Big 12 Football Power Rankings, Week 12: Baylor, Oklahoma survive scares

This is usually the time of year when thin teams run out of gas, and the Kansas Jayhawks are paper thin. Les Miles has done a wonderful job with this team so far, but as his show indicates he has “Miles to go.” They’ve not been awful, but the talent differential is obvious. This is the “get-got” season, but looking at the back end of the Jayhawks’  schedule — Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Iowa State — they aren’t getting anyone.

The Mountaineers are one of those teams running out of gas due to a lack of depth. Their offensive line hasn’t been very good the last month and a half, and they can’t run the football. That is a recipe for a five-game losing streak. Neal Brown can coach and recruit, so hopefully in this “get-got” season they might get someone before it’s all said and done. If I’m TCU at the end of the season, I’d be careful even at home.

How do you cure a three-game losing streak? Play the Mountaineers. That’s exactly what the Red Raiders did, and they roughed up the men from Morgantown 38-17.

At 4-5, they are on the outside looking in at going to a bowl, and the back end of their schedule did them no favors. They have Kansas State, TCU and Texas. Injuries have played a part in their record, and their struggles this season. So have their close losses to Kansas, Arizona, Baylor and Iowa State. Going .500 in those games puts them at 6-3, and 6-3 looks a heck of a lot better than 4-5.

Here at headquarters, we love correlating song lyrics and our favorite football teams. We love TCU because who else makes a frog look tough and with horns? Hey, is a horned frog purple?

This was supposed to be the big bounce back year. That’s what Gary Patterson does, right? The Horned Frogs go 7-6 last season and win the ugliest and most fun bowl — name included. So, 2019 has to be a 10-win season, and then we hear they’re playing a freshman quarterback. This has been our feeling about TCU all season.

 I’m an ever rollin’ wheel, without a destination real
I’m an ever spinning top, whirling around till I drop
Oh but what am I to do, my mind is in a whirlpool
Give me a little hope, one small thing to cling to
You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)
You got me going in circles
(Oh round and round I go, I’m spun out over you)

— The Friends Of Distinction, You’ve Got Me Going In Circles

We still love coach, and with West Virginia and Texas Tech left on the schedule, you still have shot a bowl and back-to-back 7-6 seasons.