Week 6 Big 12 Power Rankings

There were a bunch of close Big 12 games this past weekend, and while the conference might be having a down year, there appears to be a lot of parity that should keep the games each weekend entertaining.

1. Baylor [5-0]: W @ Iowa State (LW: 1)

Baylor did it again. They played down to their opponent in the first half before storming back late in the game.

2. West Virginia [4-0]: W vs. Kansas State (LW: 2)

I expected the Mountaineers to win by more than one point, but a victory against that Kansas State defense is solid nonetheless.

3. Oklahoma [2-2]: W @ TCU (LW: 3)

Had the Sooners not let the Frogs creep back into the game late in the second half, they might have made a stronger statement to start conference play. Still, they look pretty good heading into the Red River Rivalry game against Texas.

4. Oklahoma State [2-2]: W vs. Texas (LW: 5)

The Cowboys look far from flawless, but notched a double digit win over the Horns regardless.

5. TCU [3-2]: L vs. Oklahoma (LW: 6)

TCU is still too inconsistent within games to move up from the middle of the pack, though their comeback effort was borderline heroic.

6. Texas [2-2]: L @ Oklahoma State (LW: 4)

“Texas is back” to being a .500 football team.

7. Kansas State [2-2]: L @ West Virginia (LW: 8)

The Wildcats played the Mountaineers much closer than I thought they would, especially given that the game was in Morgantown. The defense is stout, but the offense has to do more for Kansas State to be competitive in Big 12 play.

8. Texas Tech [3-1]: W vs. Kansas (LW: 7)

I’m not sure how competitive the Red Raiders would have been with Mahomes in the starting lineup. If he misses significant time (and to be clear, I have no clue how much time he’ll miss, if any), Texas Tech will have an even harder time racking up conference wins. They could prove a lot by stealing a victory in Manhattan, with or without Mahomes.

9. Iowa State [1-4]: L vs. Baylor (LW: 9)

The Cyclones played Baylor way closer than anyone thought they would. After a slow start, perhaps they’re turning a corner at just the right time.

10. Kansas [1-3]: L @ Texas Tech (LW: 10)

After Iowa State bounced back from a slow start by winning and losing a close one to the Big 12 frontrunner at the moment, Kansas appears locked into the cellar for the rest of the season. Sorry, Jayhawks.