Big 12 Football Power Rankings, Week 11: Is Baylor truly king?
By Dante Pryor
Kansas’ three wins this season are a wonder. Not only that, they put up 48 against Texas. Keep something in mind, this is the time of year where thin teams tend to begin to wear out. Les Miles firing Les Koenning and promoting Brent Dearmon was a good idea — the Jayhawks averaged 21.6 points with Koenning, and are averaging 31.6 with Dearmon. They both have a 48-point game as coordinators, though. That average will decrease because they have two play two of the best defensive teams in the Big 12 to end the season in Iowa State and Baylor.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have been ravaged by injuries this season. Of the nine players currently on the injured list, six of those players are out for the year. All nine players were expected to either start or contribute to the team in some way. Few teams can recover from three or four injuries, there aren’t any teams this side of Clemson or Ohio State that could survive with nine guys out.
In addition to those nine players, two of their defensive backs — one a converted wide receiver — Douglas Coleman and Desmon Smith might not play against West Virginia.
There’s an outside chance the Red Raiders could make a bowl, but that would require they win three of their last four. That might be tough.
The Longhorns were off this week, and no team in the Big 12 needed a bye more. They are beat up, and they’ve lost two of three. They gave up 48 against Kansas in a win. They are another team decimated by injuries — they’re beat up at running back, defensive back, and linebacker.
The offense without a healthy running back has been Sam Ehlinger or bust. They’ve gotten contributions from Keaontay Ingram and Roschon Johnson, but Ehlinger is the workhorse. With Iowa State, Kansas State and Baylor on the schedule to end the season, it’s going to be interesting how many games they win, and if this gets Tom Herman’s seat hot.
The Mountaineers have been game during their four game losing streak. They gave Texas all they could handle, looked out of gas against Iowa State and Georgia, and almost pulled the upset against Baylor. First-year head coach Neil Brown is dealing with a team that’s paper thin at many positions worst being their offensive line. However, they are playing hard.
Their remaining schedule does them some favors with a beat up Texas Tech team and an up and down TCU squad to end the season. If they can find a way to upset either No. 23 Oklahoma State or No. 16 Kansas State, they could go bowling. However, five wins would be impressive for this team.