BIG 12 FOOTBALL POWER POLL
1. (Previous: 1) Oklahoma (2-0)
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley has humbled Lane Kiffin and Chip Kelly in consecutive weeks. He’s done so by riding the arm and legs of former Texas A&M quarterback Kyler Murray, who was apparently ruined as an Aggie by Kevin Sumlin. Sumlin is now ruining another dual-threat quarterback at Arizona. The Sooners are the clear favorite in the Big 12. Next up: At Iowa State (0-1), Sat.
2. (2) West Virginia (2-0)
The Fighting Holgorsens are off to a 2-0 start with a semi bye week win over Youngstown State a week after starting the year with a victory against a dysfunctional Tennessee squad. Still, a win over the SEC carries weight with voters who don’t watch actual football and quarterback Will Grier is the top Heisman candidate in the conference. The Mountaineers’ game at North Carolina State has been postponed. Next up: Vs. Kansas State (2-0), 9/22
3. (3) TCU (2-0)
It wasn’t pretty, but TCU covered against SMU after a pedestrian first half. Gary Patterson won’t mind unless that first-half performance bleeds into this week against Ohio State. The Horned Frogs will be double-digit underdogs at home against the Urban Meyer-less Buckeyes with the world watching. A win not only propels TCU toward the playoff race, it would also help the cause of whichever team
eventually wins the Big 12. We’re all TCU fans Saturday night. Next up: Vs. Ohio
4. (4) Oklahoma State (2-0)
It’s impossible to know too much about Oklahoma State despite a 2-0 record against a high school schedule. (The Cowboys beat South Alabama in Week 2 and Missouri State in Week 1.) The schedule improves this week with a home game against Boise State. The Big 12 looks like a three-team race through two weeks, but a win over everyone’s favorite non-Power Five school would put Mike Gundy’s program back in the discussion. Next up:Vs.Boise State (2-0), Sat.
5. (7) Texas (1-1)
Texas isn’t ranked fifth because the Longhorns did anything impressive. They didn’t. The ranking speaks to the lack of depth in the Big 12. The Longhorns squeaked past Tulsa in Week 2 and started the season with another loss to Maryland. Tom Herman appears to think the ship is moving in the right direction, though, and he’s smarter than all of us combined. Next up: Vs. USC (1-1), Sat.
6. (8) Baylor (2-0)
The Bears are improving in the second year under Matt Rhule because there was nowhere for Baylor to go but forward after Art Briles ruined the program to boost his ego and win a few extra games. Baylor lost to UTSA in 2017. It rebounded in year two under Rhule to knock off the Roadrunners. In a weak Big 12, that means something. Next up: Vs. Duke (2-0), Sat.
7. (6) Iowa State (0-1)
For those of you who fell asleep during the Defense Bowl known as the Iowa/ Iowa State game last weekend, just know that the Cyclones didn’t win. Iowa State managed just three points against its in-state rival in a game built for the Big Ten faithful. It was the first game of the season for Matt Campbell and Iowa State after weather canceled the opener. The Cyclones looked very much like a team that was out of rhythm. Next up: Vs. Oklahoma (20), Sat.
8. (9) Texas Tech (1-1)
Texas Tech beat Lamar 77-0. Maybe that made Kliff Kingsbury and the Red Raiders feel better about their Week 1 loss to Ole Miss. Houston rolls through Lubbock this weekend after drumming Sumlin and Arizona. A win over Texas Tech means UH likely adds a win against another soon-to-be former coach in the Big 12. Next up: Vs. Houston (2-0), Sat.
9. (5) Kansas State (1-1)
The only good news for Kansas State over the weekend was that the MississippiState loss ended early enough for Bill Snyder to make a trip to Luby’s without missing his bedtime; it was an abysmal performance for Kansas State. The offense looked anemic and the defense looked tired. Next up: Vs. UTSA (0-2), Sat.
10. (10) Kansas (1-1)
Kansas beat Central Michigan to avoid a possible winless season, but like chalk work, the Jayhawks remain in the basementof the Big 12 standings. Next up: Vs. Rutgers (1-1), Sat. —MIKE CRAVEN