Last week was the week of the running back in the Big 12.
Joe Jackson rushed for a school-record 293 yards in Kansas State’s 51-47 loss at Utah, Raleek Brown ran for a school road-game record 255 yards in Arizona State’s 42-17 triumph at Colorado and L.J. Martin gained a career-high 222 yards in Brigham Young’s 26-14 victory at Cincinnati.
This week will be about deciding who plays in the Big 12 championship game. No one has clinched, but all Texas Tech and BYU have to do is dodge upsets. The Red Raiders opened as 20 1/2-point favorites at West Virginia, and the Cougars opened as 18-point favorites at home against Central Florida.
Win and they’re in, setting up a Dec. 6 rematch of Texas Tech’s 29-7 victory over BYU in early November.
The Red Raiders sit atop the Big 12 power rankings for the 11th week in a row.
1. Texas Tech (10-1, 7-1 in the Big 12)
Last week: 1
This week: at West Virginia
What to know: Joey McGuire’s fit with Texas Tech seems so ideal that his name’s not mentioned in connection with any of the myriad open coaching jobs.
2. Brigham Young (10-1, 7-1)
Last week: 2
This week: Central Florida
What to know: Ten-win seasons at BYU: LaVell Edwards 10, Bronco Mendendall 5, Kalani Sitake 4, Gary Crowton 1.
3. Utah (9-2, 6-2)
Last week: 3
This week: Friday at Kansas
What to know: Courtesy of Kansas State, Utah opponents now have the kryptonite formula for Utes’ defense.
4. Arizona State (8-3, 6-2)
Last week: 5
This week: Friday vs. Arizona
What to know: Since Arizona and Arizona State joined the Pac-10 in 1978, this is only the second time both teams have at least eight wins going into their rivalry game.
5. Cincinnati (7-4, 5-3)
Last week: 4
This week: at TCU
What to know: Nothing says pretender like a 1-10 record in November since joining the Big 12.
6. Houston (8-3, 5-2)
Last week: 6
This week: at Baylor
What to know: We didn’t have Houston’s 17-14 loss to TCU turning on two missed field goals by Lou Groza Award semifinalist Ethan Sanchez.
7. Iowa State (7-4, 4-4)
Last week: 7
This week: at Oklahoma State
What to know: Rocco Becht becomes the 10th player in Big 12 history to have at least 9,000 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns and 19 rushing touchdowns in a career.
8. Arizona (8-3, 5-3)
Last week: 8
This week: Friday at Arizona State
What to know: A four-game win streak and eight wins (and counting) puts a moratorium on jokes at Brent Brennan’s expense.
9. TCU (7-4, 4-4)
Last week: 9
This week: Cincinnati
What to know: Good way for Sonny Dykes to counter assertion he’s won only with Gary Patterson players: Achieve back-to-back 9-win seasons.
10. Baylor (5-6, 3-5)
Last week: 10
This week: Houston
What to know: The combination of circumstances gives Baylor no choice but to bring back Dave Aranda.
11. Kansas State (5-6, 4-4)
Last week: 11
This week: Colorado
What to know: Joe Jackson, on one afternoon in Utah, jumped from No. 20 to No. 8 on this year’s Big 12 rushing leaderboard.
12. Kansas (5-6, 3-5)
Last week: 12
This week: Friday vs. Utah
What to know: Jalon Daniels passing in first seven games: Five 200-yard games, 250-yard average, 18 TDs. Past four games: No 200-yard games, 148-yard average, 3 TDs.
13. West Virginia (4-7, 2-6)
Last week: 14
This week: Texas Tech
What to know: UCF trounced West Virginia six weeks ago, but the Mountaineers have played like the better team since.
14. Central Florida (5-6, 2-6)
Last week: 13
This week: at BYU
What to know: Bigger than squeezing past Oklahoma State on a last-minute field goal: Knights landed national top-25 quarterback Rocco Marriott on the same day.
15. Colorado (3-8, 1-7)
Last week: 15
This week: at BYU
What to know: Freshman quarterback Julian Lewis has started the past two games, but if Buffs use Lewis in the finale, it’ll push him past the four-game redshirt window.
16. Oklahoma State (1-10, 0-8)
Last week: 16
This week: Iowa State
What to know: Cowboys’ worst record since seasons of 1991 (0-10-1) and 1963 (1-8).
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 football power rankings heading into regular season finales
Reporting by Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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