With the college football season having moved into the second half, the race for the Big 12 crown seems to have narrowed to four teams. Baylor and West Virginia join Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in a race that is likely to come down to the final weekend of the season. That’s not to say that there aren’t notable stories and players from the other six conference schools, because there very much are, but it is to say that six schools get the opportunity to be a “spoiler” in all of this and teams like Kansas State, Texas, & Texas Tech will cause a few coaches to be a bit restless on Friday nights before the game.
The Good
West Virginia Defense | The Mountaineers moved into the Top 10 this week and while Dana Holgorsen is used to lighting up the scoreboard, as an offensive specialists, it’s actually his defense that’s turning heads this season. Fresh off a 34-10 drubbing of TCU, West Virginia is holding its opponents to just 17.8 points per game this season.
Oklahoma State’s Jalen McCleskey | The amount of attention that O-State’s speedster James Washington draws puts McCleskey in a lot of one-on-one situations. On Saturday the sophomore from Covington, LA. took full advantage of that by racking up 129 receiving yards on just six catches.
Kansas State Over Texas In Manhattan | “We own Texas,” was the chant that the Kansas State students were using as the clock wound down early Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats won their fifth consecutive game over the Longhorns in the Little Apple.
Offense In West Texas | Records fell in Lubbock on Saturday night as the Sooners and Red Raiders combined for 125 points and 1,708 yards of offense.
The Bad
TCU Offense | The Frogs vanished in the second half of their game in Morgantown on Saturday, resulting in a 21-10 halftime deficit growing into a 34-10 rout. Gary Patterson’s team was already struggling on defense this season and now with his offense stalling TCU could be in for a frustrating finish.
Texas Below .500 | A team that started the season 2-0 has now fallen to 3-4. Charlie Strong is definitely living on borrowed time.
The Ugly
Kansas Jayhawks | Sitting on a six-game losing streak, the only that that is absolute in the Big 12 right now is that KU is at the bottom. Basketball is just around the corner though!
Defense In West Texas | Strange things happen in Lubbock, especially in night games. However, ten consecutive possessions that ended in touchdowns was beyond ridiculous.
Big 12 Power Rankings
- West Virginia
- Baylor
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- Kansas State
- Texas Tech
- TCU
- Texas
- Iowa State
- Kansas