Big 12 power rankings: Sic 'em

The Baylor Bears offense is shiny. It feels nice. It is setting points records not seen since the 1930s. But, are the Bears the top team in the Big 12 Conference? I want to fire that gun, but I can't quite pull the trigger. Not just yet. The numbers are neat, but the Bears' non-conference competition level won't let me.

Past a logjam at the very top, don't look. Seriously. The overall 2013 football version of this conference has been a train wreck.

1. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0, 1-0) — Still the top dog, but the margin isn't a big one between OU, Baylor and Oklahoma State. Big road test at Notre Dame this week. Blake Bell and the offense should be able to move the ball against a slightly less formidable Irish defensive unit.

2. Baylor Bears (3-0, 0-0) — Say the Bears don't slow down. Say they do big things. Say that leads to Lache Seastrunk winning a Heisman. Say that would be two for the program in three seasons. Say what?

3. Oklahoma St. Cowboys (3-0, 0-0) — The Cowboys haven't hit their stride offensively yet, and they're still ranked 27th in the country in total offense. The 'Pokes also have allowed just a single field goal in two of their three games. Is the whole package there this season for Mike Gundy?

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-0, 1-0) — Don't know how long it lasts, but it's fun watching Kliff Kingsbury's group right now.

5. Texas Longhorns (2-2, 1-0) — Mack Brown's staff waxed Bill Snyder's staff. It turned down the heat a little on Brown, until the next loss.

6. Kansas St. Wildcats (2-2, 0-1) — A multiple-time national coach of the year and legend who saved an entire program and a town's economy, and his staff, can't figure out how to use two talented quarterbacks effectively. Perhaps one of football's all-time most dumbfounding mysteries.

7. TCU Horned Frogs (1-2, 0-1) — TCU had a week off to prepare for an SMU bunch that has been beaten soundly by two other Texas teams already. Nothing to see here ...

8. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-2, 0-1) — Six turnovers in a woeful shutout by Maryland. If I'm a WVU fan, I'm saving my couch and matches for a team that deserves it.

9. Kansas Jayhawks (2-1, 0-0) — Some folks immediately called it "The Kick" on Saturday. Not kidding. Louisiana Tech peed down both legs with a couple of fumbles late before a kicker that KU cut in tryouts a year ago nailed a game-winner to snap a 22-game losing streak to FBS opponents. Retire that jersey. Now.

10. Iowa St. Cyclones (0-2, 0-0) — The Cyclones had a week off to prepare for a road trip to Tulsa. Outside of a game "featuring" Florida International or Florida A&M, there may not be a less-appetizing game this week.