The Big 12's top three teams have held solid all season, but the bottom half of the league have been playing musical chairs through three weeks. Fortunately for Kansas, no chairs are taken away when the music stops on Saturday night.
1. Oklahoma (3-0), last week: 1. This week: at West Virginia. The Sooners haven't faced a major test yet, but they've been rock solid through three games and easily handled Tennessee on Saturday night. OU's defense is as fearsome as expected, and is giving up just 3.92 yards per play. That's good for seventh nationally (and third in the Big 12).
2. Baylor (3-0), last week: 2. This week: Idle. The good news for Baylor is the Big 12 performed well on Saturday and if BU does indeed go undefeated, it won't have any shot of being locked out of the playoff. The Bears' laughable nonconference schedule is behind them, but there's something to be said for not allowing a team to come within six touchdowns of you heading into Big 12 play.
3. Kansas State (2-0, 1-0) last week: 3. This week: vs. Auburn (Thursday). Thursday night is going to be fun. K-State fans will bring it-they always do - and you'll have two well - prepared teams coming off a bye week. Gus Malzahn and Bill Snyder will put on a quarterback running game clinic.
4. Oklahoma State (2-1), last week: 4. This week: Idle. Daxx Garman was a little shaky and overanxious for the big play, but if OC Mike Yurcich can get him calmed down and willing to check down, the Pokes will be in good shape for what could be a long run without J.W. Walsh. Glenn Spencer may quietly have one of the Big 12's best defenses that may not get proper recognition until late November when the schedules and statistics even out. Everybody doesn't have a game against the reigning Heisman winner on their schedule.
5. West Virginia (2-1), last week: 5. This week: vs. Oklahoma. I almost moved WVU up to four this week. West Virginia earned a quality win on the road at Maryland, and though Clint Trickett earned all the attention (and Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors), linebackers Isaiah Bruce and Nick Kwiatkowski are a nice 1-2 punch at linebacker. They combined for 17 tackles, five tackles for loss and three pass breakups on Saturday. CB Ishamel Banks returns this week for the Mountaineers, too.
6. TCU (2-0), last week: 6. This week: Idle. The Frogs are the nation's leader in defensive yards per play (3.04) and doing it without Big 12 preseason Defensive Player of the Year Devonte Fields. The new offense looks good, and Trevone Boykin seems like he's picking it up nicely. The Frogs' receivers might be one of the Big 12's most improved units.
7. Texas (1-2), last week: 8. This week: Idle. Despite the loss, the Longhorns bowl hopes got a bit of a boost on Saturday. The offense won't be in the top half of the Big 12, but it's not anywhere near as bad as many expected after David Ash went down. The defense has been somewhat disappointing thus far, but the Longhorns showed some toughness after getting routed by BYU on their home field a week ago.
8. Iowa State (1-2, 0-1), last week: 10. This week: Idle. The Cyclones got a win as a double-digit road underdog and took home state bragging rights. Not a bad Saturday. The Cyclones are just 1-2 now, but both teams who beat ISU would beat Arkansas, who was picked last in the SEC West and beat Texas Tech on Saturday.
9. Texas Tech (2-1), last week: 7. This week: Idle. The Red Raiders cut down their penalties, but it's got to be frustrating when you know exactly what an opponent is going to do every time and fail to stop it. Arkansas threw for just 61 yards and put very little thought into trying to throw the ball in the second half. Tech couldn't do anything about it.
10. Kansas (1-1), last week: 9. This week: vs. Central Michigan. When you lose to Duke by 38, the "our fans are only passionate about basketball" excuse rings a little hollow. The gap between Kansas and the rest of the Big 12 does not appear to be shrinking.
