College Football Week 12: Who's Hot, Who's Not in the Big 12?

The balance of power in the Big 12 Conference shifted again this past Saturday, and so the condition of each of its college football programs needs to be assessed.

Who's hot and who's not?

The five most powerful Big 12 teams are jostling for position in the BCS standings as Week 12 approaches. For the top two, a national title is on the line.

Lower in the pecking order are those fighting for bowl eligibility—four teams are just a win away!

Then there are the lowly Kansas Jayhawks. Playing desperately to salvage something from 2011, Kansas is winless in conference play and mirroring its miserable 2002 season from the start of the Mark Mangino era.

All 10 teams still have plenty at stake.

Hot: Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden

The second-ranked Cowboys (10-0, 7-0 in Big 12) are firing on all cylinders after obliterating Texas Tech, 66-6.

Most importantly, they control their BCS destiny.

Oklahoma State is solidly ahead of Alabama and Oregon in terms of BCS average ranking with a high-profile game remaining against No. 5 Oklahoma.

If the Cowboys win out and receive a national title bid, you can bet that quarterback Brandon Weeden will get some love from the Heisman Trophy voters.

He completed 83.8 percent of his passes this past weekend despite attempting 37 throws! Oh yeah, and he tossed five touchdowns.

Weeden had several choppy performances in September but has thrown only three interceptions in seven Big 12 games.

He has accumulated 925 passing yards over the past two weeks. And overall, no player on an automatic-qualifier has thrown for more yards in 2011.

Not: Everything About Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders continued their enigmatic play in a loss to Oklahoma State on November 12.

Since upsetting Oklahoma in Week 8, they have been outscored 159 to 33.

They have leaned heavily on quarterback Seth Doege, especially since losing starting running back Eric Stephens to a knee injury last month. Doege posted good numbers against Texas in Week 10—in the midst of a blowout—but didn't produce in the prior and following matchups.

The offensive line is struggling to protect him, and Stephens hasn't been adequately replaced.

The defense is embarrassing in all facets. As of late, the unit appears unable to pressure opposing quarterbacks, stay close in pass coverage or make necessary tackles.

Texas Tech (5-5, 2-5 in Big 12) has suddenly fallen to ninth in the conference standings.

Unfortunately, although on the brink of bowl eligibility, neither of the team's two remaining games are at home.

Hot: Kansas State QB Collin Klein

I admit to having been skeptical of Collin Klein and the Kansas State Wildcats (8-2, 5-2 in Big 12), even after witnessing their dramatic victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the flesh this past September.

His 93 rushing yards that afternoon seemed remarkable, but that was just one of eight different 90-yard rushing games he has had in 2011. Remember: he's a quarterback.

Klein has been consistently terrific this season, but his latest effort was definitely his most heroic.

The junior accounted for 384 yards and six scores—five of them rushing—in a quadruple-overtime win versus Texas A&M.

Klein was also outstanding the week before against undefeated Oklahoma State. The Cowboys won in a 52-45 shootout, however.

It's impossible to overstate his value to Kansas State; he means everything.

With his improved passing efficiency these past few games and his unstoppable, up-the-middle rushing, all while facing some of the nation's most elite programs, I believe he deserves consideration for the Heisman.

Not: Texas A&M Red Zone Defense

The Texas A&M Aggies endured nail-biting, early-season losses to Oklahoma State and Arkansas. If that didn't kill their season, these last three defeats have been nails in their coffin.

On October 29 against Missouri, the Aggies surrendered three red-zone touchdowns during the fourth quarter and overtime.

Then versus Kansas State, dual-threat quarterback Collin Klein imposed his will from inside the Aggies' 3-yard line on four separate occasions.

In between those games, A&M lost convincingly to Oklahoma.

These Aggies (5-5, 3-4 in Big 12) aren't particularly susceptible to allowing big gains, but they have wilted when pressed against their own goal line.

Regardless, they will be expected to claim that elusive sixth win over Kansas in Week 12.

Hot: Oklahoma RB Roy Finch

Oklahoma's Roy Finch is in the running for the title of smallest starter in the Big 12. He wasn't even supposed to be a candidate for the honor.

