Football: Big 12 ratings

1. Texas (4-0, 1-0)

Last week: Beat UTEP 64-7. Up next: Idle. The Longhorns no longer are in search of a good all-around game. The thrashing of UTEP leaves lots of good feelings entering a bye week.

2. Oklahoma (2-1)

Last week: Idle. Up next: at Miami (Fla.), 7 p.m., ABC. The Sooner defense is good enough that if the offense doesn't make a bunch of mistakes, a victory can be had.

3. Kansas (4-0)

Last week: Beat Southern Mississippi 35-28. Up next: Idle. The Jayhawks won't win any beauty pageants, but their mix of guts, toughness and unsung talent makes them a formidable foe.

4. Oklahoma State (3-1)

Last week: Beat Grambling State 56-6. Up next: Idle. The Cowboys have three potential All-Americans (WR Dez Bryant, TB Kendall Hunter, CB Perrish Cox) who need to get healthy soon.

5. Missouri (4-0)

Last week: Beat Nevada 31-21. Up next: Idle. The Tigers got some help from Nevada, but that was still a solid road win to savor entering the Nebraska game.

6. Nebraska (3-1)

Last week: Beat UL-Lafayette 55-0. Up next: Idle. Questions about how the offense will operate on the road will dog the Huskers up to and through the end of the Missouri game.

7. Texas Tech (2-2, 0-1)

Last week: Lost to Houston 29-28. Up next: New Mexico, 2:30 p.m., FSN. With the same number of losses this season already as all last season, the senior class is a disgruntled group.

8. Texas A&M (3-0)

Last week: Beat UAB 56-19. Up next: Arkansas in Arlington, Texas, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2. Arkansas' leaky defense could provide the opening for A&M to pull out a much-needed “name'' victory.

9. Baylor (2-1)

Last week: Beat NW (La.) State 68-13. Up next: Kent State, 6 p.m., FSN Southwest. Robert Griffin's season-ending injury is miserable news. Hate to see a great player and great person go through this.

10. Iowa State (3-1)

Last week: Beat Army 31-10. Up next: Kansas State in Kansas City, 2 p.m., FCS. A win this week could start legitimate bowl-eligibility talk for first-year coach Paul Rhoads.

11. Colorado (1-2)

Last week: Idle. Up next: at West Virginia on Thursday, 6:30 p.m., ESPN. The Buffaloes had to go to overtime last year to beat West Virginia at home. Winning on the road seems highly unlikely.

12. Kansas State (2-2)

Last week: Beat Tennessee Tech 49-7. Up next: Iowa State in Kansas City, 2 p.m., FCS. Realistically, this is one of two chances the Wildcats have this season to win a Big 12 game. The other: Colorado.

--Lee Barfknecht

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