College football conference power rankings: Week 5

BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Jeremy Cox #35 of the Old Dominion Monarchs scores a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the second half at S. B. Ballard Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Norfolk, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /

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STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Demarcus Felton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders scores a touchdown on a 17-yard touchdown up the middle against linebacker Kenneth Edison-McGruder #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on September 22, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Somewhat quietly, this wasn’t the best week to showcase the strength of the Big 12. That, of course, was almost made worse by the Oklahoma Sooners. Ranked fifth in the country and often looking like world-beaters, the Sooners found themselves with their backs against the wall against Army this past week, even getting taken into overtime. Lincoln Riley’s team avoided the upset, but it’s still not a good look at the top.

While the West Virginia Mountaineers, the second-highest ranked team in the Big 12, took care of business against Kansas State, the other two teams ranked inside the top 20 out of the conference decidedly did not. The Oklahoma State Cowboys, fresh off of “proving themselves” with a win over Boise State last week, went out and got destroyed by Texas Tech. While that makes the Red Raiders (now 3-1) look good, it’s not a good look for the Cowboys who were moving up.

Speaking of trending the wrong direction, the TCU Horned Frogs lost their second-straight game of the season, falling to the Texas Longhorns. While Tom Herman’s team may be hitting their stride, this was supposed to be a very good Horned Frogs squad and, with two-straight losses, that’s coming into question.

With the Kansas Jayhawks coming back to Earth too, what’s become clear is that the Big 12 is very packed in the middle. There are the elite in Oklahoma and West Virginia, but there are just several teams behind them that are going to jockey for position all season. That’s fun, but it doesn’t make for the strongest overall conference.

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