CRFF Ranks the Big 12: Week 9

This week in the Big 12 went like all of us mostly expected. Every favorite won this week, however, there was some big news that came out of Waco after the game. This seems to have opened up the Big 12 as we start to enter the final stretch, where the Big 12 champion will be found.

1. TCU

Coming off a bye the Horned Frogs look to take on a West Virginia team that has had a rough stretch recently. This could be a "trap" game for the Horned Frogs if they are at all looking forward to their November 7th game in Stillwater. The Horned Frogs look to have healed up on defense as they head into the final stretch.

2. Oklahoma State

The Cowboys had a tough weekend off the field, but took care of business on the field, beating up on Kansas. The Cowboys travel to Lubbock this week to take on a struggling Texas Tech team. If the Cowboys are able to win they will be 8-0 going into a final four games versus TCU, Iowa State, Baylor, and OU with everyone but Iowa State being at home. The schedule sets up for the Cowboys to make a run at the Big 12 crown.

3. Baylor

Going into last week the Bears were undoubtedly the Big 12 favorite. They looked like a very dominate team and that continued last week against Iowa State. However, Seth Russell going down has changed all of that. The question of if the offense can remain dominate sits on the shoulders of true freshman Jarrett Stidham. If he is able to pick up where Russell left off, the Bears should be fine.

4. Oklahoma

The Sooners continue to look impressive after their loss to Texas in their victory over Tech. The Sooners are an interesting team this year and we don't really know who they truly are to this point. This week won't help as they travel to Lawrence to take on Kansas.

5. West Virginia

The Mountaineers have had a rough go of it lately. They went from being a dark horse contender to facing the top four teams in the league and being spit out the other side. After facing OU, OSU, and Baylor West Virginia looks like a team that doesn't have a true quarterback and a banged up defense. It doesn't get any easier for Dana as they face TCU this weekend.

6. Texas

The Longhorns have rebounded big time from the team we saw early in the season. After a momentum shifting win over OU and a bye week, the Longhorns looked impressive in taking down the Wildcats of Kansas State. This is looking like a team that you are luckier and luckier the earlier you play them.

7. Texas Tech

The Red Raiders are in a similar situation to the Mountaineers. A few thought they might be a dark horse contender before they went through the gauntlet of the Big 12. Tech's offense looked impressive early on in an almost upset of TCU but has fallen off here recently versus Kansas and OU. The Red Raiders will be looking to turn things around as they face OSU on Halloween day.

8. Kansas State

Kansas State has had a rough year so far. After escaping non-conference play unscathed the Wildcats have lost every conference game. After pushing OSU and TCU to the limit they got mauled by OU and controlled by Texas. However, Synder's team has a big opportunity in two weeks to break in Baylor's new freshman QB on a Thursday night in Manhattan.

9. Iowa State

The Cyclones look to be an improved team this year but are victims of a top heavy league. This team had a tough non-conference and has struggled in conference play as well. The Cyclones look like a better team than they were in the past in pushing both TCU and Baylor a little bit, but are not at the level yet to challenge them for real, and also to beat the intermediate teams in the league.

10. Kansas

The Jayhawks are not a great football team. We already knew that however. This is about the future of this team. Only time will tell if new coach David Beaty can turn this team in the right direction, but they have shown some good first steps this season.