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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL
BIG 12 RANKINGS
The Kansan's conference reporter analyzes and ranks the 10 teams five weeks into the season
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
twitter.com/UDK_B12fball
1. Oklahoma (4-0) (Last week 1)
National Ranking: No.3 AP
The Sooners beat up on Ball State Saturday, yet still dropped a spot in the AP rankings for the second consecutive week. A victory against the 11th-ranked Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry will secure their spot in the top three.
2. Oklahoma State (4-0) (Last week 2)
National Ranking: No. 6 AP
Oklahoma State was idle after defeating Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, and should be ready to get its third-ranked total offense against Kansas' defense, which is ranked 119th in yards allowed, this weekend in Stillwater, Okla.
3. Texas (4-0) (Last week 5)
National Ranking: No.11 AP
Texas avenged its 2010 loss in Austin to Iowa State by thoroughly dismantling the Cyclones in Ames, Iowa, over the weekend. The Longhorns scored 34 points before the Cyclones managed to put anything up on the board.
4. Kansas State (4-0) (Last week 7)
National Ranking: No. 20 AP
The Wildcats defense allowed quarterback Robert Griffin III to put up 346 yards and five touchdowns, but stopped him when it mattered most in their upset victory that propelled them into the Top 25 polls before they take on the Tigers in Manhattan on Saturday.
5. Baylor (3-1) (Last week 3)
National Ranking: No.25 AP
A five-touchdown performance by Robert Griffin III wasn't enough to give Baylor the victory in its first game of the season outside of Waco, Texas. The Bears return to the friendly confines of Floyd Casey Stadium next week to take on the Cyclones in a battle between 3-1 teams.
6. Texas A&M (2-2) (Last week 4)
National Ranking: No. 24 AP
For the second consecutive week, Texas A&M blew a big lead at halftime. It can try to reverse this pattern this week against a Texas Tech team that looked vulnerable when it fell behind 20-0 early in its game on Saturday against Kansas.
7. Iowa State (3-1) (Last week 6)
The Cyclones couldn't continue their recent string of success against the Longhorns, and despite having a winning record, the Cyclones have been outscored by 15 points on the season. They travel to take on the No. 25 Baylor Bears this weekend.
8. Texas Tech (4-0) (Last week 9)
The Red Raiders overcame a 20-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Jayahwks on the road. Even though they remain undefeated, the Red Raiders have looked suspect at times, with three consecutive games against ranked teams coming up, Texas Tech will finally get a chance to prove it belongs at the top of the standings.
Missouri had the week off from competition after blowing an early lead in their last match against Oklahoma. The Tigers entered the season with hopes to contend for the Big 12 title, but after early season struggles have fallen off the map. A matchup against Kansas State could provide an opportunity for Missouri to rediscover its stride.
9. Missouri (2-2) (Last week 8)
10. Kansas (2-2) (Last week 10)
Kansas had a chance to move up in the Big 12 ranks after taking an early 20-point lead against Texas Tech. It could be a while before the Jayhawks get another opportunity to improve in the standings, as they embark on what might be the toughest two-week schedule in the nation — at No. 6 Oklahoma State, then at home against No. 3 Oklahoma.
CAN YOU DIG IT?
MIKE GUNNOE/KANSAN
Johan than Ku, a junior from Overland Park, makes a dig during an intramural sand volleyball game Monday evening by the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. Ku is park if The Monstars team that won the match, which is best of three. "We have a blast. It is laid back and fun," Ku said. The Monstars are now 2-0.