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College football conference power rankings – Week 6: Big Ten stays strong

By Nathaniel Reeves

PULLMAN, WA - SEPTEMBER 29: The Washington State Cougars celebrate with Jamal Morrow #25 after his touchdown in the second half of the game against the USC Trojans at Martin Stadium on September 29, 2017 in Pullman, Washington. Washington State defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
PULLMAN, WA - SEPTEMBER 29: The Washington State Cougars celebrate with Jamal Morrow #25 after his touchdown in the second half of the game against the USC Trojans at Martin Stadium on September 29, 2017 in Pullman, Washington. Washington State defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – SEPTEMBER 30: Texas Tech wide receiver Cameron Batson (13) is chased by Oklahoma State linebacker Justin Phillips (19) during the Texas Tech Raider’s 41-34 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys on September 30, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, TX. (Photo by Sam Grenadier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – SEPTEMBER 30: Texas Tech wide receiver Cameron Batson (13) is chased by Oklahoma State linebacker Justin Phillips (19) during the Texas Tech Raider’s 41-34 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys on September 30, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, TX. (Photo by Sam Grenadier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Big 12

There were only three games on the week five schedule in the Big 12, which fell a spot to No. 4 in the conference power rankings but is still in good shape for the Playoff with a pair of top 10 teams.

Saturday’s most impactful conference game took place in Lubbock, where Oklahoma State used a late Mason Rudolph touchdown run to beat previously undefeated Texas Tech 41-34. The result marks a good bounce-back win for the Cowboys, who are talented enough to win the conference despite last week’s loss to TCU, while the Red Raiders look capable of challenging anyone thanks to a much-improved defense.

A nonconference loss to Vanderbilt put a dent in Kansas State’s Big 12 title hopes, but the Wildcats looked better in a 33-20 win over Baylor on Saturday. Bruising quarterback Jesse Ertz and a physical run game will challenge Big 12 defenses, and teams like Kansas State and No. 23 West Virginia gives the conference some good depth.

No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 8 TCU, the two remaining undefeated teams in the conference, both enjoyed a week off. Week five’s only other matchup in the Big 12 was Texas’ miserable 17-7 win over Iowa State on Thursday night, which didn’t inspire much confidence in either team.

Overall, the Big 12 looked better than a year ago in September and isn’t far behind the ACC or SEC in the power rankings. College GameDay will be in town for next week’s crucial matchup between West Virginia and TCU.

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