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Big 12 Football Power Rankings, Week 10: Oklahoma, Iowa State upended

By Dante Pryor

WACO, TX - NOVEMBER 3: Jalan McClendon #19 of the Baylor Bears celebrates after scoring on a 1 yard touchdown run with teammate Sam Tecklenburg #52 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of an NCAA football game at McLane Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
WACO, TX - NOVEMBER 3: Jalan McClendon #19 of the Baylor Bears celebrates after scoring on a 1 yard touchdown run with teammate Sam Tecklenburg #52 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of an NCAA football game at McLane Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – OCTOBER 26: Quarterback Carter Stanley #9 of the Kansas Jayhawks passes during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Memorial Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – OCTOBER 26: Quarterback Carter Stanley #9 of the Kansas Jayhawks passes during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Memorial Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

In the old school football bloopers highlight reel game of the week, Texas Tech was upset by the Kansas Jayhawks 37-34. The Red Raiders are struggling on both sides of the ball, and with injuries. They are giving up almost 40 points per game and are in the midst of a three game losing streak. Kansas is the game that stops streaks, not continues them. Times are ‘a-changin’. They get a crucial bye week to rest up and get healthy before facing West Virginia on Nov. 9.

Rock chalk. The Kansas Jayhawks are out of the bottom spot of the Big 12 power rankings. Put some respect on Les Miles’ name. They escape the cellar with a last second win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. They’ve found an offense the last two games since switching offensive coordinators.

This next statement is going to sound super ridiculous, but there’s a faint chance the Jayhawks could become bowl eligible. It would require three massive upsets in the Big 12, but with four games left, they need to figure out how to win three of them. I have no idea where they come from, but one can dream, right?

Texas is playing about as bad as any team in the Big 12. The Longhorns’ injury woes are an indictment of their lack of talent depth, not an excuse why their defense has been so bad this season. They are surrendering 36 points per game in conference play. Sam Ehlinger can do many things on the football field, but he cannot play defensive back, linebacker or defensive end.

Tom Herman and his staff deserve criticism for their lack of talent depth. There should be a drop-off when your second-string plays, but the drop-off shouldn’t be as significant as it is in Austin.

They’re off this week, and no team needed a bye more than the Longhorns coming down the home stretch in the Big 12 season. Three of their next four won’t be easy. They play a Kansas State team that can play offense all of a sudden, Iowa State and Baylor. If the Bears continue to play the way they’ve been playing, they could be making a playoff push, so that isn’t an easy one either.

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