With one week of the regular season remaining, the Ranking of the 12 great football powers are all bowl games. Eight of the conference’s 14 teams have secured their spots while three others have a chance to get there – I’m guessing one of them makes it.
Elsewhere, we know that Texas will go to the Big 12 championship game, which now presents WWE And Nelly in 2023.
Who joins the Longhorns to fight for the Papa Haitch “Going Over, Brother” championship belt?
1. Texas (10-1, 7-1)
Last week: 1
This week: vs. Texas Tech (Friday)
What there is to know: Half of Brett Yormark’s worst nightmare has come true. The Longhorns are headed to Arlington. But they better not overlook a Texas Tech team that is trying to end this rivalry on a high note.
2. Oklahoma (9-2, 6-2)
Last week: 2
This week: vs. TCU (Friday)
What there is to know: Dillon Gabriel’s status could be a topic heading into the season finale. It may not matter against horned frogs either.
3. Oklahoma State (8-3, 6-2)
Last week: 5
This week: vs. BYU
What there is to know: The Cowboys are past their timeout, but we can’t forgive them for the egg they laid in Orlando. Beat the Cougars and this game won’t matter.
4. Kansas State (8-3, 6-2)
Last week: 3
This week: vs. Iowa State
What there is to know: The Wildcats need the most help getting to the title game and will have their own challenge against the Cyclones.
5. West Virginia (7-4, 5-3)
Last week: 8
This week: at Baylor
What there is to know: It would need to be four wins in their final five games for the Mountaineers to end things, which is quite an accomplishment for the team picked last in the preseason.
6. Texas Tech (6-5, 5-3)
Last week: 7
This week: in Texas (Friday)
What there is to know: With a bowl game in hand, the Red Raiders can focus on keeping the Longhorns out of the College Football Playoff, which would be quite the parting gift.
7. Kansas (7-4, 4-4)
Last week: 4
This week: in Cincinnati
What there is to know: For the second year in a row, the Jayhawks collapsed late in the season. The ship can be easily righted against the Bearcats.
8. Iowa State (6-5, 5-3)
Last week: 6
This week: in the state of Kansas
What there is to know: The Cyclones don’t want to go into the bowl game after losing three of their last four games, even though none of them would be a bad loss.
9. TCU (5-6, 3-5)
Last week: 9
This week: in Oklahoma (Friday)
What there is to know: Hooray! The Horned Frogs were victorious. All they have to do now is beat a highly motivated Oklahoma team to advance to a bowl game of their own.
10. UCF (5-6, 2-6)
Last week: ten
This week: against Houston
What there is to know: It’s not the rivalry the Big 12 envisioned, but the Space Feud between UCF and Houston is exactly what the new conference needs.
11. BYU (5-6, 2-6)
Last week: 11
This week: in the state of Oklahoma
What there is to know: Unenviable spot for the Cougars trying to get their breakthrough win against an Oklahoma State team that needs a little more winning.
12. Houston (4-7, 2-6)
Last week: 13
This week: at UCF
What there is to know: If Dana Holgorsen hadn’t been offended by the UCF Space Game, I’m not sure anyone outside of Orlando or Houston would have cared about this one. It still isn’t, but it’s more fun now.
13. Baylor (3-8, 2-6)
Last week: 14
This week: against West Virginia
What there is to know: Based on how they’ve performed at home so far, the Bears might as well call this a road game.
14. Cincinnati (3-8, 1-7)
Last week: 12
This week: against Kansas
What there is to know: Better luck next year?
