Big 12 football power rankings: Iowa State finally gets out of the basement

We are an Iowa State blog, and even we could cope with the fact that the Cyclone football team was pretty awful. Each week seemed like a copy of itself; despite some improvements, there were always a few setbacks.

Nov 23, 2013; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones receiver Justin Coleman (80) catches a pass against Kansas Jayhawks defender Dexter McDonald (12) in the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa State won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Finally, everything came together on Saturday night. Some part of it was Kansas, another part was the stable of running backs finally coming through. The running game made things easier for Grant Rohach, and did he ever make his throws when he needed to. A quarterback hasn’t had that much production for Iowa State since…well, when Sam Richardson did it against Kansas last year.

Kansas is still Kansas after all, and Iowa State has continued to improve defensively to award them the ninth spot in the power rankings. All that’s left is to potentially defeat West Virginia in Morgantown and climb to the eighth spot!

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

Baylor’s tumble at Oklahoma State puts them at two. A national championship is out of reach, but a BCS bowl isn’t. They need to get back their composure and not let it turn into two losses with a road game at TCU this week.
Oklahoma State controls their destiny to win the Big 12. Defeat Oklahoma, and they’re in a BCS bowl. Lose, and it will be Texas and Baylor battling for it…assuming both of them win this week.

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