Big 12 Power Rankings: Kansas State slips a spot

1. TCU (4-0, 7-0)

TCU remains at the top of the power rankings this week after knocking off Kansas State 38-28 in come-from-behind fashion. Max Duggan continued his great season with another solid performance Saturday that saw him tally 280 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Kendre Miller might be one of the more underrated players in the league. He ran for 153 yards and two scores against K-State.

After consecutive comebacks of three scores or more, how do the Horned Frogs respond in a bit of a trap game at West Virginia? (Last: 1)

2. Oklahoma State (3-1, 6-1)  

Speaking of comebacks, Oklahoma State stormed from behind to stun Texas a week ago. Despite being banged up and not having three of his top receivers, Spencer Sanders went full hero mode to defeat the Longhorns by throwing for 391 yards and two touchdowns.

The biggest concern for the Cowboys is honestly health. They are one of the more beat up teams in the league and could be without a handful of starters when they face Kansas State.(Last: 2)

3. Kansas State (3-1, 5-2)

K-State slides back to the third spot this week after falling to TCU and wasting an 18-point lead in Fort Worth. Much like Oklahoma State, the main concern is health for Kansas State.

Adrian Martinez is questionable at best and they also have a laundry list of players who are dealing with their own pains. Will Howard was great for much of his time in relief versus the Horned Frogs and could be relied upon again on Saturday. (Last: 2)

4. Texas (3-2, 5-3)

Man, when Texas loses under Steve Sarkisian, they do it in painful ways. The Longhorns blew another fourth quarter lead against Oklahoma State.

Sarkisian probably deserves some of the blame for the loss after continuing to throw into a strong wind in Stillwater and Quinn Ewers struggling. Ewers only completed 38 percent of his passes in the loss and the Texas run game was clicking. They were averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

Despite all of that, Sarkisian still elected to throw the ball 49 times. (Last: 3)

5. Texas Tech (2-2, 4-3) 

Texas Tech is a team that I wouldn’t want to play right now. K-State is fortunate to have played them at home when they did. The Red Raiders absolutely dismantled West Virginia 48-10 and it was an offensive explosion that included 594 yards in the win.

Part of me wonders if Texas Tech started the wrong quarterback this season. Behren Morton has been great in his two starts, throwing for 708 yards and four touchdowns combined. Joey McGuire has overachieved at Lubbock in year one and can look to improve with a win over Baylor this weekend. (Last: 7)

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

Baylor sits in sixth by default. The Bears did not play their best football against Kansas and almost blew a 25-point lead last weekend. Richard Reese ran for a season high 186 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.

Blake Shapen has not quite lived up to expectations this season and has turned the ball over seven times. Baylor has underachieved, in my eyes. But there is plenty of season remaining. (Last: 9)

7. Oklahoma (1-3, 4-3)

Oklahoma didn’t play last week and could be a dangerous team to face down the road. They are another club that Kansas State was glad to see early, even if it was in Norman. (Last: 5)

8. Kansas (2-2, 5-3)

The bye week comes at a good time for Kansas. Like many other teams in the league, they need to heal up and find some answers on the defensive side of the ball.

The Jayhawk offense hasn’t missed a beat without Jalen Daniels. They’ve scored 93 points in the 10 quarters with Jason Bean at quarterback, but the defense has not been great. Kansas has allowed 136 points in their four conference games, which is an average of 34 points per game.

After a 5-0 start, it could be a bit of a struggle for the Jayhawks to make a bowl game. Their contest with K-State in Manhattan in the regular season finale could be a significant one with great implications for the first time in over a decade. (Last: 6)

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

West Virginia remains a tough team to figure out this year. A week after knocking off Baylor, they had their doors blown off by Texas Tech. The Mountaineers are struggling to stop anyone from scoring. In their six games against FBS competition, teams are averaging 38 points per game. (Last: 8)

10. Iowa State (0-4, 3-4) 

Iowa State was off last week and stay in lace place. Their game against the Sooners will be very interesting. (Last: 10)