The Big 12 Inglorious Blog will rank all 12 Big 12 teams each week. The rankings will be based on the performance of the season up to the most previous game. This week is the first rankings – no preseason ranks will be used.
1. Nebraska – The Cornhuskers may have given up more rushing yards than Coach Bo Pelini would like against an inferior team, but beating anyone by 39 points is a good way to start the year. Pelini may have found a solution to the most important question in Lincoln for 2010 – who’s going to be the quarterback? With Taylor Martinez running the zone read offense to perfection, accumulating over 100 yards rushing and passing, Nebraska was able to move the ball with relative ease. Putting up any type of offense for the Cornhuskers could spell trouble for the rest of the Big 12.
2. Texas – Doubling up Rice is nothing to write home to mom about. The Texas offense looked lost at times, but still rolled up almost 200 yards rushing. The defense was its expected dominant unit, holding the Owls under 200 total yards. Save a few lucky bounces and some poor special teams play on a punt, Texas would have yielded just one field goal to their Houston bretheren. If the offense can work out some kinks, this unit still has the talent to win the conference.
3. Oklahoma – Much like their hated rivals from Austin, OU struggled with an inferior opponent. QB Landry Jones completed less than 50% of his passes, and the retooled Sooner secondary looked lost until the last defensive stand, where they intercepted Utah State on a final drive to seal the win.
4. Missouri – Without Derrick Washington in the backfield, Missouri struggled out of the gates against Illinois. Once QB Blaine Gabbert settled down, the Tigers handled their business in the second half. The defense showed flashes of improvement, but the offense looks to be adjusting to life without a legitimate running threat.
5. Oklahoma State – The biggest surprise of the weekend was the return of Cowboys RB Kendall Hunter, who returned to his 2008 All American form for OK State. The offense hummed along to the tune of 544 yards. The defense gave up over 300 to a weak Washington State team, but if Hutner is going to run for 240 yards and 4 TDs each game, the defense can take off any number of games and the Cowboys can still sneak into conference title contention.
6. Texas A&M – Beating SFA doesn’t do much credit for the Fighting Aggies, but at least they didn’t struggle and handled their business as needed against the Lumberjacks. Jerrod Johnson looked to be in midseason form.
7. Kansas State – K-State may not compete for the Big 12 north, but they showed some courage and guts to hold off a game UCLA team. Daniel Thomas proved his 2009 campaign was no fluke with 235 yards running. The defense made the key stop when they needed to, and beating a Pac 10 team is something the Wildcats can hang their hat on, especially after missing a bowl game in 2009 because they scheduled too many weak FCS opponents.
8. Texas Tech – The offense moved faster between snaps, but scored less than previous Raider teams. The defense held when it needed to, but giving up 27 points to a C-USA team doesn’t bode well for the transition into the defensive minded Tommy Tubberville era. The verdict is out, but TTU doesn’t appear to have upgraded in the short term.
9. Colorado – They manhandled the Colorado State Rams, but can Dan Hawkins still save his job? If his defense forces some of the inexperienced Big 12 quarterbacks into 3 interceptions like they did on Saturday, they may be more impressive and sneak up on some folks.
10. Iowa State – The Cyclones went into their Thursday night contest with Northern Illinois favored by only 4.5 points. They were able to put the Huskies out of the game early in the 2nd quarter. Wins like these should be savored by ISU who faces one of the country’s more difficult schedules.
11. Baylor – Robert Griffin is the only reason Baylor scares anyone. A one man team can’t compete on a consistent level. Beating up on SHSU doesn’t prove any different.
12. Kansas – a 6-3 loss to FCS North Dakota State? The Turner Gil era isn’t off to a great start. When’s basketball start in Lawrence?
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