1.Texas (10-0 overall, 6-0 in the Big 12, beat Baylor 47-14) This one belonged to the defense. UT is a complete team, albeit one that lacks a solid running game. The Longhorns are four more wins from being truly special.

2.Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-1, beat Texas Tech 24-17) The Cowboys are proving this: If you can run the ball, you don't need an All-American wide receiver or a All-American running back. You just need a consistent, dominant offensive line. After a walkover vs. Colorado – Bedlam looms.

3. Nebraska (7-3, 4-2, beat Kansas 31-17) Don't let the score fool you: Kansas played hard, and well, and NU was forced to respond. The Huskers got a little lucky – but they made some of their luck, too. NU finally seems to have settled on an offensive plan, while Roy Helu is back from the dead to become the second-best back in the Big 12.

T4.Texas Tech (6-4, 3-3, lost to Oklahoma State 24-17) Stood toe-to-toe with the Cowboys on the road. The difference: An OSU interception return for a touchdown. When Mike Leach looks back on this game, we bet he wonders why Tech only ran the ball 14 times, and threw it more than 50. He may also question playing Steven Sheffield after he spent several weeks on the shelf.

T4. Oklahoma (6-4, 4-2, beat Texas A&M 65-10 The Sooners just exercised some demons against a slower, weaker team that has zero capability of responding to OU's defensive might. This is a top 25 team, folks. Forget the record.

6. Missouri (6-4, 2-4, beat Kansas State 38-12) It's about time Missouri played to its full potential, and, for one Saturday, the Tigers did, getting explosive plays from Danario Alexander (10 catches, 200 yards) and the defense (three forced turnovers) for a runaway victory over the Wildcats on KSU's Senior Day. Mizzou is now primed for a run through Iowa State and Kansas toward a pretty nice bowl game, perhaps the Insight Bowl.

7. Kansas State (6-5, 4-3, lost to Missouri 38-12) KSU should be proud of what it's done, really – the Wildcats have no business playing for the Big 12 North title next week. But they'll play for it. Bill Snyder's bunch shouldn't get within ten points of Nebraska, but they'll play their typical brand of solid football, try not to fall behind, and catch up in special teams, when possible. The Wildcats are probably staying home for the holidays, though.

8. Iowa State (6-5, 3-4, beat Colorado 17-10) Let's go ahead and call this sucker: Paul Rhoads, Big 12 coach of the year. What he did in Ames is more significant than Snyder's turnaround in Manhattan.

9. Kansas (5-5, 1-4, lost to Nebraska 31-17) The Jayhawks fought on Saturday; it was good to see. KU has the coaches to win a lot of games. Mark Mangino's plan to thwart Nebraska's defense was a good one. But the speed and talent isn't quite there. It's going to be a long, soul-searching offseason in Lawrence.

T10.Texas A&M (5-5, 2-4, lost to Oklahoma 65-10) We've seen this film already. It's called: The Bill Callahan era. The bewildering stretches of bad offense. The non-existent defense coordinated by a guy who's clearly out of touch. The awful tackling. The inconsistent quarterbacking. Don't presume recruiting will fix. It won't. We've already seen the ending. Trust us.

T10.Colorado (3-7, 2-4, lost to Iowa State 17-10) Three turnovers. Eleven penalties for 110 yards. Just 2 of 14 on third-down conversions. You can't possibly keep Dan Hawkins around for that kind of ugliness, can you?

T10. Baylor (4-6, 1-5, lost to Texas 47-14) Baylor played well for a quarter, but had one drive stopped inside UT's five yard line and another stopped at midfield. After that – good night, Agnes.

Big 12 Bowl Projections

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