The Big 12 got off to a rough start in the first full week of action. Though they finished with a 9-1 record on the weekend, the games were much closer than they should have been. With just two Power Five matchups on the slate, the Big 12 struggled against Group of Five and FCS teams throughout the weekend.
It was a similar start to the season as last year when the Big 12 saw several upsets at the hands of FCS schools. It created a perception that teams like Iowa State and Kansas State weren’t very good, but they bounced back in the following weeks to come up with big wins in the conference.
These teams will likely look better as the season progresses, but it was an unfortunate start for a conference trying to prove it belongs among the Power Five with realignment on the horizon.
*Ranking is based on the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll – last updated Aug. 10.
10
Kansas Jayhawks: 1-0
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This week: Beat South Dakota 17-14
Why the Ranking?
The Kansas Jayhawks are still the Kansas Jayhawks. Getting a close win over South Dakota doesn’t really change the perception of this program. It will take time for Lance Leipold to build up a Jayhawks program that hasn’t been relevant since Mark Mangino. Until they can beat a Big 12 team, this is where they’ll stay.
9
Baylor Bears: 1-0
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This week: Beat Texas State 29-20
Why the Ranking?
The Baylor Bears started the 2021 season with a win over Texas State. Like much of the Big 12, it was a close win over a team they should have handily beaten. Dave Aranda’s team still has some work to do to get the program back to respectability.
8
West Virginia Mountaineers: 0-1
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This week: Lost to Maryland 30-24
Why the Ranking?
It was a disappointing start for the Mountaineers, who fell in a close one to Maryland. It was one of only two matchups between Power Five members for the Big 12 conference. West Virginia couldn’t do much in the second half, and the Terrapins were able to finish the game with a 10 point fourth quarter and pick up the win.
7
Oklahoma State Cowboys: 1-0
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This week: Beat Missouri State 23-16
Why the Ranking?
The fact that this game was close in the fourth quarter has to be a disappointment for Oklahoma State fans. A win is a win, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys were without starting quarterback Spencer Sanders. However, Missouri State is a team the Cowboys should have handled regardless.
6
Texas Tech Red Raiders: 1-0
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
This week: Beat Houston 38-21
Why the Ranking?
After Houston jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, the Texas Tech Red Raiders took over. They outscored the Cougars 38-7 the rest of the way on the backs of an outstanding effort from Erik Ezukanma. It was a statement win for Matt Wells and Texas Tech to start the season.
5
TCU Horned Frogs: 1-0
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
This week: Beat Duquesne 48-3
Why the Ranking?
Max Duggan and the TCU Horned Frogs did exactly what a Power Five team should do when playing a member of the FCS. Dominate them. At halftime, TCU was up 35-0 and cruised to victory in the second half, allowing just three points on defense.
4
Kansas State Wildcats: 1-0
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This week: Beat Stanford 24-7
Why the Ranking?
In the only other matchup between two Power Five teams, the Kansas State Wildcats took care of business in a convincing 17 point win over the Stanford Cardinal. The Wildcats are a team that people have been sleeping on this Summer when considering contenders for the Big 12. They bring back Skylar Thompson and Deuce Vaughn, two of the more difficult matchups in the conference.
3
#8 Iowa State Cyclones: 1-0
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
This week: Beat Northern Iowa 16-10
Why the Ranking?
I don’t think this game is indicative of how good Iowa State is as a football team. Remember in 2020 how they opened the season with a loss to Louisiana, which spelled doom for the Cyclones. Well, we found out a couple of weeks later that they were much better than that as they knocked off the Sooners in Ames, Iowa. Matt Campbell will have his team ready to play better football by the time the Cyclones reach Big 12 play.
2
#19 Texas Longhorns: 1-0
Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman via Imagn Content Services, LLC
This week: Beat #23 Louisiana 38-18
Why the Ranking?
Texas looked pretty good in their win over Louisiana. After a close first half that saw the Longhorns go into halftime with a 14-6 lead, they outscored the Ragin Cajuns 24-12 in the second half for the 20 point win. Hudson Card was solid, and Bijan Robinson was his explosive self. The Longhorns’ defense held their opponent to 4 of 13 on third down and under three yards per carry on the day.
1
#3 Oklahoma Sooners: 1-0
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
This week: Beat Tulane 40-35
Why the Ranking?
It wasn’t pretty in the second half, but the Sooners’ second quarter provided a glimpse of the type of team they could be if they played a 60-minute game. The Sooners were absolutely dominant on defense, forcing and recovering three fumbles, and they sacked Michael Pratt twice. The defense held them to 37 total yards in the quarter en route to a 23-0 quarter. The Sooners thought they had the game won and could sleepwalk to a win. It nearly didn’t work out that way as Tulane didn’t get the memo.
Oklahoma has to find an edge that can carry them for a full 60 minutes and find an answer to the second-half woes that have plagued them for years.
