Big 12 Power Rankings Week 10: WVU Falls, Baylor, TCU, and Oklahoma Rise

Nov 1, 2014; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Jaxon Shipley (8) for a touchdown against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Texas defeated Texas Tech 34-13. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

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7

Texas Longhorns 4-5 (3-3)

Last week: Defeated Texas Tech Red Raiders 34-13
Last rank: 7

We said it even after the shutout against Kansas State. The Texas Longhorns, however slowly, are improving under Charlie Strong. And it showed on Saturday. The defense at least showed how good it can be, and the offense wasn’t bad.

Tyrone Swoopes has steadily gotten better each week with a few bumps in the road, and the defense has been good all year. This is a team that may not make a bowl game because of how deep the Big 12 is, but it is still a heck of a lot better than it was at the start of last month. The Longhorns needed time to adjust to Strong, the discipline approach, and the loss of so many players. Maybe, for the month of November, they can now focus solely on football.

But it would have to pull off some upsets. West Virginia at home and Oklahoma State on the road are very difficult games. Both have to be won if they want to make a bowl, unless they think they can upset TCU at the end.