the floor is on this team. Add in all the other missing players, and they could be racing to the bottom.
9. Iowa State Cyclones (4-5, 1-5 Big 12) (LW: 10 High: 5)
Last Week: 31-14 W vs West Virginia
This Week: at Oklahoma State (6-3, 3-3 Big 12)
With their first victory in the conference this season, the Iowa State Cyclones finally looked like the team we expected to see this year: one with a great defense and a competent but young offense. The coaching staff finally send to have figured out how to support Hunter Dekkers properly, and they'll get a good chance to build some confidence this week against Oklahoma State.
10. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) (LW: 9 High: 8)
Last Week: 31-14 L at Iowa State
This Week: vs Oklahoma (5-4, 2-4 Big 12)
That was an ugly loss for the West Virginia Mountaineers in Ames last week, and at this point it's only a matter of time before Neal Brown is gone. The team is undisciplined and just plain not very good, and I'm still baffled at how they managed to beat Baylor this season.
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