Big 12 Football Power Rankings 2017: West Virginia rising in Week 4

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LUBBOCK, TX – SEPTEMBER 16: Dylan Cantrell #14 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes a leaping catch during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils on September 16, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 52-45. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

It’s hard to place the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the middle tier of the Big 12. They’re one step above Kansas, Baylor, and Iowa State, but might not be on the same level as the Texas Longhorns, West Virginia Mountaineers, Kansas State Wildcats, etc.

First-year starting quarterback Nic Shimonek threw for just under 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns through only two games. Yet, Texas Tech faces their toughest test yet in superstar defensive tackle Ed Oliver and the Houston Cougars.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is fighting for his job and doing a good job so far. The Red Raiders have defeated a PAC-12 opponent they lost to last year and dominated a well-known FCS program. A win against Houston would prove that Texas Tech could make some noise this year.

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