For the first time in a while, we get a full slate of Big Twelve football games this weekend. Every team is involved in a conference game and the action gets underway Thursday night with Texas visiting Iowa State. Both teams are in desperate need of a win as they look to improve from rough starts to the season.
Oklahoma State gets the opportunity to rebound from a crushing loss at West Virginia last weekend and the Mountaineers will travel to Waco to take on the nation's top scoring offense. The Sooners return home, after playing Notre Dame in South Bend last weekend, to host TCU and Kansas has the opportunity to break their conference losing streak by playing at home.
Thursday, Oct. 3rd
6:30 - Texas at Iowa State: Crazy things have been known to happen on Thursday night games in Ames, Iowa and the Texas Longhorns haven't necessarily been world beaters this season. Both teams have had their own individual struggles and both could very well be the answers to each others woes in this game. Brace yourself because it could be an ugly display of football.
Subplot: David Ash is not playing for Texas which puts Case McCoy into the spotlight as the starting quarterback. Depth becomes an issue at the position where freshman Tyrone Swoopes becomes the backup.
Saturday, Oct. 5th
11:00 - #20 Texas Tech at Kansas: The Jayhawks haven't won a Big Twelve conference game since beating Colorado in November of 2010. They pushed the Red Raiders into overtime last season in Lubbock and now have the "advantage" of playing at home.
Subplot: Kansas is second in the Big Twelve in pass defense (178 yards per game) but are next to last in rushing defense (188.3 yards per game). With an average of 408.5 yards per game the Red Raiders are third in the nation in passing offense but rank 105th in rushing offense at 111.5 yards per game. This Big Twelve tilt puts strength on strength.
2:30 - Kansas State at #21 Oklahoma State: The Wildcats have had a week off to prepare for an Oklahoma offensive attack that was humbled last weekend in Morgantown. Unfortunately Kansas State hasn't had much of an offense themselves and also lost their conference opener.
Subplot: OSU quarterback J.W. Walsh had some weaknesses exposed last week and now the Cowboys must adjust their offensive game plan to compensate. Bill Snyder is a master planner and will no doubt have an interesting game plan put together for O-State.
6:00 - TCU at #10 Oklahoma: Notre Dame last week, Texas next week, Oklahoma has the opportunity to fall into a massive trap here. TCU has an underrated defense and can put the Sooner offense to the test. The question is whether the Frogs have enough offense to keep it interesting?
Subplot: Blake Bell has yet to commit a turnover through two starts. The Horned Frogs possibly have the best secondary that the Sooners have faced to this point of the season and if their front can apply pressure to the backfield then this could be the week we see in infamous pick thrown.
7:00 - West Virginia at #17 Baylor: The worst thing that could happen to West Virginia is for them to fall flat on their face on the road after pulling a major upset at home last week. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers that's also the most likely scenario.
Subplot: This game is about the tale of the quarterbacks. Bryce Petty has been spectacular for Baylor while the Mountaineers' three wins this season have come at the hands of three different starting quarterbacks.
Big Twelve Week Six Power Rankings
1. Baylor (3-0, last week #1)
2. Oklahoma (4-0, last week #3)
3. Texas Tech (4-0, last week #4)
4. Oklahoma State (3-1, last week #2)
5. Texas (2-2, last week #5)
6. West Virginia (3-2, last week #8)
7. TCU (2-2, last week #7)
8. Kansas State (2-2, last week #6)
9. Kansas (2-1, last week #9)
10. Iowa State (1-2, last week #10)