Football: Big 12 ratings

1. Texas (9-0, 5-0)

Last week: Beat Central Florida 35-3. Up next: at Baylor, 11 a.m., FSN. The Longhorns remain in cruise control with a Big 12 title in sight, a shot at a national title alive and Colt McCoy getting Heisman love.

2. Oklahoma State (7-2, 4-1)

Last week: Beat Iowa State 34-8. Up next: Texas Tech, 7 p.m., ABC. A win here and the Cowboys move to the front of the line for a Cotton Bowl bid. Not a bad prize after all of the turmoil OSU has faced.

3. Texas Tech (6-3, 3-2)

Last week: Idle. Up next: at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., ABC. Questions remain about which quarterback Mike Leach will pull out of his hat. The injured Sticks Sheffield “is available,’’ Leach said Monday.

4. Kansas State (6-4, 4-2)

Last week: Beat Kansas 17-10. Up next: Missouri, 11:30 a.m., Versus. The Wildcats are like a high-mileage Toyota. Not real fancy and the doors have some dings, but it keeps getting you where you need to go.

5. Nebraska (6-3, 3-2)

Last week: Beat Oklahoma 10-3. Up next: at Kansas, 2:30 p.m., ABC. This time, the Huskers won’t face a second- or third-string quarterback. Just a starter who is struggling like one in KU’s Todd Reesing.

6. Oklahoma (5-4, 3-2)

Last week: Lost to Nebraska 10-3. Up next: Texas A&M, 6 p.m., FSN. The Sooners’ four losses are by a combined 12 points, but close doesn’t count in Big 12 football. Final scores do.

7. Iowa State (5-5, 2-4)

Last week: Lost to Oklahoma State 34-8. Up next: Colorado, 1 p.m. The Cyclones had better take care of the bowl eligibility business this week and not let it linger for the finale at Missouri.

8. Colorado (3-6, 2-3)

Last week: Beat Texas A&M 35-34. Up next: at Iowa State, 1 p.m. With the way Tyler Hansen has played at quarterback, coach Dan Hawkins’ continued use of his son at that spot becomes more maddening.

9. Texas A&M (5-4, 2-3)

Last week: Lost to Colorado 35-34. Up next: at Oklahoma, 6 p.m., FSN. Note to Aggie head man Mike Sherman. You don’t gain a lot of respect for your coaching acumen when you lose to Dan Hawkins.

10. Kansas (5-4, 1-4)

Last week: Lost to Kansas State 17-10. Up next: Nebraska, 2:30 p.m., ABC. The Jayhawks are falling fast with four straight losses. Their ailing offense won’t get better facing Nebraska and Texas the next two weeks.

11. Baylor (4-5, 1-4)

Last week: Beat Missouri 40-32. Up next: Texas, 11 a.m., FSN. Congrats to BU coach Art Briles for avoiding a goose egg in conference play. But that home loss to Connecticut looks as if it has killed bowl hopes.

12. Missouri (5-4, 1-4)

Last week: Lost to Baylor 40-32. Up next: at Kansas State, 11:30 a.m., Versus. When you lose to Baylor at home, you automatically go to the end of the line. What a mess the Tigers left with that ugly showing.

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