Big 12 Rankings: Kansas State slips in the snow

After a charge back toward the top of the rankings, Kansas State put on a disappointing showing in the regular season finale. The Wildcats tumbled in the rankings after losing to Iowa State in the snow. Here is where K-State and the rest of the Big 12 rank according to KSO as postseason play begins.

1. TEXAS LONGHORNS

Mason: 1
DY: 1
Drew: 1

They are easily the most talented team in the league, but this is the first time Texas hasn’t dropped the ball. The only slip-up came against Oklahoma and they have proven they are one of the country’s best in 2023. But does Texas drop the Big 12 ball one final time before their way out against Oklahoma State this weekend? We can only hope to be so lucky.

2. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Mason: 2
DY: 2
Drew: 2

Outside of a whacky weather game in Orlando, Oklahoma State has been pristine since their win over Kansas State early in the season. Mike Gundy was named Big 12 Coach of the Year for his efforts this season and Ollie Gordon was the Offensive Player of the Year. Both were well-deserved awards. Now the Cowboys can try and make up for their heartbreaking conference title loss two seasons ago to Baylor.

3. OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Mason: 3
DY: 3
Drew: 4

When they put all of the pieces together they might be the best team in the Big 12. Unfortunately, there have been too many games this season for the Sooners where poor coaching and lack of focus have bit them to keep them out of the Big 12 title game. Oklahoma fans won’t like to hear it, but under Brent Venables, they are reminiscent of recent Texas teams. The top-end talent is there, but major disappointments are as well that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

4. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Mason: 4
DY: 5
Drew: 3

There is nothing positive that can be said about the K-State loss on Saturday. The offense wasn’t able to produce enough separation and big plays like Iowa State’s. The defense was arguably the worst Kansas State has played since being revived into a strong football program under Bill Snyder in the 1990s. Now the Wildcats get a month to reset with a roster missing pieces to the transfer portal. K-State belongs to Avery Johnson now.

5. KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Mason: 5
DY: 6
Drew: 5

Kansas wasn’t going to rest on their laurels in 2023. After settling for 6-7 a season ago, the Jayhawks went out and grabbed eight wins with conviction in a dominant win over Cincinnati to finish the regular season. Kansas bounced back nicely from the disappointing loss to Kansas State and are preparing for another bowl trip. Lance Leipold has done a masterful job in Lawrence, but now he has to do it without Andy Kotelnicki.

6. IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Mason: 6
DY: 4
Drew: 7

Iowa State will get the satisfaction of the win in the snow against K-State for a long time to come. It was an all-time game that gave the Cyclones a strong finish to 2023. Quarterback Rocco Becht was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and Abu Sama looks like the next great Iowa State running back following in the footsteps of Mike Warren, David Montgomery and Breece Hall.

7. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Mason: 7
DY: 7
Drew: 6

If it wasn’t for Oklahoma State’s surprising run to Arlington, Neal Brown very easily could have been Big 12 Coach of the Year. Nobody gave the Mountaineers a shot in 2023 and they won eight games. No matter what the past or the future looks like, this year was a success for Brown and company.

8. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Mason: 8
DY: 8
Drew: 8

The ship had been righted for Texas Tech after ugly losses to Kansas State and BYU, but unfortunately, the season ended on a sour note with a blowout loss at Texas. Joey McGuire’s second season brought more questions than answers, but at the very least they salvaged the season and now an impressive recruiting class comes to town. Currently, they have the top-rated 2024 class in next year’s Big 12 with six five-star or four-star players in the class.

9. UCF KNIGHTS

Mason: 9
DY: 9
Drew: 9

UCF was making the transition to the Big 12, they lost their quarterback for an extended stretch and still found a way to make it to a bowl game. They were the only newcomer to do so this season. Similar to Texas Tech, the Knights had a down year compared to expectations, but they have a strong recruiting class coming in. It is the second best in 2024 for the Big 12.

10. TCU HORNED FROGS

Mason: 10
DY: 10
Drew: 10

TCU was absent of a good quarterback this season and also had some losses that just can’t happen if you are a good team. Therefore, they were a bad teams this year and the record reflects that. Next season will be the best evidence on who Sonny Dykes is as a head coach and if he can lead the Frogs back to a place close to their 2022.

11. BYU COUGARS

Mason: 11
DY: 11
Drew: 11

Kalani Sitake has been solid at BYU, but next season will go a long way in determining if he can be successful in the Big 12. K-State makes the trip to Provo next year, by the way.

12. HOUSTON COUGARS

Mason: 12
DY: 12
Drew: 12

We need to have a moment of silence for Dana Holgorsen’s Big 12 coaching career. It has died for a second time. Where do the Cougars turn to next? The wise pick would be someone with strong Texas connections and has some youth that can build a program and you might be able to turn into your football king. It sounds like it will be Willie Fritz, though the best pick would probably be Jeff Traylor. It will still be an uphill battle for one of the Big 12’s commuter schools.

13. CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Mason: 13
DY: 14
Drew: 13

Cincinnati isn’t looking for a new coach this offseason, but I won’t be shocked if they are next year.

14. BAYLOR BEARS

Mason: 14
DY: 13
Drew: 14

There is no take I am more proud of than my Dave Aranda is a fraud one. Baylor has decided to not look for a new coach this offseason, but they should be. Oh, and the only offensive bright spot this season of Blake Shapen has entered the transfer portal.