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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; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Ishmael Zamora (8) is tackled by Kansas State Wildcats defensive back Kendall Adams (21) and linebacker Sam Sizelove (41) during a game at McLane Stadium. Kansas State won 42-21. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Ishmael Zamora (8) is tackled by Kansas State Wildcats defensive back Kendall Adams (21) and linebacker Sam Sizelove (41) during a game at McLane Stadium. Kansas State won 42-21. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Kansas State Wildcats (Record: 6-4)

Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder is a national treasure, especially on the football front, so it doesn’t surprise me (or anyone) how much his team grapples for wins to preserve his legacy. With that said, its 42-21 victory over Baylor in Waco on Saturday not only made the Wildcats bowl eligible for the seventh consecutive season, it was its first win in Waco since 2002.

More than recording its sixth win on the season, it was an game that perhaps solidified freshman quarterback Alex Barnes as Jesse Ertz successor at quarterback. While Ertz’s production has been on the downslope, Barnes put up insane rushing numbers, accounting for 120 rushing yards in the second-half.

Ertz was 16/25 for 177 passing on Saturday, but a 40 yard run on a fourth down gamble was what Kansas State needed to rev its offense up. Kansas State scored on that drive, and Barnes finished with four rushing touchdowns. While the chemistry was definitely clicking in the second half, turnovers were the first major issue, as both Barnes and Ertz committed one apiece, which turned into Baylor scores both times.

Penalties were also an issue for the Wildcats, who committed eight for 85 yards. Kansas State got a little more disciplined in the second-half, but it just goes to show how important those penalties can be in halting production.

Kansas should be an easy enough victory for the Wildcats on Saturday, but coming off a victory against Texas, expect David Beaty’s team to play hard.

Next Game:

Sat, Nov 26 Kansas State vs. Kansas Manhattan, Kan. 11:00 a.m.  

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