Big 12 Football Team Power Rankings: Week 5
Five weeks down, and the theory has always been that the more games we would see played, the more we would learn about the contenders and the pretenders in the conference.
Well, as Lee Corso would say, not so fast, my friend.
The top and the bottom spots in the conference are pretty clear, but everything in between just became a muddy mess. With non-conference play being just about finished, the head-to-head matchups should start to tell us a lot more about who is who in the Big 12.
No: 12: Kansas (2-3, 0-1)
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Last week's game: Lost to Baylor, 55-7, on the road
Last week's power ranking: No. 11
What happened: The Jayhawks are really not a good road team. Other than their opening-day shocker, the Jayhawks only losses have been away from the beautiful confines of Lawrence. But, good heavens, when they lose on the road, they do it big.
Why No. 12? The more you see the struggles KU is having this year, the more you marvel at how this team rebounded from a loss to an FCS school to knock off Georgia Tech. Unfortunately, it looks like that might be the high point of the year.
Next game: Kansas State, at home. No team needs a bye week more.
No. 11: Texas Tech (2-2, 0-2)
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Last week's game: Lost to Iowa State, 52-38, on the road
Last week's power ranking: No. 4
What happened: Someone (cough, cough) referred to this game as possibly "the upset of the week." While I will take credit for seeing that coming, I sure won't take credit for seeing Tech give up 52 points to the Cyclones. Heck, I wasn't convinced ISU would score 52 points before the end of October.
Why No. 11? Are you kidding me? You give up 52 points to Iowa State, and you have to ask?
Next game: Baylor, on the road. Tech better use the bye week to figure some things out on defense, because Robert Griffin is a heck of a lot more dangerous than Austin Arnaud.
No. 10: Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1)
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Last week's game: Lost to Oklahoma State, 38-35, on the road
Last week's power ranking: No. 8
What happened: The Aggies had a 14-point lead early on in Stillwater and looked like they had a chance to really take control of the game. Then A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson got into turnover mode again—five this week, nine in the last two weeks—and Oklahoma State came roaring back to win the game at the death.
Why No. 10? Johnson alternated wildly between brilliant (two late touchdown drives) and horrific (the aforementioned turnovers, including an inexcusable overthrow to set up OSU's game-winner), and that was just in the fourth quarter. That inconsistency will prevent the Aggies from getting out of their own way. Oh, and the A&M defense is, in a word, brutal.
Next game: Arkansas, at home. That "brutal defense" thing (and that's not meant in a good way) might be a problem against Ryan Mallett and the Hogs.
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No. 9: Colorado (3-1, 0-0)
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Last week's game: Beat Georgia, 29-27, at home
Last week's power ranking: No. 12
What happened: CU went blow-for-blow with the Bulldogs, capitalizing on a late turnover to hold on and get an upset win. The fumble prevented Georgia from attempting a game-winning field goal at the end of the game.
Why No. 9? On the one hand, it's a win over an SEC foe. On the other hand, it's a 1-4 SEC foe. The value of the win shouldn't be discounted, but let's hold off and see how bad this Georgia team really is before we assess full value to this win.
Next game: Missouri, on the road. Maybe someone can give Missouri a game this year.
No. 8: Iowa State (3-2, 1-1)
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Last week's game: Beat Texas Tech, 52-38, at home
Last week's power ranking: No. 10
What happened: Even I kinda saw that coming, and I didn't see that coming. Iowa State got out to an early lead and answered every score that Texas Tech came back with.
Why No. 8? It's not that Iowa State won that was surprising. It was the way they won—in a shootout over Texas Tech—that has to give the fans in Ames some real hope for a bowl game this year.
Next game: Utah, at home. If nothing else, Iowa State will be coming into this game filled with confidence. A win over the Utes would still be a shock, but all of a sudden it wouldn't be as big a shock as before.
No. 7: Baylor (4-1, 1-0)
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Last week's game: Beat Kansas, 55-7, at home
Last week's power ranking: No. 9
What happened: The Robert Griffin show, that's what happened. Griffin ripped off 360 yards and three touchdowns in the air, and added in 64 yards and a touchdown on the ground to pummel the hapless Jayhawks.
Why No. 7? We're getting an idea of what Baylor could look like with a healthy Griffin throughout the season, as Baylor has been showing themselves able to get things going on offense and play just a little bit of defense. The Bears may claim a surprise win against one of the big dogs in the conference this year.
