Big 12 football power rankings: Have the Oklahoma Sooners been exposed?

Everything was headed right for the Oklahoma Sooners after finally taking down Notre Dame in South Bend late last September. It’s been an entirely different story for Blake Bell and his team in October.

Oct 12, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Blake Bell (10) leaves the field after a play against the Texas Longhorns during the Red River Rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. The Texas Longhorns beat the Oklahoma Sooners 36-20. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Sooners’ offense has suffered a collapse in the first two games this month. It was saved by a long Brennan Clay rushing touchdown that helped Oklahoma survive against TCU by a field goal, but it should have been a warning sign.

Bell had 645 passing yards against Tulsa and the Irish with six touchdowns and no picks. Against the Horned Frogs and Texas Longhorns? A completion percentage that went from 73 percent to 64.5 and 46.2 respectively, 285 combined yards, zero touchdowns, and two picks.

The same production can be found in the running game. Again, take away the outlier of Clay’s 76-yard run against TCU. Oklahoma averages 128.5 rushing yards in those last two games when they had over 300 against Louisiana-Monroe and West Virginia and 212 against Notre Dame.

It’s almost hard not to put Texas as a top three team in the conference. From beating down Kansas State who can’t catch a break in Big 12 play, to getting a favorable call against an Iowa State team that will score on everyone, to dominating a team that was once hailed as the best team in the conference, maybe they’re a team to really be worried about along with the other undefeated conference teams.

One thing is for sure. Oklahoma will have to get out of this funk quickly to join that pack, or else they’ll find out what it’s like to be Texas in this power poll.

1. (12)Baylor Bears (5-0, 2-0) – vs Iowa State
2. (15)Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0, 3-0) – at West Virginia
3. (18)Oklahoma Sooners (4-1, 1-1) – at Kansas
4. (17)Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1, 1-1) – vs TCU
5. Texas Longhorns (4-2, 3-0) – BYE
6. Kansas State Wildcats (2-4, 0-3) – BYE
7. TCU Horned Frogs (3-3, 1-2) – at Oklahoma State
8. West Virginia Mountaineers (3-3, 1-2) – vs Texas Tech
9. Iowa State Cyclones (1-4, 0-2) – at Baylor
10. Kansas Jayhawks (2-3, 0-2) – vs Oklahoma