Big XII Power Rankings - Week 12

Power Rankings

1. Oklahoma – Still the front runner for the Big XII championship after disposing Baylor in Norman. The defense looked vulnerable, but the offense looked all but perfect. Bradford and Co. continue to roll as the QB looks for history against Texas Tech. Bradford is just 2 TDs away from Colt McCoy’s freshman passing TDs record set just last year.
2. Kansas – Mark Mangino has Kansas still rolling. If Kansas can avoid looking past a threatening Iowa State, they could be set for what could be the game of the year—nationally. Kansas and Missouri would most likely both be ranked Top 5 in the country with Big XII and National Championship hopes alive for both teams. Can you say ESPN College GameDay?
3. Missouri – Same story goes for Missouri. They can’t avoid looking past a Kansas State team that just got ravaged by Nebraska. Nebraska got 76 scored on them, then turned around and put up 73 on Kansas State. If the trend continues, Kansas State should be in the 70’s. Not so fast, however, says Chase Daniel and crew. They’re the team in this game that’s looking for the new bar set in the Big XII of 70 points.
4. Texas – Mack Brown has his Longhorns sitting pretty right now. Barring a complete collapse in Norman, Brown’s squad is prime for 2^nd in the South and a BCS birth. How does it work? Kansas beats Missouri, then gets pelted by OU in the Big XII Championship. The Longhorns would be on a 6 game win streak, including several emotional ones, and their fan base is huge. Their the sleeper right now in the BCS picture.
5. Oklahoma State – This middle crew is where it gets dicey. You have a Cowboys team that is 3-3 in the Big XII, with some losses to strong teams. They’re probably not the 5^th best team in the conference, but there isn’t anyone else to take the spot. I’d say State and Tech could be easily alternated.
6. Texas Tech – Tech has had some problems putting it together this season. Lately they’ve been up and down, and last week’s shootout in Texas was a bummer for Raider fans. Mike Leach obviously was displeased with the game, but his displeasure wasn’t with his team. This team can be lethal, but it can also be stagnant. The opposing team’s defense always has to be on their toes, and that goes especially for the Sooners this weekend.
7. Texas A&M – Nothing on the field can overshadow what is going on off of it. Dennis Franchione is on his way out, and I’m wondering if he is getting distracted. Auburn getting thrashed at Georgia only heightens the senses that Tommy Tuberville is on his way over. Aggie nation should be looking ahead to good years and needs to forget about this one.
8. Colorado – Last week I said this team was the best 5-5 team in the country. Now they’re just an average 5-6 team that could miss out on a bowl. It’s disappointing that a team that can beat the #3 team in the country can also lose to Iowa State and Kansas State. Buffalo fans shouldn’t worry too much because Dan Hawkins and his son has the program back on the rise.
9. Iowa State – Gene Chizik scored another positive for the Cyclones by beating Colorado. The team isn’t bowl bound, but these victories and little moral victories are adding up. ISU is rolling on a 2-game win streak, but that will probably not last long. The Cyclones face a Missouri squad that badly wants that Big XII Championship that could propel them to the BCS National Championship. However, don’t rule out an upset, as Mizzou is bound to be looking ahead to that Kansas match-up in Kansas City.
10. Nebraska – They get some kudos for putting up 73 on Kansas State, but that’s about the only thing good to say about the ‘Huskers. Factoring out that game, Nebraska has been a punching bag for most of the year. USC put up 49, Ball State scored 40 in a loss, Missouri lit them up for 41, Oklahoma State put up 45, A&M scored 36, and Kansas put up seventy-six. Where’d the Black Shirts go??? Callahan is most likely done, as is Nebraska’s prestige. Who will win it back for Husker Nation?
11. Kansas State – This team was breaking through. They had pushed Auburn to the brink and beat up a very good Texas squad in Austin. The Wildcats were ranked and looked to pose a threat in the North. They lost to Kansas then looked like they were back on track against Colorado. But the team just fell apart, losing a nail-biter to OSU, falling to Iowa State, and then getting destroyed by a bad Nebraska team with a back-up under center. Where did all that potential go? To 2008? I guess we’ll see. Kansas State could easily lose 2 more, one to Missouri and one at Fresno State.
12. Baylor – No surprise here. The Bears have been all but destroyed in conference, and word is floating around that Guy Morriss is on his way out. Who out there wants to take over a Baylor squad that is most likely going to finish 0-8 in the Big XII? There is little promise for this school, but people said that about Vanderbilt not too long ago.