My Big XII Week 3 Recap. Probably too late to foster any discussion, but I still wanted to get it in.

We are driving the struggle bus this week! The conference went 9-5 but that doesn’t doesn’t tell the whole picture.

Tier 1

Texas (3-0), 0U (3-0)

Well well well, if it isn’t Yormark’s favorite pair of teams leading the conference in their last Big XII rodeo.

Texas really struggled against Wyoming, but I don’t think anyone expected an easy win after what they did to Tech in week 1. Offense looked rough for 3 quarters and Ewers especially (fewer passing yards in this game than Wyoming’s backup QB). Turns out Texas plays to the level of competition still (and it doesn’t help that Alabama looks very mediocre).

0U beat up the 3rd worst FBS team per my rankings going into week 3. We still don’t know anything about this squad but you can’t deny they can score points (5 TD passes from Gabriel, fits the mould of an 0U QB). The Sooners move up a tier.

Tier 2

K-State (2-1), TCU (2-1)

What can a say about K-State other than ooof. Hard to imagine a rougher way to lose to an old conference foe than by a walk-off conference-record (tying) field goal. This was a gritty game, and kudos to Mizzou for stifling K-State’s offense and outperforming Will Howard. I still think the Wildcats are a force to be reckoned with so I’m keeping them in the upper ranks.

Moving back up a tier is TCU for throttling their old (and new again) conference foe, Houston. Although much of TCU’s natty-run team is gone, remember that Chandler Morris once beat out Max Duggan for the starting QB job. He looks good and appears to be surrounded with some talented receivers. And the defense had themselves a game (but I might also chalk this up to Houston having a roughshod O-line).

Tier 3

Baylor (1-2), BYU (3-0), KU (3-0), Texas Tech (1-2), UCF (3-0)

Baylor finally wins a game, lol. Against FCS competition, we don’t really learn much, but I think they’ve got enough talent to move up to this very crowded mid-tier. Although it may (hopefully) be short-lived as they face c/cfb’s top-ranked Texas squad next week… Not only is Baylor’s identity very defensive, they are very much establishing themselves as a running team this year (only 1 touchdown came through the air).

Congrats to BYU for their come-from-behind road win against the Razorbacks! Home and homes where the home team loses – was BYU taking notes from Texas in week 2? This is a good win and I wanted to move BYU up more, but they did struggle a bit and needed Slovis to play hero ball. I’m not sure where they fit in the Big XII picture so we will learn a lot when they face KU next week.

Speaking of, Kansas drops a tier despite winning. Why? They struggled against a bad Nevada team. (How bad? My rankings had them last in the FBS.) This was the late game so I didn’t watch all of it, but Nevada played better than Kansas in the first half which shouldn’t be possible. Daniels looked surprisingly average and KU had to resort to running the ball (which is good to know that they can play different styles of offense).

And the other BUTT school finally wins a game as well. Texas Tech and Baylor have had eerily similar seasons thus far: being stunned by a G5, going toe-to-toe but falling short with a highly ranked team, and settling for a mediocre win against FCS competition. And when I say mediocre, Shough is not the guy. He wasn’t back then and still isn’t now (not with a QBR of 16.2 against Tarleton State). He was pulled early and it’s too bad the backup doesn’t look any better. Tech’s defense had a great game though, keeping them in this tier.

UCF seems to be okay without Plumlee, although we can’t say for sure against FCS play. Timmy McClain stepped up, even running when he needs to. With exactly 600 yards of total offense, I think the Knights could do very well in the Big XII this year but I am expecting them to run into a buzzsaw next week with K-State playing angry after their upset.

Tier 4

Cinci (2-1), Houston (1-2), WVU (2-1)

Well Cinci went ahead and lost to a MAC school in overtime so I need to drop them a tier. Although congrats to Miami (OH) from bouncing back after being beat down by Miami (FL) 2 weeks ago in the CONFUSION BOWL! Quick, someone teach Cinci how to cash in in the red zone. Continuously settling for field goal after field goal allowed Miami to stay in this one. Very concerning for Cinci, who will need to play their best to avoid being destroyed at home next week by Oklahoma.

Houston rises out of the basement despite losing again, but only just. Think of them as being somewhere on the steps into the basement. And frankly, with 0 offensive TDs scored, I don’t know if they belong in the Big XII. Maybe they’re tanking to get Holgo fired?

Congrats on the big win in the Backyard Brawl, West Virginia! I didn’t get to watch much of this one but I heard it was a gritty, ugly contest, which is exactly what you want from this game. It brings you up a tier, but unfortunately it may seal your fate of being saddled with Neal Brown for another year. And how much of the team got injured in this game?

Tier 5

Iowa State (1-2), Oklahoma State (2-1)

We have an all new bottom tier this week!

Iowa State, what are we doing? Losing to Ohio seems to be playing into the pre-season narrative of ISU being trash this year and Ohio being the G5 to watch, which I foolishly didn’t buy into. Cyclones, if you want to play defensive slug-fests, maybe join the B1G or learn how to make your kicks. Of note (at least to me) is that ISU is now led by QB Rocco Becht, the son of XFL star HC Anthony Becht. (And shameless plug for [email protected] if you’re enough of a weirdo to follow that league)

And the truly worst for last, Oklahoma State. I get that USA is good, but what is going on?! Getting blown out at home? Ooooooof (size large). They are still playing a committee of QBs and, spoiler alert (if you didn’t read my recap last week), it’s not working. Maybe all those transfers in the off-season was the early warning alarm for this dumpster fire that is now in full blaze.