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

By Dante Pryor

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 09: Denzel Mims #5 of the Baylor Bears scores a touchdown against Jeff Gladney #12 of the TCU Horned Frogs in the second overtime period at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 09: Denzel Mims #5 of the Baylor Bears scores a touchdown against Jeff Gladney #12 of the TCU Horned Frogs in the second overtime period at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 9: Linebacker Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners wraps up quarterback Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones for no gain in the second half on November 9, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 42-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 9: Linebacker Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners wraps up quarterback Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones for no gain in the second half on November 9, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 42-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

I’ve never been completely completely comfortable when people say a team is “better than their record.” I prefer the saying, “You are what your record says you are.” Iowa State is a team that has learned how to win games without NFL caliber talent with a quarterback that has to do everything in order to win games. They are four one-possession losses from being undefeated.

The Cyclones have a knack for making little mistakes throughout a game, coming out of the blocks slow, or both. These close losses also show they can’t close the deal. Iowa State is exactly who we thought they were — wait Denny Green never coached in the Big 12, did he? Whether he did or didn’t the quote is right. Their record is a reflection of who we thought they were — a 5-4 team that might be 6-6 going into bowl season or 8-4. They are perfectly capable of both.

From unpredictable to dangerous we give you the ‘Pokes from Stillwater. As we look at our framed photo of Jimmy Johnson being carried off the field his last season as coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys two thoughts ran through our heads: Oklahoma State had a run of the job before the job, and Mike Gundy has made it look a heck of a lot easier than it really is and this is a dangerously unpredictable team.

They do have the most dangerous trio in the conference; it just so happens on part of that trio is a freshman quarterback who’s done freshman quarterback things this season. Can this trio get Oklahoma in Bedlam? Probably not, but they should make it fun.

Coming off a disappointing loss to the Texas Longhorns, the Kansas State Wildcats look to regroup and end the season on another three-game winning streak after theirs was snapped. The issues in their close loss to Texas were simple and cliche — they couldn’t run the ball, stop the run, or make the critical play when they needed to.

It’s definitely been fun watching their turnaround this season. These ‘Cats have bought into what head coach Chris Klieman is selling for sure. The finish to their schedule might just bring them one more three-game winning streak and with it a shot at a 10-win campaign.

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