Big 12 Baseball Power Rankings: Besides Texas at the Top, The Rest Is Anyone’s Game

Disclaimer: The rankings below are for the games played through Sunday, April 16. Midweek games played since Sunday will be reflected on next week’s Power Rankings.

Last weekend, there were several series that changed the current Big 12 standings. Texas won a series over Baylor but kept their lead at a half-game because of a sweep by K-State over Kansas. West Virginia won a road series at Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech took care of business in Norman. TCU played a nonconference series, losing two of the three games to UNC-Wilmington.

But which team is the best? Each week, during the baseball season, we will bring you our Power Rankings, where we decide how the nine teams in the league stand.

We have brought together a group from across the league to vote each week during the season on the Big 12 Power Rankings. There are 21 participants in this group, which consists of the KillerFrogs editorial staff plus one or two fans from each of the other schools in the league. Each week, each participant provides their rankings 1-9. Those rankings are compiled, and the average rank is then listed below. (For those of you counting, Iowa State does not play baseball).

This week, Texas is decidedly the top choice. And Baylor was decidedly the last choice. There is nearly a 50-point spread between Texas at number one and KSU at number two. There is only a 34-point spread between KSU at number two and OSU at number six, meaning those five teams are tightly bunched and could easily change next week. Then there’s another 50-point spread between OSU and number 7 Kansas.

National rankings listed are based on current rankings by D1Baseball. Team records are through April 16 and do not include midweek games from this week.

Big 12 Baseball Power Rankings

9. Baylor (13-23, 5-10)

Last week #9

Baylor had a couple of good games against Texas last weekend, winning one. Texas won the series, which was not enough to move the Bears off the bottom rung of our Power Rankings ladder. They travel to Lubbock this weekend, so barring a miracle, don’t expect movement next week.

8. Oklahoma (19-18, 4-8)

Last week #8

Congratulations on your back-to-back national championship – in gymnastics! Between that and softball, that seems to be all that’s going right in Norman these days. We’ve said it before, but for a baseball team that was the national runner-up last year, oh, what a difference a year makes.

7. Kansas (17-18, 5-7)

Last week #6

Much like the Sooners, Kansas seems just to be waiting for another sports season to arrive and once again be relevant. However, we’ve got another seven months until hoops season gets here. They host a struggling OSU squad this weekend, so maybe? Doubtful, however!

6. Oklahoma State (24-13, 8-7)

Last week #3

Oklahoma State dropped from the rankings this week after losing back-to-back conference series. Picked as one of the pre-season favorites, the Pokes have struggled and been inconsistent the last few weeks. They travel to Lawrence this weekend, so let’s see if they can shake off their latest woes and get back on the track we all thought they’d be on this season.

5. TCU (22-14, 7-5)

Last week #2

Read that OSU paragraph and repeat it for the Horned Frogs. TCU has been the epitome of inconsistency this season. How can a team beat top-ranked teams like Vandy and Arkansas but can’t pull off midweek wins over teams they should beat? Starting pitching has been an issue. You can’t give up six runs in the first three innings and expect your offense, as explosive as it can be, to always play from behind.

4. West Virginia (23-11, 5-4)

Last week #4

The Mountaineers are moving along right in the middle of the pack, doing what they must. They won a road series in Stillwater last weekend. They host TCU this weekend. They could quietly become a contender in the Big 12 race if they keep up with what they’ve been doing.

3. #16 Texas Tech (25-12, 6-6)

Last week #5

The Red Raiders have had some odd losses this season. They got swept in Austin, lost to teams like North Dakota State and New Mexico, and then had series wins over TCU and Oklahoma State. They are now one of only two teams from the league ranked in this week’s D1Baseball’s Top 25. They host Baylor this weekend with hopes of improving their conference record and national standing.

2. Kansas State (23-14, 9-6)

Last week #7

A sweep of their instate rival last weekend in the Sunflower Showdown boosted the Wildcats to second place in the Big 12 standings this week and in these rankings. Their jump from No. 7 last week to No. 2 this week is the most significant jump by any team this season. Are they that good, or is the rest of the league just not as good as expected? Either way, as we asked weeks ago, could this be the Year of the Cats with successful football, men’s basketball, and baseball seasons? Perhaps!

1. #14 Texas (26-12, 8-4)

Last week #1

Sure, the Longhorns are still at the top of the league standings. But their lead is just a half-game over KSU and a game over TCU. They did get the series win over Baylor last weekend. They are the highest-ranked team nationally among the Big 12 squads. And yes, the road to a conference championship looks to wind through Austin this year. But Texas must handle business with Oklahoma this weekend to remain at the top.

Note: Power Rankings are determined by a group of fans representing most schools currently in the Big 12 Conference.

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