Going into college football’s fourth weekend of the season the Big 12 Conference had two undefeated teams remaining. While the conference also left the weekend with two undefeated teams, it’s becoming more and more clear that there isn’t a playoff caliber team in this league right now. That doesn’t necessarily mean there aren’t any good teams in the conference, as this week’s Good, Bad, & Ugly will show, it just means there aren’t any great teams.
The Good
TCU Horned Frogs | When you’re 3-1 with wins over South Dakota State, Iowa State, and SMU, you really don’t have that “quality victory” notched in your belt just yet. However, the Frogs have done enough to work their way back into the Top 25, following their 33-3 win at SMU, and will have the opportunity for get their marquee victory this weekend when they host Oklahoma.
Baylor Bears | A 35-24 win over Oklahoma State kept the Bears perfect on the season and also gave them a slight boost in the polls. Baylor checks in at #13 this week, in the AP, and is facing Iowa State (in Ames) and Kansas in their next two games. I see 6-0 on Baylor’s horizon!
Iowa State Cyclones | Good for you Matt Campbell! After a dismal stat to the season, Campbell recorded his first win as the ISU head coach when the Cyclones dismantled San Jose State 44-10. The biggest nugget coming from the game was the play of quarterback Jacob Park who completed 15/19 passes for 165 yards and three scores.
West Virginia Mountaineers | Quietly the 3-0 Mountaineers have built the best resume in the Big 12 thus far. Before taking out BYU (35-32) on Saturday, WVU had already handed the Missouri Tigers their first loss of the season (26-11) on opening weekend. A win over Kansas State, in Morgantown, this Saturday should put them in the Top 25.
Kansas State Wildcats | Let’s hear it for defense! In a league where offenses explode, 2-1 Kansas State is allowing opponents just 107 passing yards, 72 rushing yards, and 11 points per game.
The Bad
Oklahoma State Secondary | My goodness!
Opponents are completing 59% of their passes for an average of 273 yards per game against the Cowboys, who are last in the Big 12 in pass defense.
Final Four Possessions of BYU vs. West Virginia | After BYU scored to pull to within 35-32 of the Mountaineers the game got ugly…really ugly. Here’s the final four significant possessions of the game, and their result.
WVU – 3 plays/Punt
BYU – 1 play/Interception
WVU – 4 plays/Fumble
BYU – 6 plays/Interception
The Ugly
Fourth Down Decisions | I said before the season started that Jim Grobe was a lame-duck head coach and, while he certainly looks to have the opportunity to prove me wrong, it’s decisions like the one he made on Saturday night that will ultimately cost him. Leading by just four points, Baylor went for it on 4th and 1 from their own 24. Terrance Williams was stuffed and the Cowboys were suddenly in position to steal the momentum and the game. Luckily for the Bears, Oklahoma State made the same decision on 4th and 2 instead of kicking a field goal.
Big 12 Power Rankings
- Baylor
- West Virginia
- Kansas State
- Texas
- Oklahoma State
- Oklahoma
- TCU
- Texas Tech
- Iowa State
- Kansas