Big 12 football power rankings: Baylor finishes at the top

By Brian Spaen | Dec 10, 2014

All the debate about Baylor and TCU in the College Football Playoff, and none of them are able to get in. Everyone involved with the Big 12 are upset, the rest of the nation laughs, and regardless of who you think should or not have not been in the CFP, there’s one clear-cut answer for who won the conference in football this season.

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Here are the final Big 12 football power rankings for the football season.

1. Baylor Bears (8-1, 11-1)

By virtue of the tiebreaker, the Bears are the clear winners of the Big 12 in most people’s eyes. At the end of the season, both Baylor and TCU had similar seasons, but the Horned Frogs couldn’t hold on to a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter. The difference between these two teams are incredibly narrow, but the Bears have the edge.

2. TCU Horned Frogs (8-1, 11-1)

Now, why would I think they TCU was going to the CFP if I thought Baylor was the best team in the conference? Some people argued that the Bears deserved the fourth spot over Ohio State. I said everything should hold the same from before because all six contenders won — and won convincingly. When times passes, TCU fans can look back on the success of this season instead of the mess of the CFP’s problems.

3. Kansas State Wildcats (7-2, 9-3)

Another successful season by Bill Snyder and the Wildcats, they just didn’t have enough on offense to keep up with the Big 12’s best.

Nov 15, 2014; Lubbock, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops on the sidelines during the game with the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

4. Oklahoma Sooners (8-4, 5-4)

Losing to opponents that you’re better than is just something that happens in rivalry games — just ask Iowa. But winning just eight games this season for the Sooners is the first time they haven’t reached nine or more wins since Bob Stoops first became the head coach. For a team that had national championship aspirations, it’s a major disappointment, but they’re still one of the better teams in the conference.

5. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-4, 7-5)

The month of November was tough after a great start for West Virginia. Clint Trickett was injured and the team suffered three straight losses to bow out of the Big 12 race. But, they have one thing no other team has on their resume — a win against Baylor.

6. Texas Longhorns (5-4, 6-6)

Nov 15, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong looks on against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Texas defeated Oklahoma State 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Charlie Strong’s first season wasn’t either impressive or a disaster. There were lots of positives in a very tough season, and the defense looks very strong. They’ll get back to the top in the Big 12 before you know it.

7. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-5, 6-6)

A rough year ended with a big win over their rivals. I didn’t see them competing with losing five straight games before that, but the gutsy win will put them in an unlikely bowl game.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-7, 4-8)

Another team that faced a tougher than expected year in the Big 12, but ended with a victory over Iowa State and nearly beating Baylor.

9. Kansas Jayhawks (1-8, 3-9)

They couldn’t backup the goal post knocking victory over Iowa State, but at least they got a Big 12 victory this season. Kansas will be trying to right the ship with a new head coach next year.

10. Iowa State Cyclones (0-9, 2-10)

A season without many expectations ended worse than we all thought. Changes will have to be made because Iowa State was nowhere near competitive in the Big 12 for the second straight year, and things ended with a whimper against TCU.

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