Big 12 Football Power Rankings, Week 3: Oklahoma makes early statement
By Phil Poling
0-1. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: N/A. Kansas Jayhawks. 9. 821
After losing to Coastal Carolina during his first season as the Jayhawks’ head coach, Les Miles and Kansas had a repeat performance. They lost to the Sun Belt’s Chanticleers again, this time by a score of 38-23.
It was the second Coastal Carolina win against a Power Five program in their history — both coming against the Jayhawks — and both happened as Kansas played host.
For a coach who dominated the SEC for years as head coach of the LSU Tigers, things aren’t looking great for Miles in Lawrence. And after going 3-9 in year one, with just a single Big 12 victory, it’s highly possible the Jayhawks have an even worse year two under Miles.
player. 823. Scouting Report. Last Week: N/A. Kansas State Wildcats. 8. Pick Analysis. 0-1
After building a 21-7 lead through two quarters, the Kansas State Wildcats surrendered 21 straight points to the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Instead of closing them out, they let another sun Belt team hang around. And the Red Wolves made the Wildcats pay.
Kansas State missed two of their three attempted field goals — that’s six points off the board. They also punted the ball four times. However, they did notch an interception and recover a fumble to boost their chances, but their ground attack on offense was absent much of the afternoon. The Wildcats totaled just 91 yards on 39 carries — a 2.3 yards-per-carry average.
It’s hard to play with a lead when you can’t run the football — or defend the pass. Kansas State’s defense allowed five passing touchdowns — five — to the Red Wolves. Chris Klieman’s second season is off to a rough start.
7. player. 874. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 1-0. Last Week: N/A. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech is another Big 12 team still transitioning to a new head coach, with Matt Wells in his second season at the helm. But unlike the others previously mentioned, the Red Raiders actually notched a win, although it wasn’t pretty.
A win is a win is a win, but when you’re a Power Five team playing Houston Baptist — not the University of Houston, Houston Baptist — and you only win by two points, it’s time to look in the mirror. The Tech offense moved the ball well, totaling 624 yards, but they were penalized 13 times for 104 yards. That isn’t a strategy that breeds success. They also gave up 600 yards to the Huskies. Imagine that defense against Lincoln Riley and the Sooners.
Isn’t pretty, is it? There’s lots of work to be done moving forward, but the Red Raiders are still 1-0.