Big 12 Power Rankings: Kansas State is a riser

Quarterback Avery Johnson ran Kansas State to a win in Lubbock over the weekend and also propelled them back toward the top of the Big 12. K-State wasn’t the only big mover though, as other teams joined the top third.

1. OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Mason: 1
DY: 1
Drew: 1

Oklahoma sat around and did nothing on Saturday. They enjoyed their bye after defeating Texas. Based on the rest of their schedule, they will have a lot of Saturdays similar to that as they finish the season. Based on performance and the remaining slate, one could argue the Sooners have the best chance to make the College Football Playoff out of anyone in the country.
Next game: vs UCF, 11:00 AM ABC

2. TEXAS LONGHORNS

Mason: 2
DY: 2
Drew: 2

Texas likely had a lot to reconsider over the last week. They had people convinced things were different this year until they allowed Dillon Gabriel to lead a late charge to beat them. Now the margin for error tightens as Kansas State looks like they are back in the race to Arlington. It should be an easy “get right” game for the Longhorns on Saturday. But don’t rule out Houston getting up to face a marquee in-state foe.
Next game: at Houston, 3:00 PM FOX

3. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Mason: 3
DY: 3
Drew: 3

For the second straight year, the Wildcats are battling for a trip to Arlington, but are in the middle of a quarterback dilemma. Avery Johnson stole the show in Lubbock, racing for five touchdowns and sparking the K-State offense. Will Howard has struggled in the passing game and was a part of just one touchdown drive this past weekend. Johnson was the one to finish the drive with a score, though. Head coach Chris Klieman has a delicate situation in front of him as he has to make the right call at quarterback if he is serious about defending the Big 12 title. Another new element and boost for Kansas State was forcing three turnovers and more improvement from the defense.
Next game: vs TCU, 6:00 PM ESPN2

4. IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Mason: 4
DY: 4
Drew: 4

The Paul Rudd meme goes here. Who would have expected Iowa State to be getting consideration as the fourth-best team in the Big 12 halfway through the season? Not me! While the Cyclones have had a very favorable October schedule and things stiffen in November, the defense is locking teams down and Rocco Becht is playing well at quarterback. Head coach Matt Campbell isn’t the guru some make him out to be, but it is clear the man can coach.
Next game: 10/28 at Baylor, 2:30 PM ESPN+

5. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Mason: 5
DY: 7
Drew: 5

Take what I just said about Iowa State and insert it here as well. I didn’t expect Oklahoma State to be in this position when the season started. I definitely didn’t expect it after the non-conference performance. But they have back-to-back wins against what I thought were good teams in K-State and Kansas. Alan Bowman being selected as the unquestioned quarterback has helped the play-calling settle down and now the defense is making plays. Ollie Gordon has also emerged as one of the best running backs in the Big 12. Next game: at West Virginia, 2:30 ESPN

6. KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Mason: 6
DY: 6
Drew: 6

Quarterback Jalon Daniels missed another game, but he at least showed up on the Kansas sideline on Saturday. Jason Bean continues to prove that the system under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has more to do with the Jayhawks’ offensive success than who plays quarterback. Daniels makes better decisions though and that will make the Jayhawks a tougher team to face for 60 minutes once Bean and his turnover-prone nature can return to the bench.
Next game: 10/28 vs Oklahoma, 11:00 AM FOX

7. TCU HORNED FROGS

Mason: 7
DY: 5
Drew: 7

TCU might have a quarterback situation brewing. Chandler Morris started the season, but an injury gave way to Josh Hoover who put the ball in the air 60 times against BYU. It led to over 400 yards passing, four scores and 44 points on the scoreboard. The Horned Frogs have struggled defensively for most of the season though and now preparing for two quarterbacks and multiple attacks from Kansas State will be a tough test.
Next game: at Kansas State, 6:00 PM ESPN2

8. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Mason: 8
DY: 8
Drew: 8

Just when Neal Brown made you think he was turning things around, he lost in miraculous fashion to Houston. Beating Oklahoma State at home this weekend will mean the Mountaineers aren’t pretenders.
Next game: vs Oklahoma State, 2:30 PM ESPN

9. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Mason: 9
DY: 9
Drew: 9

Texas Tech started to make their move, but then they lost their second-string quarterback. It became clear quickly on Saturday that true freshman Jake Strong wasn’t on the level of the other true freshman on the K-State sideline. Bowl eligibility starts to come into question for Joey McGuire and company after what was supposed to be a special season. They are nearing must-win territory.
Next game: at BYU, 6:00 PM FS1

10. BYU COUGARS

Mason: 10
DY: 10
Drew: 10

Shockingly, the Cougars are 4-2 and are in a position to possibly get another win this weekend. A fairly navigable schedule remains, meaning head coach Kalani Sitake might win seven games in his first Big 12 season.
Next game: vs Texas Tech, 6:00 PM FS1

11. BAYLOR BEARS

Mason: 12
DY: 11
Drew: 11

A much-needed off weekend for Baylor has come and gone. I would expect them to flex their muscle against Cincinnati this weekend, but it is tough to count on this version of the Bears in 2023. They might just be a bad team.
Next game: at Cincinnati, 11:00 AM ESPN+

12. HOUSTON COUGARS

Mason: 13
DY: 12
Drew: 12

Houston continued the trend of teams KSO unanimously picked 14th in the Big 12 of picking up their first conference win. It was a thriller for Dana Holgorsen over his former employer. A double-digit lead was squandered late, but they overcame it with a hail mary win. This is still likely a bad team, but the offense can at least be scrappy.
Next game: vs Texas, 3:00 PM FOX

13. CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Mason: 11
DY: 14
Drew: 14

Cincinnati isn’t good, Emory Jones isn’t good and Scott Satterfield isn’t good enough for the Big 12. Yet I still have them at 11 because I think they fight better than some of the other teams at the bottom of the league. They also put themselves in games until a few errors here and there. They can prove me right this weekend with a home win against Baylor.
Next game: vs Baylor, 11:00 AM ESPN+

14. UCF KNIGHTS

Mason: 14
DY: 13
Drew: 13

What a tumble for the Knights. They are still winless in Big 12 play (including a loss to Kansas State) and things don’t look good this weekend against Oklahoma in the Dillon Gabriel revenge game. I still believe in UCF long-term in the Big 12, but their defensive woes and quarterback health struggles are impacting them in a major way.
Next game: at Oklahoma, 11:00 AM ABC