Wild weekend leads to movement in Big 12 power rankings after Week 8

The Oklahoma Sooners’ matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks was one example of the wild weekend of football in the Big 12. Oklahoma State lost its first game of the season, and West Virginia slowed the high octane TCU Horned Frogs to pick up their first conference win.

Baylor and Texas, who had bye weeks before their big Central Texas showdown next Saturday, got to sit back and watch the madness happen.

Let’s take a look at how the Big 12 teams stack up after Week 8.

Kansas Jayhawks: 1-6 (0-4 Big 12)

Oct. 23, 2021; Lawrence; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold leads the team onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week:10

This week: Lost to Oklahoma 35-23

Why the Ranking?

Close but no cigar for the Kansas Jayhawks, who show signs they are an improving squad but couldn’t hold onto their first-half lead.

Though they will not accept any moral victories, quarterback Jason Bean played a great game. He had the Jayhawks in a position to potentially upset the No. 2 team in the nation on Saturday.

Better days are ahead for the Jayhawks.

Up Next: at Oklahoma State

Texas Tech Red Raiders: 5-3 (2-3)

Oct. 23, 2021; Lubbock; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) rushes against Kansas State Wildcats defensive safety Ross Elder (19) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 8

This week: Lost to Kansas State 25-24

Why the Ranking?

Texas Tech is an enigma. Not as good as its record might indicate. Heading into the matchup with TCU, it was 4-1 and had beaten West Virginia. Of course, we’ve seen what West Virginia has become. Now Tech’s alternating wins and losses look like one of the worst teams in the conference.

The situation will not get better anytime soon as it will face an Oklahoma team coming off of a disappointing performance against Kansas. After that, the Red Raiders will face Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Baylor to finish the season.

A team that once looked bowl eligible is going to struggle to get above .500 in 2021. They fall behind TCU due to the loss to the Horned Frogs a couple of weeks prior.

Up Next: at Oklahoma

TCU Horned Frogs: 3-4 (1-3)

Oct. 23, 2021; Fort Worth, Texas; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) runs as West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Lance Dixon (5) defends during the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 6

This week: Lost to West Virginia 29-17

Why the Ranking?

TCU’s defense allowed Jarret Doege to throw for 9.2 yards per attempt and complete 75% of his passes. That’s a recipe for disaster. Now, it’s not the 52 points the Gary Patterson defense gave up a week ago, but allowing a 2-4 West Virginia team that hadn’t won in a month to put up nearly 500 yards of total offense while going 6 of 14 on third down is a bad sign for a team that looks directionless.

Up Next: at Kansas State

West Virginia Mountaineers: 3-4 (1-3)

Oct. 23, 2021; Fort Worth, Texas; West Virginia Mountaineers defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) celebrates after a tackle for loss during the third quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 9

This week: Beat TCU 29-17

Why the Ranking?

Twenty-nine points from West Virginia might as well be 50. The Mountaineers struggle to score, but Jarret Doege had a good game, and Leddie Brown carried the ball 24 times for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Brown outperformed Zach Evans, who was held under 100 yards by the talented Mountaineers defensive front.

West Virginia is going to have a hard time getting bowl eligible after its poor start to the season, but this was an important win in the development of the program.

Up Next: vs. Iowa State

Kansas State Wildcats: 4-3 (1-3)

Oct. 23, 2021; Lubbock, Texas; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Skylar Thompson (7) hands the ball to running back Deuce Vaughn (22) in the first half during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 7

This week: Beat Texas Tech 25-24

Why the Ranking?

The Kansas State Wildcats have been an enigma this year. Injuries have been the biggest story, but after starting 3-0, they had a murderers row of opponents, falling to Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Oklahoma, to fall to 3-3.

Their win against Texas Tech was a huge bounce-back performance. They still have a great chance to finish the season above .500 if they can win their next three against TCU, Kansas and West Virginia before finishing with tough tests against Baylor and Texas.

Deuce Vaughn joined Kansas State legends Darren Sproles and Tyler Lockett with 2,000 yards from scrimmage in his career in the game.

Up Next: vs. TCU

Texas Longhorns: 4-3 (2-2)

Oct. 9, 2021; Dallas, Texas; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws during the first half against the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 5

This week: Bye Week

Why the Ranking?

Texas had a much-needed bye week after dropping back-to-back games to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. More disappointing than the losses was the way they lost. The Longhorns had significant leads in each game but watched them evaporate in second-half letdowns.

Up next, they play a Baylor team that has put themselves in a position to contend for the Big 12 title.

Up Next: at Baylor

No. 15 Oklahoma State Cowboys: 6-1 (3-1)

Oct. 23, 2021; Ames, Iowa; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Spencer Sanders (3) drops back to throw against the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 2

This week: Lost to Iowa State

Why the Ranking?

Well, that was a bummer.

Oklahoma State had been riding high, undefeated and coming off an impressive win over Texas. It couldn’t keep the good times rolling against Iowa State.

Though the defense held Breece Hall to 3.3 yards per carry, it couldn’t contain Xavier Hutchinson, who caught 12 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Hutchinson had another long touchdown erased after being called for taunting. It was a terrible call by the officiating crew in a game in which he dominated one of the best defenses in the country.

Spencer Sanders was solid in the loss, but the offense couldn’t do anything consistently against a tough Iowa State defense in the second half. Those drives in the second half ended punt, missed field goal, punt, touchdown, punt and turnover on downs.

Oklahoma State gets to bounce back against the lowly Kansas Jayhawks this weekend and stay on track for a Big 12 title berth.

Up Next: vs. Kansas

No. 23 Iowa State Cyclones: 5-2 (3-1)

Oct. 23, 2021; Ames; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy (15) passes against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 4

This week: Beat Oklahoma State 24-21

Why the Ranking?

Iowa State is starting its annual late-season push to remain relevant in the Big 12 title race. After opening Big 12 play with a loss at Baylor, Iowa State has rattled off three wins in a row to get back in position to make a run.

The loss over Baylor looms large: The Cyclones will need help to earn a spot in the Big 12 title game, and challenging games against Texas and Oklahoma loom.

The most impressive thing about this win is it pulled it off while Breece Hall had one of his worst games of the season.

Up Next: at West Virginia

No. 18 Baylor Bears: 6-1 (3-1)

Oct. 9, 2021; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Gerry Bohanon (11) passes against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half at McLane Stadium. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 3

This week: Bye Week

Why the Ranking?

After their loss to Oklahoma State, Baylor bounced back in a big way with wins over West Virginia and BYU before the bye. Up next is a tough test against the Texas Longhorns.

Up Next: vs. Texas

No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners: 8-0 (5-0)

Oct. 23, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Marvin Mims (17) runs against Kansas Jayhawks cornerback Ra’Mello Dotson (13) during the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week: 1

This week: Beat Kansas 35-21

Why the Ranking?

It’s clear injuries have taken a toll on the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense, but that doesn’t excuse the lack of effort displayed on Saturday against Kansas.

I was fully prepared to drop them in the rankings had Oklahoma State won this week, but the Sooners hang onto the top spot with the Cowboys’ loss.

Yes, they’re 8-0, but there are so many questions about this team it’s hard to imagine they can wade through the rest of their schedule with a perfect record. Games against Baylor, Iowa State and Oklahoma State will be the difference between the Sooners defending their Big 12 championship or watching from home.

Up Next: vs. Texas Tech

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