Big 12 football power rankings: Iowa State finally hits rock bottom

After a huge weekend in the Big 12, we have new teams at both the top and bottom of the conference. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out who those teams are.

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1. TCU Horned Frogs (5-1, 8-1) — LW: 2

What else can you say about TCU at this point? I know they won’t get into the College Football Playoff just yet because Alabama will unfortunately scoot in over them, but there’s a lot of football left to be played. If they win out, there’s no question they’ll be in the final four, and it’s a real possibility with how well they’re playing on both sides of the ball.

2. Baylor Bears (5-1, 8-1) — LW: 4

Sometimes you just got to admit when you’re dead wrong, and I was foolish in thinking Oklahoma was better than Baylor last week. As the week progressed, I came to my senses and picked the Bears to win, but never did I expect that domination in Norman.

3. Kansas State Wildcats (5-1, 7-2) — LW: 1

They were the most complete team in the Big 12 until that beatdown by TCU. Now you have to wonder if they’ll have anything to slow down Baylor. The Wildcats are still a great team, but they’re completely out of the CFP picture now.

4. Oklahoma Sooners (3-3, 6-3) — LW: 3

With so many expectations this year, it’s a complete disappointment to see this team with a 6-3 overall record. They still deserve to be in the top 25, but they haven’t looked like the Oklahoma team we’re used to seeing since Big 12 play started. Well, except for when they faced Iowa State, but who hasn’t looked good offensively against the Cyclones?

Nov 8, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Johnathan Gray (32) and center Taylor Doyle (74) react following a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas beat West Virginia 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

5. Texas Longhorns (4-2, 5-5) — LW: 6

West Virginia tends to be a little flaky on the road, but you have to give credit to Texas for finishing the game after the Mountaineers snuck into it a little bit. They have a must win against Oklahoma State to get to a bowl though, because having to rely on a victory over TCU would be extremely difficult at this point.

6. West Virginia Mountaineers (4-3, 6-4) — LW: 5

This team is a lot better than the overall record indicates with close losses to Alabama and TCU, not to mention beating Baylor. The loss to Texas was the worst of the season though, and perhaps not being able to pull out more huge victories killed the momentum WVU had this year.

7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-3, 5-4) — LW: 7

Nothing to add as they didn’t play this week. They’re still in the same spot they were the last week.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-5, 3-6) — LW: 8

See “Oklahoma State Cowboys.”

9. Kansas Jayhawks (1-5, 3-6) — LW: 10

The Jayhawks defeated the Mountaineers for their lone Big 12 victory last year and now have defeated the Cyclones for what could be their only conference win with TCU, Oklahoma, and Kansas State all up next.

10. Iowa State Cyclones (0-6, 2-7) — LW: 9

It’s officially rock bottom in Ames. We’ll keep this short as we’ve pressed on it a lot and will continue to, but a second straight losing season at Iowa State just about kills all the good Paul Rhoads did in building his team from 2009-2012. This team continues to have slow starts, the up-tempo offense isn’t clicking, and the defense is suffering because of it. Not to mention the slew of injuries that have taken place on both sides of the football. More heads will likely roll on the coaching staff after this year, and Rhoads may be next if he can’t right the ship next season assuming he even has that chance.

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