Five Thoughts On The Big 12: The Playoff Is Not Dead Yet (Technically!)

The Big 12 might stink. OK, the Big 12 does stink.

Its best team (allegedly) can’t play with the best team in any of the other Power 5 conferences (and beyond!) OU has been housed by the ACC (Clemson), Big 10 (Ohio State), American (Houston) and would undoubtedly be beaten soundly by Alabama and Stanford as well. Because of this Tour de Shame to begin the season, it would appear that barring a miracle season from West Virginia or Baylor, the Big 12 will likely be shut out of the CFP again. Or will it? Five thoughts on Week 3.

1. A lot can still happen

This should be the Big 12’s new motto. Sure, our best team looks below average against the best teams from non-Power 5 conferences. Sure, we lose to MAC teams. Sure, we don’t know that the end zone is where the ball goes. Sure, the Big 12 has zero teams ranked in the top 15. But a lot can still happen! What would have to happen at this point is for multiple conference champions from other conferences to lose two or more games and for OSU, Texas, Baylor or WVU to run the table. So yeah it’s within the realm. But so is Tiger Woods being a captain’s pick on this year’s Ryder Cup team.

Here’s the problem: The Big 12’s reputation, fairly or not, has been etched in stone since the beginning of the CFP two years ago. That’s a difficult thing to play your way out of especially with what happened to OU against UH and tOSU.

Also, there’s this.

So far, the American boasts the fourth-best winning percentage (.724) of the nation’s 10 D-I conferences. The league’s 21-8 overall record includes a 6-7 mark against Power Five programs, and a 2-1 mark against the Big 12.  Speaking of the Big 12? It’s 15-11 (.577) at this point, with four Power Five triumphs including in-conference matchups. Outside its conference, the Big 12 is 3-6 against Power Five foes.

2. OSU is sitting pretty?

Again, this sounds insane, but is there a team in the Big 12 better positioned for the CFP than OSU right now? OU? Nope. Texas? OSU gets them at home. West Virginia? OSU gets them at home. Baylor? What has been more impressive: OSU’s non-conference *2-1* record or Baylor’s non-conference *3-0* record? The CFP committee has clearly shown it is not a fan of playing nobody. OSU stepped it up this year and (sort of) swept the slate. This could change in a big way next week if Baylor torches OSU in Waco, but for now the argument is at least there.

3. Charlie, what are you talking about?

Charlie Strong thinks Texas lost to Cal because sweatpants.

Charlie Strong allowed players to wear sweats on long flight to California. Now wishes he would have required coats and ties.

— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) September 19, 2016

4. Who from the state of Oklahoma would start for Ohio State?

How many players on OU would start in Columbus. Even more startling, how many players on OSU would start in Columbus? James Washington (maybe) and … gulp. Also, Guerin Emig is right — there are not many guys in the league who could suit up for the Bucks. This is why elite recruiting is so important.

Let's just ask this question:
How many Big 12 players would? https://t.co/oN2ITqYrI7

— Guerin Emig (@GuerinEmig) September 18, 2016

5. The greatest catch against a Big 12 team ever?

This Noah Brown grab is up there for me with the Tyrone Prothro catch from a decade ago as one of the best ever.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? https://t.co/x6xLjrGeny

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 18, 2016

Big 12 Power Rankings

1. West Virginia
2. Texas
3. Baylor
4. OSU
5. OU
6. Texas Tech
7. TCU
8. Kansas State
9. Kansas
10. Iowa State