Big 12 Power Rankings: Week Four

Offensive Player of the Week

Chase Daniel, Missouri

The top quarterback in the Big 12 threw for four touchdowns and over 400 yards on only 28 pass attempts while setting Mizzou’s career passing record.  Nevada may not have looked like a great opponent, and maybe they aren’t, but the same squad gave Texas Tech all they wanted a week before.

Defensive Player of the Week

Daniel Charbonnet, Texas Tech

SMU gave the Tech secondary plenty of chances to make plays, and Charbonnet made the most.  He finished the game with three interceptions, including one on the game’s opening play.

Power Rankings

1. Oklahoma

Oklahoma continues to dominate.  Next to USC, no one has looked as good as the Sooners.

Most years the knock on OU is that they don’t play every game with the same level of intensity.  The game against Washington is one that Oklahoma has been known to walk through.  Not this year.  Bob Stoops’ team came out and put to bed early any idea of upset the Huskies might have had.

2. Missouri

I love Chase Daniel.  I said it last week, and nothing has changed.  Daniel seems to control the ball and his offense better than any quarterback in the country.  It is as if he is playing a video game.

The defense is getting better, and Jeremy Maclin is a stud.  Clearly Missouri is the top team in the Big 12 North.

3. Texas

Hurricane Ike gave the Horns an unexpected off week.  Most fans see this as a bad thing, eliminating a break until before the A&M game.

The next two games (Rice and Arkansas) offer no real challenge, but in order to beat OU and Missouri the Longhorns must start getting better now, because there is clearly a disconnect between the top two teams and the rest of the conference.

4. Oklahoma State

Offense, offense, offense.  This week the Cowboys' passing game took a break and let the running game carry the load.  Three Oklahoma State running backs went for over 100 yards each.

If this team finds a defense, watch out.  The country will start paying attention once OSU plays a legit team. 

5. Texas Tech

Another huge night for Tech’s offense in a blowout over SMU, and this time the defense showed up too.  Michael Crabtree may be the best receiver (or player) to come out of the Big 12.  He had three touchdowns and over 160 yards receiving on eight catches.

If the defense gets better (they had five interceptions against SMU), Tech could contend for the Big 12 South.

6. Kansas

Even with the late game loss to a solid South Florida team, Kansas remains a top team in the Big 12 and the most likely challenger to Missouri.  Todd Reesing continues to impress, but the defense is allowing as many yards as their prolific offense can produce.

There seems to be a recurring theme in this year’s conference, and that theme is offense over defense.  The Jayhawks fit the bill.

7. Kansas State

Kansas State’s Josh Freeman faces his first big test this week with a Wednesday night game versus Louisville.  Kansas State is the team with the most ability to move up or down in the Big 12 depending on how they play in the next few weeks.

As everyone knows, I’m big on Mr. Freeman, who has the most ability of any player taking snaps for his team.

8. Colorado

Colorado didn’t play this week, allowing the fans to soak in the near-loss to a Division I-AA team a week before.  Colorado can erase all doubts of their respectability by handling West Virginia at home this Thursday.  Look for true freshman Darrell Scott to become more and more of a factor.

9. Nebraska

Nebraska is improving each week behind the quarterback play of Joe Ganz.  The Cornhuskers also face a big test with Virginia Tech coming up.  Not much is known about this team, but that is about to change.

10. Texas A&M

Miami comes to town, and A&M better be ready.  Stephen McGee should be healthy, and they must control the ball and eliminate mistakes if they are going to hang with the young but ultra-talented Hurricane team.  If they don’t, this one could get ugly, resulting in another embarrassing loss to begin Mike Sherman’s career.

11. Baylor

The Bears have found their lead man for the foreseeable future.  Robert Griffen continues to impress anyone who can handle watching a Baylor game.  It has been too long since there has been a player in Waco worth tuning in for, but I think Art Briles may have found one in his first year.

12. Iowa State

Iowa State’s offense looks to be the worst in the conference.  The defense may keep the Cyclones in some games they shouldn’t be, but don’t expect much but lopsided losses to come out of Ames this season.