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Big 12 Football Power Rankings 2018: Is Texas back after Week 7?

By Patrick Mayhorn

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 13: Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns and Breckyn Hager #44 celebrate after the game against the Baylor Bears at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 13: Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns and Breckyn Hager #44 celebrate after the game against the Baylor Bears at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

For the first time all season, West Virginia faced a real test, and, unsurprisingly, they failed. I haven’t been all in on West Virginia all season long, because just like with Texas Tech, I’ve seen this story before. West Virginia is a talented team, their offense is capable of much more than they were on Saturday, and I think they’ll probably find nine wins this season.

However, they’re never winning a national title with their shtick. That’s fine! Almost no one wins a national title! It’s extremely difficult. However, West Virginia’s lack of defense, their tendency to fall in love with the pass, and the fact that they just don’t recruit all that well mean that all they’ll ever be is a pretty good team. That’s what they are this year.

Iowa State and TCU have the exact same record, but are headed in the opposite directions. Since they met in late September, TCU has played just one game, losing to Texas Tech and dropping out of Big 12 contention. Iowa State has beaten Oklahoma State and a top ten West Virginia team, while deploying a starting lineup comprised of 30 percent freshmen. Iowa State’s true freshman quarterback Brock Purdy looks awesome, Matt Campbell has been extremely prepared each of the last two weeks, and the Cyclones are just in a great place right now. I think 9-3 or 8-4 is seriously on the table with how well they’re playing right now. That Texas game looms large.

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