Baylor and West Virginia both won tough games to remain the Big 12's only undefeated teams.
The Big 12 power rankings after Week 4:
1. Baylor (previous ranking: 1): The Bears made enough big plays offensively and came up with the opportune turnovers on defense to hold off Oklahoma State 35-24 in a game that was closer than the final score indicates. Quarterback Seth Russell was sensational with 387 yards passing and 65 yards rushing, but the emergence of Ish Zamora and Chris Platt, who combined for 11 receptions, 289 yards and four touchdowns, proved to be the difference with wide receiver KD Cannon nursing a muscle strain in the second half. With Iowa State and Kansas coming up next, the Bears have a terrific chance to be 6-0 when they travel to Texas on Oct. 29.
2. West Virginia Mountaineers (2): With a thrilling 35-32 win over BYU, the Mountaineers improved to 3-0 for the second straight season, only this time they will be entering conference play with the Big 12 largely in disarray. Can the Mountaineers take advantage and contend? This could be the year, as the schedule sets up nicely. But we might have a better indication after Kansas State travels to Morgantown next weekend. The Mountaineers are 0-4 against the Wildcats in Big 12 play.
3. Texas Longhorns (4): The win over Notre Dame keeps looking worse, and starting offensive lineman Kent Perkins was arrested over the weekend on a DWI charge. Texas can get back on track with a victory in Stillwater next weekend. But if the Longhorns lose, a season that once held so much promise could begin to turn.
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (3): Four of Oklahoma State's final five drives Saturday night ended at the Baylor 11, Baylor 3, Baylor 1 and Baylor 24. Out of that, the Cowboys came away with a total of three points. Oklahoma State played well enough to win Saturday, but couldn't deliver the key play -- or avoid the key mistake -- in the red zone to actually pull off what would have been a huge victory.
5. TCU Horned Frogs (5): TCU once again played only one half of good football. It was enough to easily dispatch SMU, 33-3. But it won't cut it next weekend in a key showdown with Oklahoma, nor will it if the Horned Frogs are going to seriously make a run at the Big 12 title.
6. Oklahoma Sooners (6): The Sooners had a much-needed off week to recover mentally and physically from disappointing nonconference showings that included losses to Houston and Ohio State. OU could go one of two ways now with the playoff pretty much out of the question. The TCU game should be telling.
7. Kansas State Wildcats (7): It took just one half for K-State to defeat Missouri State, as the game was called at halftime due to weather with the Wildcats up 35-0. Next up is the Big 12 opener against the undefeated Mountaineers, whom the Wildcats have owned in Big 12 play. K-State might just have the best defense in the Big 12, but that will be put to the test against a West Virginia offense that's clicking.
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (8): QB Patrick Mahomes, the nation's leading passer, has begun to enter Heisman discussions. But to be a serious contender, he'll need a lot more help from his defensive teammates. How many games will Tech need to win to get Mahomes to New York? At least seven and probably nine. That will require far more defense than the Red Raiders have shown so far.
9. Iowa State Cyclones (9): Jacob Park sent a message that he should be the Cyclones' starting quarterback, coming off the bench to complete 15 of 19 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns in the 44-10 win over San Jose State. Starter Joel Lanning, however, bounced back and performed well in the second half. But while Iowa State's quarterback situation remains muddled, the important part is that the Cyclones finally netted coach Matt Campbell his first win.
10. Kansas Jayhawks (10): The Jayhawks did not lose this weekend, which technically feels like a win. Kansas played the Red Raiders tough last year, but it would take a massive turnaround from what the Jayhawks have shown the past two games to replicate that showing.