The Big 12 saw a week of exciting comebacks, big blowouts, and everything in between. The final Big 12 schools finished non-conference play last week, so from here on out, it’s all Big 12 games all season long. The conference is still behind the 8-ball for a Playoff spot, but there is plenty of exciting conference play and just about anything can happen in a long season. Baylor, West Virginia, and Oklahoma are all very much alive in the Playoff race.
5. Texas is who we expected at the start of the year
The big early win over what we now recognize to be a clearly-overrated Notre Dame team had many excited that Texas was back to being near the college football elite. The loss to Cal two weeks later taught everyone that maybe they jumped the gun a little early on the Longhorns’ coronation, but they were still a ranked and respected team. That should be over with for the time being this season. Texas is a decent team, probably above average, but it is not even close to being one of the best in the nation. Charlie Strong has the program moving in the right direction, but it isn’t quite back yet.
4. Baylor and West Virginia are still alive
I was a few minutes away from eliminating the entire Big 12 from Playoff consideration. Losses by Baylor and West Virginia would basically leave no chances for quality wins in-conference and eliminate the entire Big 12 (save perhaps Oklahoma, if there was real chaos). The Big 12 is walking a very thin tightrope from here on out, and that tightrope was inches from snapping this week. It didn’t, though, so the Big 12 stays alive for now.
3. Iowa State is no pushover
We expected Iowa State to be one of the easier teams to beat in this conference. The Cyclones will probably only be favored against Kansas from here until the end of the season. No one expects them to be competitive in the conference. The game against Baylor certainly changed that. Iowa State played a great game and fought tough until the end, even if it allowed Baylor to make it out of a tough hole. No one will overlook Iowa State again this season, that’s for sure.
2. TCU can put up a lot of points in a hurry
This is a lesson that we all probably learned a few years ago when it comes to TCU and Baylor, but no game involving the Horned Frogs is ever over. Oklahoma led by 25 points in the 4th quarter. That didn’t matter in the slightest, as TCU put up 22 points in under 10 minutes. That’s what TCU can do. It wasn’t quite enough this week against a good Oklahoma team, but it is just another reminder to the college football world that TCU’s offense is one of the most potent ever and the Horned Frogs can never be written out of any game.
1. Texas Tech can score without Patrick Mahomes II
In a week of college football with incredible twists and turns everywhere, this gem from Thursday night probably went unnoticed by just about everyone. The Kansas defense was slowing down Texas Tech with Patrick Mahomes, one of the most versatile dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, leading the team. After Mahomes got hurt in the 3rd quarter, everyone feared for the Texas Tech offense when Nic Shimonek came in. Shimonek looked like a better pure passer than Mahomes and lit up the Kansas defense for four touchdowns. This Texas Tech offense will be just fine if it ever has to go without Mahomes again.
