Big 12 Football Power Rankings, Week 6: League wide open after crazy weekend
By Phil Poling
9. 874. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 6. 1-2 (0-2). Texas Tech Red Raiders. player
After pushing Texas to the brink last week, the Red Raiders had another tough test that they did well on but couldn’t quite pass — the Kansas State Wildcats.
The Wildcats, coached by Chris Klieman, look like more than just an up-and-comer in the Big 12. And they were too much for the Red Raiders, who lost 31-21 in Manhattan.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Texas Tech, either, with Iowa State up next. A win could turn their season around, but a loss will create a deeper hole for them to climb from.
1-1 (1-1). Baylor Bears. player. 860. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 5. 8
A win in their eventual-season-opener last weekend pitted the Baylor Bears at No. 5, but dropping a 27-21 bout to West Virginia has forced the Bears to fall to No. 8 in this week’s power rankings.
They were on the road with a shot to win in a game that went into overtime, but the Mountaineers punched in a rushing score after the Bears threw an interception in the end zone. The Mountaineers aren’t world-beaters by any measure, and this is a game Baylor fans will want to have back. Things only get tougher for Baylor, though, as the’ll host 10th-ranked Oklahoma State in their next matchup on Oct. 17.
815. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Last Week: 2. 1-2 (0-2). Oklahoma Sooners. 7. player
Is this the most disappointing start to an Oklahoma football season ever? After handling Missouri State with ease in the opener (48-0), the Sooners have dropped two consecutive games for the first time since 1999 — both of which have come in conference play this season (vs. Kansas State, at Iowa State).
The Spencer Rattler hype train has come to a screeching halt, too, after the freshman failed to give the Sooners’ the lead on their final possession. He still amassed 300 passing yards and three total scores, but it still wasn’t enough to get the job done in Ames.
In Big 12 play, the Sooners are allowing 37.5 points per game while scoring just 32.5. Obviously it’s a small sample size, but they’re still 0-2. I can’t imagine a Lincoln Riley team staying down for long, but if they don’t fix their defensive short-comings, I’m not sure that the offense is strong enough this year to out-right win them games. They play at Texas next, a game that’ll likely destroy whichever fanbase loses.