The Big 12 finished the weekend undefeated, but not until Kansas State and Baylor fought off a few nervous moments Saturday night.
The conference gets a bit of a break this coming weekend with four teams getting the weekend off to kick back and relax. That being said, the best game of the season to date will be played Saturday night in Norman.
Here's how things look heading into week number with most of the league set to wrap up nonconference play.
1. (-) Kansas State (3-0): It was an impressive win over North Texas but it was a win nonetheless. Combine that with the Wildcats impressive victory over Miami and Kansas State keeps a grip on the number one spot. The real season now begins: Up next: at Oklahoma.
2. (↑1) Texas (3-0): There's still plenty to improve on for a defensive that has developed a penchant for giving up big plays, but getting a road win in SEC territory has to be worth something, even if it was Ole Miss. Has Texas discovered a passing game? We will find out over UT's next three games. For now, however, the Longhorns get a week off. Up next: Bye.
3. (↓1) West Virginia (2-0): The final score might not have been as impressive as some imagined in the Mountaineers 42-14 win over James Madison, but this game was never in doubt. West Virginia scored on their first four drives while forcing five JMU punts to start the game. West Virginia wraps up the nonconference schedule this week before starting Big 12 play. Up next: Maryland.
4. (-)Oklahoma (2-0): The Sooners had the weekend off giving OU an extra week to face a Bill Snyder team looking to avenge their worst loss of the season in '11. Oklahoma also is out to prove their slow start against UTEP was an aberration and once again establish themselves at the Big 12 favorite. Up next: Kansas State.
5. (-) Iowa State (3-0): The Cyclones took care of business against an overmatched Western Illinois team and finished undefeated in nonconference play. Iowa State now gets a week off to prepare for a Texas Tech offense that will be far better than any they've seen thus far. Up next: bye.
6A. (-)Texas Tech (3-0): The Red Raider defense continued to shine against New Mexico. An improved defense to go along with their high-scoring offense means nobody should be taking Texas Tech lightly. Can they solve the curse ISU has had over them the past two seasons? They get an extra week to figure it out. Up next: bye.
6B. (-)TCU (2-0): The Horned Frogs got their first ever Big 12 win, although it wasn't by the margin many expected. They now have two more weeks of nonconference games before heading into the meat of the schedule starting with Virginia. The Cavaliers is coming off a 36 point loss to Georgia Tech. Up next: Virginia.
8. (↓1) Baylor (2-0): Sam Houston State gave the Bears everything they could handle and then some in the first half before Baylor turned it on in the third and fourth quarters. They now get, who else, Louisiana Monroe, a team everybody is talking about after they beat Arkansas and lost to Auburn in overtime. Art Briles and his staff shouldn't have to worry about their team looking past ULM to their trip to Morgantown the following week. Up next: @ Louisiana-Monroe.
9. (-) Oklahoma State (2-1): Things could have got interesting after Wes Lunt went down. They didn't, and the Cowboys found out their number two quarterback happens to be pretty good. Even with J.W. Walsh's success, the bye week comes at a good time with the Longhorns on the horizon. Up next: bye.
10. (-) Kansas (1-2): The Jayhawks held their own on the scoreboard in Charlie Weis' first Big 12 game. Hey, when you're coming off a two win seasons, any signs of improvement is a good thing and Kansas definitely showed glimpses of it on Saturday. A potentially tough road test awaits, however. Up next: @ Northern Illinois.
