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Big 12 football power rankings: Name that tune, and championship contender

nathan giese, lubbock avalanche-journal
·3 min read
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Separation Saturday came, went and shook up the Big 12 football power rankings for everybody. Well, not everybody. There is still Cincinnati. As for everybody else? Bedlam was put to bed with a classic, Texas avoided choking it away against Kansas State and Kansas got the crucial road win over Iowa State. Where does that leave us?

Side note: This is a special "Name That Tune" edition of the power rankings. If you can get every song reference, you get a special shoutout next week. (Hint: there are 14 of them).

1. Texas (8-1, 5-1)

Last week: 2

This week: at TCU

What to know: The Darkness believed in a thing called love far more than I believe the Longhorns are gonna finish this Quinn Ewers-less stretch without a shocking upset loss.

2. Oklahoma State (7-2, 5-1)

Last week: 3

This week: at UCF

What to know: How do you like them now? The Cowboys should start booking tickets to Arlington now with the cakewalk of a final three games they have.

3. Kansas (7-2, 4-2)

Last week: 4

This week: vs. Texas Tech

What to know: Now that the Jayhawks have found their first winning season since 2008, what are they going to do with it?

4. Oklahoma (7-2, 4-2)

Last week: 1

This week: vs. West Virginia

What to know: The Sooners are hot and they're cold. They're yes and they're no. Well, a lot more no than yes as of late, anyway.

5. Kansas State (6-3, 4-2)

Last week: 5

This week: vs. Baylor

What to know: Couldn't hold the line and wins aren't always on time, especially with missed chip-shot field goals. Wildcats will regret several things in letting that one in Austin slip away.

6. West Virginia (6-3, 4-2)

Last week: 7

This week: at Oklahoma

What to know: After holding on loosely without letting go of their solid start, the Mountaineers now get a chessed-off Oklahoma team on the road.

7. Iowa State (5-4, 4-2)

Last week: 6

This week: at BYU

What to know: When you want it the most, there's no easy way out and that's the way it is for the Cyclones, who are looking to rebound.

8. Texas Tech (4-5, 3-3)

Last week: 10

This week: at Kansas

What to know: Hey, don't write the Red Raiders off yet. It just takes some time, and Behren Morton living in the middle of the field. Also possums.

9. TCU (4-5, 2-4)

Last week:

This week:

What to know: Horned Frogs got tired of winning and that's why they're here. Their road to a bowl game just got a lot tougher.

10. BYU (5-4, 2-4)

Last week: 8

This week: vs. Iowa State

What to know: West Virginia hit BYU's backup QB like a hurricane, like a tidal wave and it got the best of them.

11. Houston (4-5, 2-4)

Last week: 11

This week: vs. Cincinnati

What to know: The Cougars have written plenty of sins but avoided tragedies thanks to some close calls this year.

12. Baylor (3-6, 2-4)

Last week: 12

This week: at Kansas State

What to know: Who says you can't go home? The Bears do, apparently.

13. UCF (4-5, 1-5)

Last week: 13

This week: vs. Oklahoma State

What to know: OK, so you beat Cincinnati. That don't impress me much.

14. Cincinnati (2-7, 0-6)

Last week: 14

This week: at Houston

What to know: The Bearcats can wait for you at the bottom. They can stay away (from the top) if you want them to.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 football power rankings: Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas surging