First Look -- Week 6 (Thursday, Oct. 7 & Saturday, Oct. 9)

Turned Upside-Down

Last week signaled the true start of the conference slate, though two games had already been played between league opponents. This coming weekend is actually rather light on head-to-head Big 12 action with just three matchups -- the other three are nonconference meetings. But with both Baylor and Iowa State back in action, we'll know more about the teams who pulled off two of the more surprising wins so far this season.

But we do know a couple of things already: 1) Parity has arrived in the Big 12; and 2) No one is safe, (which, I guess, is the definition of parity).

Iowa State 52  Texas Tech 38
Really? I mean, really? That's right. Not only did the Cyclones beat the Red Raiders, they did it twice! After building a 24-0 lead, Paul Rhoads' bunch gave it all back. The two teams then battled through the entirety of the fourth quarter, scoring 42 total points. So, what to make of it? Obviously, Tech and Tommy Tuberville underestimated their opponent, and failed to get up for the game out of the gate. Hard to fathom off a bye week, especially since this was the place from which Tuberville's Auburn replacement had come. More important, Rhoads WORKED for Tuberville at Auburn as his defensive coordinator in 2008 -- Tuberville's last season on the Plains -- a 5-7 campaign in which the defense withered as the fall wore on. How do you not have your squad ready to pound the guy who arguably cost you your dream job? Credit to the Red Raiders for making a game of it, and creating the opportunities that could have led to a road win.

But Iowa State overcame that and much more. The week before, Iowa State returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns. Last Saturday, when Tech had pulled within 7 with less than two minutes remaining, Iowa State DB Jeremy Reeves recovered the onside-kick attempt and returned it 42 yards for the game's final points. Those kinds of things -- defensive and special teams touchdowns -- are a sign of maximum effort from a team, and the hallmark of a dangerous opponent. It's doubtful that anyone overlooks the Cyclones again this season.

Baylor 55  Kansas 7
Another case of a perennial cellar-dweller catching a break on a lucky day? Not quite. It would be one thing if the Bears had beaten the Jayhawks in a close game, but this was a rump-kicking. Baylor led 27-7 at the half, and 48-7 after three quarters. Bears QB Robert Griffin is an absolute freak on the football field, and as strange as it may seem, this may have been the game that put him on the radar of most people. Baylor may be the most dangerous team in the conference, and it is purely because of Griffin at this point. He even makes the Bears' defense play better by association.

Watching this Baylor win definitely felt different than the Cyclones' thriller. There was simply no let up by Art Briles' crew. Granted, Kansas once again demonstrated its inconsistency, frustratingly so. But Baylor was dominant throughout. It was  a team-wide epiphany in Waco: "Not only can we play with these guys, we're BETTER than them!" That kind of mentality could make for an interesting (and historic) stretch run for the Bears.


Week 6

Nebraska at Kansas State -- 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN -- Here we go! The 'Cats and Cornhuskers square off for the final time in the foreseeable future. Nebraska's last outing on Sept. 25 against South Dakota State was an abysmal effort offensively (as indicated by the 17-3 score) -- the exact opposite of its pummeling of Washington. Which Big Red team will show up Thursday? Kansas State showed some spark against Central Florida when it turned to QB Carson Coffman after standout RB Daniel Thomas had been held in check for the most part. That was a much-needed confidence boost for Bill Snyder's team. We'll see how it carries over as both teams are coming off a bye week. The frenzied crowd in Manhattan will be tough to deal with unless they can be taken out of the game with big plays.

Oklahoma State at Louisiana-Lafayette -- 8 p.m. CT Friday on ESPN 2 -- The Cowboys are coming off a huge win last Thursday over Texas A&M. Time for a letdown? I wouldn't bet on it. Oklahoma State's new offense is built to score. The Ragin' Cajuns have been fortunate in their two wins so far. The Pokes' last true road game in Sun Belt territory was a 23-41 loss to Troy in 2007, which nearly derailed Mike Gundy's tenure in Stillwater. It's unlikely he lets his team repeat that mistake.

Baylor vs, Texas Tech -- 11 a.m. CT Saturday in the Cotton Bowl on FSN -- One of the Big 12 less-heralded rivalries, this matchup recently has been a good one, despite the fact that Tech has won the past 14, and now leads the overall series 35-32-1. The last two meetings have been 7-point wins for the Red Raiders. Could this be the turning point for Baylor? Whatever the outcome, these two are now bona fide rivals. The Big 12's new schedule released last week ensures that the Bears and Red Raiders will meet to close out the conference season every year.

Texas A&M vs. Arkansas -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Cowboys Stadium on ABC -- The Jerry Dome hosts the second edition of this renewed inter-conference rivalry dubbed "The Southwest Classic." Last season, Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks demolished the Aggies 47-19. If A&M QB Jerrod Johnson turns it over five times like he did against Oklahoma State, it may be worse. But Arkansas is a heartbroken team after the loss against Alabama on Sept. 25 -- a game it should have had. If A&M can limit the mistakes and force Mallett into poor decisions like the ones he made late against the Crimson Tide, the Aggies could right their ship in a hurry.

Utah at Iowa State -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on FCS -- Ummm ... who scheduled this one? The Cyclones get a big win against Texas Tech, only their second in the entire nine-game series and first since 2002 -- and this the reward? Ouch. As I said earlier, it's doubtful anyone overlooks Iowa State at this point, but maybe they don't get Fox College Sports in Salt Lake City. Note to future schedulers in Ames: Playing an out-of-conference Top 10 opponent in October can be difficult ... and unwise.

Colorado at Missouri -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on FSN -- A great game to close down the Big 12 weekend. Missouri's won all four against Dan Hawkins. The Tigers have also taken the last three in Columbia. Colorado, though, showed some grit against Georgia. As I said last week, a win was imperative for Hawkins' survival , and he came through. Though I wouldn't put this game in the same category, a win would definitely help his case for remaining the head coach in Boulder after this season. This is a key game for Colorado QB Tyler Hansen. All eyes are now on him as the Buffs look for a leader capable of turning things around. While Missouri continues looking for answers in the running game, a new trio of offensive playmakers has emerged for Mizzou: QB Blaine Gabbert, WR T.J. Moe and TE Michael Egnew. Moe (9.25) and Egnew (8.25) each rank in the top 10 nationally in receptions per game.

Enjoy!