Barfknecht: Big 12 rankings

World-Herald Big 12 beat writer Lee Barfknecht ranks the Big 12 from top to bottom. Published on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

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1. Texas (5-0, 2-0)
• Last week: Beat Colorado 38-14.
• Up next: Oklahoma in Dallas, 11 a.m., ABC.
• That was an ugly prelude to the Red River Rivalry. When will the real Longhorns show up? Or is this it?

2. Oklahoma (3-2, 1-0)
• Last week: Beat Baylor 33-7.
• Up next: Texas in Dallas, 11 a.m., ABC.
• Sam Bradford’s healthy return puts OU back in the title hunt, but big questions remain at offensive line and receiver.

3. Nebraska (4-1, 1-0)
• Last week: Beat Missouri 27-12.
• Up next: Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m., ABC.
• The Huskers don’t have it all figured out yet. But great opportunities lie ahead if the learning curve keeps rising.

4. Oklahoma State (4-1, 1-0)
• Last week: Beat Texas A&M 36-31.
• Up next: Missouri, 8:15 p.m., ESPN2.
• For all of the negatives in Stillwater right now, OSU continues to “Cowboy Up’’ enough to stay in the hunt.

5. Kansas (5-0, 1-0)
• Last week: Beat Iowa State 41-36.
• Up next: at Colorado, 6 p.m., FSN.
• There’s a difference between winning ugly and getting lucky. The Jayhawks are still unbeaten only because of the latter against Iowa State.

6. Missouri (4-1, 0-1)
• Last week: Lost to Nebraska 27-12.
• Up next: at Oklahoma State, 8:15 p.m., ESPN2.
• It will be interesting to see how the youthful Tigers respond on the road after a disappointing meltdown at home.

7. Texas Tech (4-2, 1-1)
• Last week: Beat Kansas State 66-14.
• Up next: at Nebraska, 2:30 p.m., ABC.
• Remember that Tech coach Mike Leach’s record on the road against ranked opponents is 2-21.

8. Baylor (3-2, 0-1)
• Last week: Lost to Oklahoma 33-7.
• Up next: at Iowa State, 6 p.m.
• This is a big game for Baylor. If the Bears want to show they truly are moving up in the Big 12, this is the kind of game they need to win.

9. Texas A&M (3-2, 0-1)
• Last week: Lost to Oklahoma State 36-31.
• Up next: at Kansas State, 6 p.m., FCS.
• Aggies quarterback Jerrod Johnson has set a Big 12 record by throwing 228 passes without an interception.

10. Iowa State (3-3, 0-2)
• Last week: Lost to Kansas 41-36.
• Up next: Baylor, 6 p.m.
• I like Paul Rhoads more every week. His gutty band of under-manned Cyclones will give you 60 minutes whether you like it or not.

11. Kansas State (3-3, 1-1)
• Last week: Lost to Texas Tech 66-14.
• Up next: Texas A&M, 6 p.m., FCS.
• Wonder if Bill Snyder had any second thoughts about coming back to coach as Texas Tech threw its eighth TD pass with a 45-point lead.

12. Colorado (1-4, 0-1)
• Last week: Lost to Texas 38-14.
• Up next: Kansas, 6 p.m., FSN.
• Now that one Hawkins has lost his job (QB Cody), is the countdown on for another Hawkins (Dan the coach) to be replaced?

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