By Jordan Bianucci & Brice Larson
Jordan Bianucci’s Power Rankings
Fall is officially upon us and it’s more obvious than ever; like a pumpkin-headed scarecrow, the Big-12 is top heavy. Here are my Big-12 power rankings, which really should be sponsored. Maybe someone can reach out to that beaver that runs those ridiculous, giant gas stations. That seems like a nice cultural fit.
1. Texas
Texas is still in my top spot after they put a beatdown on Baylor last week. This week the Longhorns get Kansas in Austin. The Jayhawks could get a win but they would need a lot of things to go their way.
2. Oklahoma
The Sooners have Iowa State this Saturday. Can we just skip a week so we can see this team play Texas?
3. Kansas
Right now the Jayhawks are the third best team in this conference but it still looks strange to see Kansas this high on the list without mentioning Bill Self.
4. TCU
Colorado’s shellacking at Oregon makes me wonder… is TCU as good as we thought? Probably not but who’s going to step up in this conference and take them down besides Texas, Oklahoma, and maybe Kansas?
5. Kansas State
The Wildcats beat UCF to rebound from their loss at Mizzou. A big win vs. Oklahoma State this weekend will tell us… nothing, absolutely nothing.
6. BYU
BYU ran the ball for 9 yards against Kansas and Kalani Sitake was a little perturbed when asked about it after the game. It sounds like the unrelenting criticism from BYU-TV and the Santaquin Weekly Bulletin is getting to him. The good news for Cougar fans? BYU’s remaining games against everyone but Texas and Oklahoma are looking more and more manageable.
7. West Virginia
Instead of thinking about Mountaineers football, let’s cue up some John Denver and just cool out for a while.
8. Iowa State
The Fightin’ Brock Purdys probably aren’t the eighth best team in the Big-12 but let them bask in this glory before they’re torn limb from limb this weekend in Norman.
9. UCF
The Knights put up a good fight against a Kansas State team that’s sort of a mystery right now. UCF’s reward? They get to play Baylor, which isn’t really a reward at all when you consider that they have to find a flight to Waco.
10. Cincinnati
The Bearcats scored 6 points against Oklahoma and the Reds blew a 9-run lead to the Pittsburgh Pirates. For Cincinnati fans, let’s just pray Joe Burrow’s calf heals quickly.
11. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders lost to West Virginia but almost beat Oregon. There is no order. Life is chaos.
12. Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State should forfeit their remaining games and instead screen a different Gary Busey film each Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium. It’s a win-win, Busey is an OSU alum and who wouldn’t choose watching the 1991 cinema classic Point Break over Cowboys football?
13. Baylor
Breaking: Baylor just announced they’re dropping football for the remainder of 2023. Instead they’re packing up the truck and heading north to Stillwater for the inaugural Gary Busey Film Festival!
14. Houston
The Cougars got a win this week beating Sam Houston State and as of now I’m campaigning for this game to be played each and every season in a dank, abandoned Astrodome.
Brice Larson’s Power Rankings
