Big 12 Football: Week 7 Power Rankings

With Week 7 of the Big 12 Football calendar in the books, it’s time for another round of conference power rankings.

Some teams dominated, others showed improvement, many showed flashes of defense, and for one team, the exposure of an identity crisis just became a game changer.

But as the Big 12 conference shut down the possibility of expansion for 2017 on Monday, the urgency for teams to come out of their shells and turn the conference into a multi-dimensional power house has never been greater. As some are calling for a disband of the conference, television contracts through 2024 will save it for at least several more years, but by teams improving, prime TV spots and kickoff times could follow, thus increasing validity and profitability. With that said, if I’m a university president and athletics director, I’m doing whatever I can to make sure teams are positioned to be competitive now.

The following power rankings are based on observations for weeks 1-7, while forecasting playoff implications; there are no additional factors, so expect these rankings to change a lot this season based off how powerfully these teams are performing.

For those keeping track, here are my Big 12 Power Rankings from Week 6.

10. Kansas Jayhawks (Record: 1-5)

The Kansas Jayhawks had shown flashes of improvement early in the season, but in its 49-7 loss against Baylor, everything was wiped on account of several issues, and many fear there simply isn’t enough time to make corrections.

Jayhawks quarterback Ryan Willis threw zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Even with inconsistent defenses in the Big 12, that’s about as bad as it gets, regardless of whether Baylor is undefeated or not. In addition to falling flat in the air, Kansas’s running game was held to 48 carries for a total of 83 yards, with three rushers accounting for negative yardage. Against Oklahoma State, that could result in a blowout, and with a recruiting rebuild in the process, Kansas cannot afford to lose the interest of recruits.

ESPN’s matchup indicator is giving the Jayhawks a 5.1 percent shot at winning against Oklahoma State this week. And while trends say the Cowboys will win, it’ll be a victory if the Kansas defense can get to Cowboys’ quarterback Mason Rudolph and limit yards in the air.

Next Game: