Big 12 Football Rankings – Week 15


Big 12 rankings heading into Week 15 of the 2016 season. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State settled another conference title scrum at Bedlam.


It was Championship Week for the Big 12. Not an official title game, per se, but for the second year in a row Bedlam decided the conference. After some early fireworks, Oklahoma put the clamps down on Oklahoma State in the second half, holding the Pokes to only three points in the final two quarters.

Elsewhere, Bill Snyder won game No. 201 and Dana Holgorsen earned himself a fat contract extension following a victory over Baylor.

Now that the Big 12 football season has come to a close, here’s teams rank heading into Week 15 of the season.

Week 15 Big 12 Football Rankings

10. Kansas (Last Week – 10)

If nothing else, the Jayhawks can take solace in knowing they were the final nail in Charlie Strong’s coaching coffin at Texas. David Beaty had a Sisyphean task of rebooting Kansas football, but he’s inching that boulder up the hill slowly, but surely.

9. Iowa State (9)

Matt Campbell has this program trending in the right direction. It may not have shown in the standings, but Iowa State build a solid foundation in his first year. Luckily for Campbell, wideout Allen Lazard has decided to return for his senior season.

8. Texas Tech (9)

Welcome to the hot seat, Kliff Kingsbury. You absolutely must find some semblance of defense next year. Administrators have been patient, but that booster money can dry up in a hurry if they feel there’s a better option around the corner (say, SMU’s Chad Morris).

7. Texas (7)

So long, Charlie Strong. Hello, Tom Herman. The Longhorns were set up to win next season no matter what. Texas brass likely felt that with Herman the ceiling was higher. Such is the case in big-money football.

6. Baylor (6)

There’s not a thank you card big enough that Baylor can send to Jim Grobe for what he’s done for the program. Grobe will not return next season, but he has done a yeoman’s job stabilizing a program that was bleeding out. The Bears need to land a coach ASAP, because it’s an uphill battle to rebuild their recruiting class.

5. TCU (5)

Nothing left to do but move on from this terribly disappointing year for Gary Patterson. It was a rarity for TCU to put together a complete game. For the first half of the year the defense was a sieve, and then once things shored up in the latter half of the year the offense disappeared.

4. Kansas State (4)

Was this Bill Snyder’s final go-round in the Little Apple? If so, what a wonderful run for the Wizard. Jesse Ertz made sure to give Snyder win No. 201 with an all-around performance of 329 total yards and two touchdowns.

3. West Virginia (3)

It was a good day in Morgantown, as West Virginia closed out an excellent year with a victory over Baylor and Dana Holgorsen inked a five-year extension. Holgorsen entered the year with questions about his future, and shut up all critics by pumping out a stellar 10-win regular season. That should add some stability to the program.

2. Oklahoma State (2)

Things looked to be breaking Oklahoma State’s way in the fourth after the Pokes recovered a Samaje Perine fumble. Alas, after a long drive resulted in a missed field goal, their will was broken. Still, it was one fantastic season for Mike Gundy’s team, who could have immediately folded up after being jobbed by a bad call against Central Michigan.

1. Oklahoma (1)

What if I told you that a Power 5 team got better every week of the season, went undefeated in conference play, and won its conference while peaking at the end of the season? That team would figure to be a shoe-in for the CFP, right? Suffice to say, Oklahoma isn’t even in the CFP discussion. But hey, Baker Mayfield says he’s coming back next season, so look for the Sooners to start the year ranked in the top five.