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College football conference power rankings: Week 3

By Nathaniel Reeves

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 09: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners (C) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-16 at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 09: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners (C) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-16 at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Baker Mayfield - Oklahoma
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 09: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs with the ball during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

4. Big 12 

Oklahoma picked up what will surely end up being the best non-conference win of the regular season and now looks to be on the fast track to its second College Football Playoff appearance.

Heisman hopeful quarterback Baker Mayfield turned in an ultra-efficient performance to lead the impressive road win and get revenge for last season’s blowout Ohio State victory in Norman. Much more importantly, Oklahoma’s defense allowed only 350 total yards, and 33-year-old head coach Lincoln Riley is certainly not in over his head as some predicted.

The Sooners aren’t the only playoff contender in the Big 12, as Mason Rudolph and the Oklahoma State Cowboys look unstoppable offensively after destroying South Alabama on the road. The TCU Horned Frogs are also sneaking into the picture and were never threatened by the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville during a 28-7 win, while the contending Kansas State Wildcats haven’t been challenged by an easy schedule so far.

Tom Herman will be happy to pick up his first victory as head coach of the Texas Longhorns in blowout fashion, even if it came against lowly San Jose State. Things at the bottom of the conference are still ugly, as the Kansas Jayhawks and Baylor Bears lost to G5 teams, while the Iowa State Cyclones will be bitterly disappointed to lose a fourth quarter lead against the rival Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Big 12 has quickly developed much more depth at the top than expected, and Oklahoma’s rise could have the conference moving into the top three soon enough.

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