Next game: Texas Tech, on the road. Tech will be smarting after an ugly loss last week, but they also just gave up 52 points to Austin Arnaud and the Cyclones. Griffin has to be liking his chances.
No. 6: Missouri (4-0, 0-0)
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Last week's game: Bye
Last week's power ranking: No. 7
What happened: N/A
Why No. 6? Missouri is still undefeated—and untested. With performances both spotty and solid this season, the Tigers move up with help from losses around them.
Next game: Colorado, at home. Even with Ralphie coming off a nice win over an SEC foe, Mizzou gets a pretty soft conference opener.
No. 5: Kansas State (4-0, 1-0)
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Last week's game: Beat Central Florida, 17-13, at home
Last week's power ranking: No. 6
What happened: The upside is that KSU got a win over a Central Florida team that has plenty of athletes. The downside is that Wildcat stud Daniel Thomas was held to under 100 yards rushing and the Purples didn't cross midfield until the second half.
Why No. 5? K-State is undefeated and has the table set for what one pundit has called a possible national championship run. That might be a bit premature, but the Purples have done everything they need to do up to now.
Next game: Nebraska, at home. On a Thursday night ESPN game, K-State will be amped and ready to give the 'Huskers their final goodbye.
No. 4: Texas (3-2, 1-1)
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Last week's game: Lost to Oklahoma, 28-20, on a neutral site
Last week's power ranking: No. 3
What happened: The eight-point margin probably doesn't really reflect how comfortable of a win Oklahoma had in the Red River Rivalry. Texas stayed with the game and kept things close, but could never get much in terms of offensive rhythm going until late into the ballgame.
Why No. 4? A two-game slide? Falling out of the top 25? It's a rough go in Austin, and things don't get any easier for Bevo moving forward.
Next game: Nebraska, on the road. You may have heard there was a little dispute between these two schools in the summer. Nebraska fans have already branded Texas as the source of all evil, and have (literally) marked this game in red since the realignment kerfuffle in June. The bye week might be the best medicine for a reeling Longhorn team.
No. 3: Oklahoma State (4-0, 1-0)
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Last week's game: Beat Texas A&M, 38-35, on the road
Last week's power ranking: No. 5
What happened: Oklahoma State got down early, and looked to be in real trouble against Jerrod Johnson and the Aggies. It was the turnovers—five of them—that turned the game around for Oklahoma State and allowed them to win it in dramatic fashion.
Why No. 3? Don't look now, but the Cowboys are undefeated, and have shown the ability to move the ball both in the air and on the ground. Sure, they can't play a lick of defense, but they can get into a shootout and have proven the ability to score with just about anyone.
Next game: Louisiana-Lafayette, on the road. How the Ragin' Cajuns got Oklahoma State to agree to a trip to Louisiana in the middle of October is a bit of a mystery, but it should give the Cowboys a good opportunity to reach the 5-0 mark.
No. 2: Nebraska (4-0, 0-0)
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Last week's game: Bye
Last week's power ranking: No. 2
What happened: N/A
Why No. 12? Don't look now, but Washington—you know, the Washington that NU disemboweled in Seattle—went to LA and knocked off USC. While this year's Trojans squad certainly isn't vintage USC, Nebraska's schedule strength just got a nice little goose.
Next game: Kansas State, on the road. NU will be heading into quite possibly the most hostile atmosphere they will face all season, and will have to deal with one of the best running backs the conference has to offer. We'll see how Bo Pelini's charges shake off the indifferent performance they gave against South Dakota State in a hurry.
No. 1: Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0)
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Last week's game: Beat Texas, 28-20, on a neutral site
Last week's power ranking: No. 1
What happened: Oklahoma's 2010 season has a real pattern to it. Play well and get a lead early, slack off defensively, and hold on for dear life to win at the end. While this game's ending wasn't quite as dramatic as some of OU's other wins, the inability to complete a game has to be a little troubling.
Why No. 1? Utah State, who Oklahoma was downgraded for because they struggled to beat, blew BYU off the field. Air Force, another team OU struggled to beat, has looked better and better every week. As the strength of OU's schedule reveals itself, the Sooners emerge at this point as head-and-shoulders the team with the best body of work in the conference.
Next game: Iowa State, at home. It doesn't seem quite fair that OU gets a bye week to rest up for the 'Clones, while Iowa State has to play Utah then Oklahoma in back-to-back weeks. But OU won't be complaining.
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