Big 12 Power Rankings: TCU's charge continues, sets up Oklahoma State showdown next week

Typically the Red River Rivalry is a game that has a huge impact on the overall outlook in the Big 12, but that really wasn’t the case this weekend as the majority of movement in the Big 12 Power Rankings this time around came from the showdown of unbeatens in Lawrence, Kan.

But Texas did manage to vault itself up the list with an absolute pounding of Oklahoma in the annual rivalry.

Let’s take a look at how the rest of the action in the Big 12 shook out this weekend.

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Today we update the Big 12 Power Rankings following Week 6 games.

2022 Big 12 Power Rankings – Week 6

1. Oklahoma State

The Cowboys were a little slow to get going defensively before putting the clamps down in the second half of a 41-31 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Quarterback Spencer Sanders ran for two scores and threw for another as he finished three yards shy of a 300-yard passing day. Oklahoma State will travel to unbeaten No.13 TCU next weekend.

2. TCU (+2)

TCU got everything it could handle against Kansas, even with Jayhawks starting quarterback Jalon Daniels going down with an injury in the first half. Still, the Horned Frogs and quarterback Max Duggan got it done in a 38-31 win, remaining unbeaten. Duggan threw for 308 yards and three scores, while he ran for another. TCU gets a shot at top-ranked No. 8 Oklahoma State next week at home.

3. Kansas State

Survive and advance. That’s what Kansas State did on Saturday in a defensive contest on the road at Iowa State, winning 10-9. Quarterback Adrian Martinez continued to pace the Wildcats on offense, aided by a pair of 60-plus yard plays on Saturday. Kansas State remains unbeaten and gets a bye week now before an absolute gauntlet to close the season: at No. 13 TCU, No. 8 Oklahoma State, No. 22 Texas, at Baylor, at West Virginia, No. 19 Kansas.

4. Texas (+2)

What can you say about a 49-point win over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry? Quarterback Quinn Ewers was back and the Longhorns looked like a different team again, one capable of going toe-to-toe with the nation’s best, like it did earlier this season against Alabama. Texas is still very much in the Big 12 hunt and will host Iowa State before the final five games of the season could make for a wild finish in the conference.

5. Kansas (-3)

Kansas slips below Texas following the Longhorns’ blowout of the Sooners, but the Jayhawks have proven their rise up the Big 12 Power Rankings the past few weeks was no fluke. The bigger issue is whether the injury to Jalon Daniels keeps him out for an extended period. Even then, backup Jason Bean went 16-of-24 for 262 yards and four touchdowns in the loss to TCU. Kansas now has back-to-back road games at Oklahoma and Baylor.

6. Baylor (-1)

The Bears were off this weekend following a 36-25 loss to Oklahoma State a week ago. Baylor slides one spot simply because of how impressive Texas looked in its demolition of Oklahoma. Baylor will return to action on Thursday with a road game at West Virginia.

7. Texas Tech (+1)

The Red Raiders put up a good fight against the Cowboys, despite a late scratch from starting quarterback Donovan Smith. Still, Spencer Sanders and Oklahoma State were a little too much. Texas Tech has been competitive in each of its three losses this year, but just hasn’t quite gotten over the hump in the big games.

8. Oklahoma (-1)

It’s safe to say many are hitting the panic button in Norman, Okla., at this point. Following a 49-0 beatdown at the hands of Texas, the extent of the rebuild needed at Oklahoma is now clear. And first-year coach Brent Venables has his work cut out for him, starting with a defense that gave up 585 yards on Saturday and has surrendered 500-plus yards in each of the last three games.

9. Iowa State

A third straight one-score loss for Iowa State after a 3-0 start to the season. While Matt Campbell‘s squad has been competitive the last two years, that’s now eight straight losses that have come by one score dating back to early in the 2021 campaign.

10. West Virginia

West Virginia had a bye this weekend following a 38-20 loss at Texas a week ago. The Mountaineers have been competitive in their three losses but have to find a way to come out on top of a few of these close games. Next up is a Thursday night home date with Baylor, followed by a road trip to Texas Tech and then a home game against unbeaten No. 13 TCU. Again, chances to move up from the last spot in the Big 12 Power Rankings are there.

Want to see how this week’s power rankings compare to our previous edition? Check out the 2022 Week 5 Big 12 Power Rankings here!