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Here's how the Big 12 looks after seven weeks:Compare with last week's rankings.
1. Oklahoma (6-0, 2-0, last week: 2): So much for competition from the Huskers for the No. 1 spot. The Sooners retake the top spot after a one-week absence, and get ready to head to Missouri for a difficult road test.
2. Nebraska (5-1, 1-1, LW: 1): The Huskers lost to Texas in a mistake-filled performance at home, but still look like the conference's second best team. Don't think it's an accident that Nebraska is still a touchdown favorite this week. Like Oklahoma, the Huskers have to travel, but to Stillwater for the afternoon half of what looks like a blockbuster weekend in the Big 12.
3. Oklahoma State (6-0, 2-0, LW: 3): The Cowboys' convincing win at Texas Tech is a sign of a mature team playing beyond its years. Now, they'll host the Huskers for one of two "prove it" games on Saturday, with OSU and Missouri having clear opportunities to declare themselves Big 12 title contenders.
4. Missouri (6-0, 2-0, LW: 4): You'd be hard-pressed to find a more exciting, high stakes week on any campus in America this week with Oklahoma and ESPN College GameDay on the way to Columbia. A win over the Sooners will likely mean a vault into the national top 10 and the top of these power rankings.
5. Texas (4-2, 2-1, LW: 5): It's alive! Texas showed its elite defensive talent can still put together a fantastic performance. The Horns did it ugly on offense, but who would have pegged Nebraska as the first team to give up 200 rushing yards to the Longhorns?
6. Kansas State (5-1, 2-1, LW: 6): The Kansas City Star's "Sunflower Mowdown" headline on Friday morning seemed appropriate. Carson Coffman's performance (15-of-16, 184 passing yards, 42 rushing yards, 5 TD) in the 59-7 win was encouraging.
7. Baylor (5-2, 2-1, LW: 9): One more. And the Bears are favored by almost a touchdown. This is the week Baylor has to get it done, or its next-best chance for a sixth win will be Nov. 13 against Texas A&M. Games against Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State surround that matchup.
8. Texas Tech (3-3, 1-3, LW: 7): The Red Raiders are better than they're playing right now, but the defense has to improve to give Texas Tech a chance to prove it. As it stands, though, the Red Raiders are competing with Texas A&M for the title of Big 12's most disappointing team.
9. Texas A&M (3-3, 0-2, LW: 8): The frustrations are no doubt at an all-time high for the Aggies, and this wasn't a quality loss by one possession on the road. The Aggies let Missouri make a statement on Kyle Field, but now get two good chances at wins with games at Kansas and in College Station against Texas Tech.
10. Colorado (3-3, 0-2, LW: 11): The Buffaloes ran the ball pretty well, but let Baylor run it even better. The heat on Dan Hawkins will only intensify with games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma in the next two weeks.
11. Iowa State (3-4, 1-2, LW: 9): Iowa State is quickly earning the reputation of the Big 12's worst defense, giving up an average of 55 points a game in their last three outings. The Cyclones don't have the offensive firepower to keep up with that.
12. Kansas (2-4, 0-2, LW: 12): Kansas hosts Texas A&M and desperately needs to show some kind of sign that it can turn--or at least approach turning--a corner. Both sides of the ball are playing as poorly as any in the Big 12 and the Jayhawks have a strong case as the worst team in a BCS conference. Duke, Vanderbilt, Washington State and Minnesota are all at least losing respectably in recent weeks.
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