He was rarely used before junior Dominique Whaley succumbed to a season-ending ankle injury in late October.

However, Finch has emerged as a weapon coming out of the OU backfield. He has averaged greater than 130 total yards per game over the past three contests.

In a short time, Finch has made himself an integral player on the mighty Sooners (8-1, 5-1 in Big 12).

Not: Missouri RB Henry Josey

Before Saturday, running back Henry Josey was the conference's leading rusher.

Teammate James Franklin took carries away from him to fulfill his own scrambling desires, yet Josey remained atop the Big 12 leaderboard as a result of his unfathomable 8.6 yards-per-carry average.

Josey got off to a frustrating start against the Texas Longhorns. He had totaled only 19 yards as the game progressed into the second half.

He hurt his left leg in the third quarter and has been ruled out of the Tigers' final two games.

The injury probably means more carries for Franklin—who already rushes 16 times per game—as Missouri (5-5, 3-4 in Big 12) aspires to finish at or above .500.

An upcoming matchup with Kansas should be very winnable.

Hot: Iowa State QB Jared Barnett

The Iowa State Cyclones (5-4, 2-4 in Big 12) conclude their regular season against the juggernauts of this conference, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Kansas State.

At least they have an undefeated quarterback to lead them through this adversity.

Truthfully, freshman Jared Barnett isn't one to intimidate top teams. His spotless collegiate record is merely 2-0. The opponents he vanquished? Texas Tech and Kansas. He has thrown a single touchdown in 100 career pass attempts and sports a mediocre 49 percent completion percentage.

But, unlike previous Cyclones' starter Steele Jantz, Barnett wreaks havoc with his legs.

Currently, Iowa State has the Big 12's lowest-scoring offense. That could change if Barnett utilizes his large receivers while continuing to be effective on the ground.

Not: Kansas Jayhawks' Secondary

Earlier, I hinted that Kansas is limping through a painful campaign.

There are plenty of weaknesses on the Jayhawks (2-8, 0-7 in Big 12).

The defense, for example, ranks dead last in the 120-team FBS in points allowed at an average of 44.0 per game. Within that unit is a pathetic secondary.

It is comprised of poor players who do not force turnovers, make open-field tackles or defend passes.

As a result, Kansas struggles to stop opponents' drives. Here's a statistic indicative of that: the Jayhawks have allowed 195 plays of 10-plus yards in 2011.

It's true that their last couple games have been very competitive. Perhaps they can steal a victory over the Henry Josey-less Missouri Tigers in Week 13.

Hot: Baylor Co-Offensive Coordinators Randy Clements and Phillip Montgomery

The Baylor Bears (6-3, 3-3 in Big 12) let the Kansas Jayhawks hang around way too long in Week 11.

They turned the ball over four times through three quarters, thus limiting their time of possession. In the precious minutes when Robert Griffin III and Co. were on the field, they failed to break into Kansas' fragile secondary.

At that point, co-offensive coordinators Randy Clements and Phillip Montgomery woke up. The pair is largely responsible for Baylor's explosive offense.

Under their direction, the Bears have executed 32 plays of 30-plus yards in 2011. Three of those successes—a 49-yard run and passes of 36 and 67 yards—happened against Kansas in the fourth quarter, and Baylor eventually won in overtime.

Clements and Montgomery always seem to have a few big plays up their sleeves. They give Baylor a fighting chance against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 19.

Not: Texas Quarterbacks

While the Baylor Bears have an athletic and trustworthy quarterback in Robert Griffin III, the Texas Longhorns are on the other side of the spectrum.

David Ash and Case McCoy have combined to throw 196 passes in nine games. The vast majority have been short attempts (not a single completion has exceeded 50 yards). 

This proved problematic recently against the Missouri Tigers when nagging injuries to top rushers Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron left the Longhorns with a reduced rushing attack.

Both Ash and McCoy saw significant action; neither played well.

Texas (6-3, 3-3 in Big 12) clings to a top-25 spot in the BCS standings on the strength of its schedule.

However, it's hard to imagine the Longhorns keeping up with Kansas State or Baylor in upcoming matchups if these young passers don't improve.