A new look at the Big 12 power rankings after week two of the conference schedule.
We are through week five in college football, and all but two teams in the Big 12 have played two conference games.
14. Houston (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)
The Cougars got rolled this past week by Texas Tech after they kept it close with the Red Raiders throughout the first half. the defense is an issue, having given up at least 36 points in their three losses this season. They have off this week before a home date against West Virginia.
Up next: Bye
13. Cincinnati (2-3, 0-2 Big 12)
Cincinnati’s two wins are against Eastern Kentucky and then over a Pitt team who continues to look worse and worse as the season goes on. This past week the Bearcats aced a tough challenge having to go cross-country on a short week to play BYU on Friday. They held in there, but would lose by eight.
Up Next: Bye
12. UCF (3-2, 0-2 Big 12)
There are losses and then there are bad losses and that’s what UCF endured this weekend. The Knights led Baylor 35-7 at home, but the Bears came all the way back to win it late. UCF’s best win seems to be over Boise State, but the past two weeks their defense has struggled mightily since they entered conference play. They gave up 44 points to Kansas State and then 35 to Baylor.
Up Next: @ Kansas
11. Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)
The Cowboys were idle this week, but they have two big challenges ahead in Kansas and Kansas State. Luckily for the Pokes, both matchups are in Stillwater. Either way, it’s going to be up to their defense to slow both offenses down.
Up Next: vs Kansas State
10. Iowa State (2-3, 1-1 Big 12)
The only reason Iowa State is ahead of Oklahoma State right now is because of their win over them last week. This week though it was ugly in Norman, as Oklahoma rolled the Cyclones 50-20. In their three losses this season Iowa State is averaging just over 13 points per game.
Up Next: vs TCU
9. Texas Tech (2-3, 1-1 Big 12)
The offense was led by their rushing game with 239 yards and three scores on the ground for the Red Raiders in what was seemingly a get right game for this offense against Houston. The Red Raiders led 35-28 at halftime, but their defense held Houston scoreless in the second half. This is still a good team who gets an in-state matchup against Baylor this week.
Up Next: @ Baylor
8. Baylor (2-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Could this win against UCF have saved Dave Aranda’s job as well as the Bears’ season? Who knows, but that comeback win against the Knights will go a long way for a team who was coming off a bad loss to Texas. The Bears get a home date with the Red Raiders before they have three very winnable games to end October and start November.
Up Next: vs Texas Tech
7. TCU (3-2, 1-1 Big 12)
TCU was shutout in the second half against the Mountaineers. TCU’s defense gave up 201 yards on the ground, a they suffered their second home loss of the season. TCU has two winnable games before a road date with Kansas State.
Up Next: @ Iowa State
6. BYU (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
Welcome to the Big 12 BYU. The Cougars are the first expansion team of the new four teams to get a conference win, doing so at home against Cincinnati. The road win against Arkansas looks good, but the rest of the games have been against low quality opponents besides their loss to Kansas. They have a week off before multiple trips to Texas in October.
Up Next: Bye
5. Kansas (4-1, 1-1 Big 12)
Jalon Daniels missing the game against Texas really left us wondering how good Kansas is. In the end, it might be how good Texas was as the Longhorns rolled the Jayhawks. Kansas returns home to face UCF, but a 40-14 loss in a so-called measuring stick game I don’t think will sit well with many people around Lawrence.
4. Kansas State (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)
Kansas State was off this week, and they are in the same position they were in a week ago. The Wildcats’ loss to Missouri isn’t a bad loss as they find themselves in the top 25, with a 5-0 start to the season.
Up Next: @ Oklahoma State
3. West Virginia (4-1, 2-0. Big 12)
There are three 2-0 teams in the Big 12 and the Mountaineers are one of them. West Virginia got it done again in scrappy and ugly fashion against TCU. A win is a win though and the Mountaineers find themselves in a good spot, with their loss being on the road to Penn State.
Up Next: Bye
2. Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
The Sooners took care of business against Iowa State in what they could have overlooked. Now we get Red River and things should be electric in Dallas this weekend.
Up Next vs Texas
1. Texas (5-0, 2-0 Big 12)
Same story here as with the Sooners. Texas took care of business and now we get probably the two best teams in the Big 12 playing each other this week. Should give us a sense of who’s who at the top of this conference.
Up Next: vs Texas
