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Big 12 Football: Week 11 Power Rankings

By VF Castro

Nov 19, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners players celebrate after scoring a second quarter touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners players celebrate after scoring a second quarter touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Ames, IA, USA; The Iowa State Cyclones celebrate with fans after their win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Red Raiders 66 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Ames, IA, USA; The Iowa State Cyclones celebrate with fans after their win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones beat the Red Raiders 66 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Iowa State Cyclones (Record: 3-8)

Last week I wrote, “Is it possible for Iowa State to beat Texas Tech? Absolutely. They’re a threatening team, that always plays Big 12 teams with a certain level of intensity you wouldn’t expect from a team that just can’t seem to get over the hump.” That’s a verbatim quote from my Week 11 Power Rankings, but nobody seemed to listen. Newsflash to Big 12 people, Iowa State is a good team, and first year head coach Matt Campbell has a lot to be excited about moving forward.

The Cyclones completely routed the Red Raiders 66-10 in Ames, shutting Texas Tech’s bowl hopes, and perhaps, could be the determining factor should Kliff Kingsbury be fired at the end of the season. In response to the win, Matt Campbell said, “Nothing surprises me with our team. I think we’ve got a chance to do great things here.”

Iowa State has been utilizing a dual quarterback system this season in Joel Lanning and Jacob Park, which has also been effective the the Longhorns in Shane Buechele and Tyrone Swoopes. With that scheme, it makes it pretty easy to catch defenses off guard, even knowing how predictable the plays could be. Lanning had a record five rushing touchdowns on the day, with Park throwing for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Lanning is a junior, and Park is a sophomore, so expect that to continue to be Iowa State’s approach next season, too.

With West Virginia headed to Ames on Saturday, let’s hope Dana Holgorsen isn’t taking the Cyclones lightly, because they’ve proven themselves at this point.

Next Game:

Sat, Nov 26 Iowa State vs. West Virginia Ames, Iowa FS1
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