Trying to sort out the Big 12 right now is like trying to solve a rubik's cube blindfolded. Oklahoma's visit to Lubbock on Saturday along with West Virginia's game against Texas should help us put together a few more pieces of the puzzle.
For now, here's how things shake out after the first month of the season.
1. (-) Kansas State (4-0): The Wildcats had an extra week to savor their victory over Oklahoma thankfully giving them more time to prepare for, um, Kansas. Is K-State in for a bit of a letdown? Maybe, but even so, they still win. Up next: Kansas.
2. (-) Texas (4-0): The Longhorns passed their first real test of the season in their victory over Oklahoma State. Quarterback David Ash continues to improve every week out and if the Longhorns back seven ever figures out how to tackle, this is going to be a very dangerous team to deal with the rest of the season. Up next: West Virginia.
3. (-) West Virginia (4-0): The Mountaineers' offense was out of this world on Saturday in putting up 70 points on Baylor. Now let's see what they do against a team that has a front four capable of making Geno Smith work a little bit. It was an impressive debut in the Big 12 - on one side of the ball at least - but the next month will tell us all we need to know about this West Virginia team. Up next: at Texas.
4. (↑1) Oklahoma (2-1): The Sooners are coming off their second bye week in three weeks meaning they should be well rested when they head to Lubbock where they've lost their last three meetings.
Oklahoma has plenty to prove after falling at home to Kansas State and you can bet the Red Raiders won't make it easy on them on Saturday. There's plenty of season left for the Sooners to get back on track but they can't afford to dig the hole any deeper than the one they're already in. Up next: @ Texas Tech.
5. (↑1) Texas Tech (4-0): It wasn't a thing of beauty, but this isn't a beauty pageant and the Red Raiders did what they needed to do picking up an always important road win over Iowa State. The competition ratchets up a couple notches this week with the Sooners coming to town.
Texas Tech's defense has been phenomenal up to this point but this will be hands down the best offense they've seen this year. If the Red Raiders can take care of OU for the second straight season, the Tech bandwagon is going to become more crowded than it's been at any point during Tommy Tubervilles three years in Lubbock. Up next: Oklahoma.
6. (↑1) TCU (4-0): The Horned Frogs survived the sloppy conditions on Saturday coming up with six SMU turnovers and an eight point victory. Quarterback Casey Pachall had his worst performance of the season in the rain on Saturday. He'll need to play much better this weekend against a very good Cyclone defense: Up next: Iowa State.
7A. (↓3) Iowa State (3-1): The Cyclones came crashing back to earth against Texas Tech after an impressive start to the season. The problems on offense are too many to list here and they only have a week to figure out where things went wrong before facing a TCU defense that has given up all of 29 points through four games. Up next: at TCU.
7B. (↑.5) Oklahoma State (2-2): The Cowboys were a couple stops away from knocking off Texas for the third straight season. It was the second loss of the season already, but this is a team that has the talent to beat anyone on their schedule. The fact they're lingering this far down in the rankings goes to show just how deep the Big 12 is this season. Up next: bye.
9. (-) Baylor (3-1): The problems that plagued Baylor on defense a season ago reared their ugly head against West Virginia on Saturday. Good thing for the Bears their offense is as good as it is but they're going to need it if they plan on winning many more Big 12 games this season. Of course, West Virginia's offense always has the potential to make teams looks silly and Baylor fell victim to it over the weekend. They won't see another offense like it the rest of the way. Up next: bye.
10. (-) Kansas (1-3): The Jayhawks season has gotten off to a rough start but they can surely turn it around in a hurry with a win over their instate rival. I wouldn't bet on it, but crazier things have happened, although not many. The Jayhawks ground game is solid and it could be even better if quarterback Dayne Crist starts playing at a level that many thought he was capable of coming into the season. Up next: @ Kansas State.
