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Big 12 Power Rankings: Final edition
Published: 12/8/2011 7:06 PM
Last Modified: 12/8/2011 10:45 PM

Oklahoma State running back Jeremy Smith. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

The final rankings are in, and they're not pretty if you're an OU fan.

As good a night as Bedlam was for OSU, it was that bad for OU.

But give the Cowboys credit. They hung together, and without a blip in Ames, they would be playing for a national title.

1. Oklahoma State
I can imagine how gratifying this week has been for OSU fans. There has been a lot of orange around town. Although the BCS controversy took something away from the season, winning a first Big 12 title and making a BCS game is a big deal. Now back up the Brink's truck for Mike Gundy.

2. Kansas State
Bill Snyder has come back with a vengeance. The 10-win Wildcats only had five players on the all-Big 12 first and second teams, but four of those players return next year.

3. Baylor
I've always been hit-or-miss on Art Briles, but give him all the credit in the world this season. He may have to live next year without RG3, who could leave for the NFL Draft after a Heisman season. But for those who say Briles is all RG3... you do realize Briles recruited him right? That's a key part of college coaching.

4. Oklahoma
Surprisingly, the Sooners seemed to have lost interest by Bedlam. I guess that happens when a season is talked about in "national title or bust" terms. Blame Stoops for his team's disinterested effort, but not for the injuries. The December Sooners are probably two- to-three touchdown underdogs to the September version. It will be interesting to see if Stoops rallies them by the Iowa game.

5. Missouri
It was a down year by the Tigers' recent standards -- they did lose to the best five teams they played -- but at least they were replacing some key components. The SEC is a different animal altogether, although the league's East didn't seem too tough this season.

6. Texas
Texas made progress this season, but not nearly as much as most fans would have hoped. The Longhorns put all their eggs in the Garrett Gilbert basket. That was a reasonable decision, but Gilbert's struggles have set the program back several years.

7. Iowa State
Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads can definitely stir up a locker room. His team beat Iowa, survived a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season and qualified for a bowl game with a double overtime win over Oklahoma State. Quarterback Jared Barnett is only a freshman, so next year could be interesting.

8. Texas A&M
How bad are things for the Aggies when going from the top 10 to start the season to 6-6 isn't the worst thing that has happened in your program? Maybe it was firing the head coach over the phone when he looked to be getting another season. Or maybe it's a top athletic department official insulting the university president on a fan message board. Aggie fans want a big-name replacement for Mike Sherman. We should know soon if they get one.

9. Texas Tech
Tommy Tuberville's team had a surprising fall from grace in 2011. The Red Raiders were 5-2 after upsetting No. 3 Oklahoma, then lost five straight to close out the season. And only one of those games was really close. Next season might be a make-or-break one for Tuberville.

10. Kansas
Speaking of bad seasons...the Jayhawks lose 10 straight to close the year, have only two games in that stretch closer than 10 points and fire coach Turner Gill. Then they hire Charlie Weis as the new coach? Wow. Well, at least everyone is talking about Kansas football now.

Reader Comments

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JCD1978 (last year)

Wonder who Mack will fire this year, the ball boys maybe.

mgpeters (last year)

Maybe. I think he has one more year to get to nine or 10 wins. If that doesn't happen next year, I won't be surprised if he "retires."

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The Editor's Desk

Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters has nearly 20 years of daily newspaper experience. A 1993 graduate of Texas A&M, he worked at papers in Bryan-College Station, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, and Galveston, Texas, before joining the Houston Chronicle as High School Sports Editor in 2008. While in Houston, he coordinated coverage of the 2008 Texas Class 5A state football championships and the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four.

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