Big 12 power rankings

Except for TCU, one game is under each of the other Big 12 schools, which combined to be the only undefeated FBS conference last week. So, armed with a water gun’s worth of knowledge, let’s fire away with over-analyzed bullets at the first in-season conference rankings.

1. West Virginia (1-0) – Geno Smith picked up half as many weekly awards as he had incomplete passes against Marshall.  WVU had both the offensive and defensive player of the week.

“They weren’t one dimensional at all. They were able to run it. They were able to throw it.” – Marshall head coach Doc Holliday

2. Oklahoma State (1-0) – I’m not going to claim anything after the 84-0 nothing massacre the Cowboys laid on Savannah St. (whose head coach is now openly thinking some things aren’t worth the money). Moving forward, the Cowboys get Rich Rod and the Arizona Wildcats – a matchup that looks kind of fun on paper. Over the past two seasons, new Rich Rod aside, OSU has outscored Arizona, 73-24.

“I have to think they are pretty good because, if not, we are pretty bad.” – Savannah St. head coach Steve Davenport

3. Oklahoma (1-0) – Landry Jones appeared to have the confidence of a shy freshman boy in high school asking out an 18-year old girl. His throws against UTEP weren’t much sharper than his late or nonexistent decision making. Get that solved, if it’s possible, and OU will be fine.

“We just weren’t in synch. It was one of those things where we would have flashes of greatness, but it wouldn’t be all as a team. But we came out with a W and that’s what we’re shooting for.” – OU quarterback Landry Jones

4. Baylor (1-0) – First game post-RGIII, first win. The Bears have an off-week before two crummy non-cons set them up for a roadie at West Virginia to open Big 12 play.

“He just told me to be myself. I learned a lot from (Griffin). He’s done a lot for our program. Just because he leaves, doesn’t mean anything different happens here.” – Baylor QB Nick Florence

5. TCU (0-0) – The Horned Frogs had last week off, just like they do this week against Grambling State. There’s nothing to see here, Officer Barbrady.

“Anybody who thinks this is just a party time, this is not. This is a ballgame. If you don’t come ready to play, you’ll get six or seven guys hurt for the rest of the season.” – TCU head coach Gary Patterson

6. Kansas State (1-0) - The good: 51 points and 324 rushing yards. The gooder: K-State checked its love for the passing game at the door midway through the third quarter and wound up blowing  open a game that should have never been close to start with. The goodest: Everybody is healthy for Miami.

“I said that when I came back, I did not think there would be any generation gap, but I am beginning to believe there is. It seems like we are not very good at explaining what we are talking about. I am going to tell the team to have a really slow start next week and see what happens.” – Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder

7. Texas (1-0) – The Longhorns also overcame a slow start to overcome a first-quarter deficit and win by 20 over… Wyoming. Yeah, two sophomores ran for over 100 yards apiece, but it doesn’t matter as long as the quarterback spot continues to be in the neighborhood of “meh.”

“It’s my job to just go out there and operate and manage the game.” – Texas QB David Ash

8. Iowa State (1-0) – I wondered last week if the old Steele Jantz would return now that he’s running on two healthy wheels again. He threw for a career-high 281 yards and Shontrelle Johnson, back from neck surgery, ran for a career-high 120 yards in the win over Tulsa. Keep a quiet eye on this team. It won’t win a Big 12 title or anything, but it might cost somebody one. The Cy-Hawk Trophy is on the line this week.

“There are a lot more smarter people on campus, I guess you could say.” ISU linebacker Jake Knott, referring to more Cyclones students now wearing ISU gear instead of other schools’ apparel.

9. Kansas (1-0) – Like Texas, the Jayhawks also had a pair of 100-yd rushers in their win against South Dakota State. It marked the first time since 2007 that KU reached that distinction and all but covered up a lukewarm initial outing for highly-touted transfer quarterback Dayne Crist.

“Far from a thing of beauty, but a good start.” – KU head coach Charlie Weis

10. Texas Tech (1-0) – I take back every mean thing I said about Tommy Tuberville’s schedule. Heck, look out, Red Raiders, or you might be the second notch on Texas State’s 2012 belt! (I kid…I think…)

“It was fun to see it all kind of come together,” Tuberville said. “We didn’t play near as good as we can which is good. We’ve got to get better each week in each game.” – TTU head coach Tommy Tuberville