The pecking order in the Big 12 seems to have come into focus, with Oklahoma and Baylor on top. However, the Sooners might be in danger of a let-down after their impressive win at Notre Dame, while the Bears face their first real test against an up-and-down West Virginia team that shocked Oklahoma State last Saturday. Behind them, unbeaten Texas Tech and talented but troubled Texas are lurking and looking to avoid road upsets.
5. Texas Tech at Kansas, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
Rating: 1.5 stars
The skinny: After earning All-Big-12 second-team honors last season, Kansas linebacker Ben Heeney has picked up where he left off, with 32 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups and one interception in three games. Against the Texas Tech spread passing offense, Heeney's coverage skills will be tested by tight end Jace Amaro, who paces the Red Raiders with 29 catches for 367 yards.
4. Texas at Iowa State, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Rating: 2 stars
The skinny: Iowa State's inexperienced front seven has struggled to stop the run, allowing 4.4 yards per carry, and faces a Texas attack that wants to highlight sophomore running back Johnathan Gray (350 rushing yards, 5.3 yards per carry). Productive linebacker Jeremiah George and safety Jacques Washington will need help from their defensive line, otherwise they will be piling up lots of tackles of Gray in the second level.
3. Kansas State at Oklahoma State, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Rating: 2 stars
The skinny: Oklahoma State's secondary looked suspect in its 30-21 upset loss at West Virginia and might be without corner Justin Gilbert, who was ejected late in the game and could face additional discipline from the conference or coach Mike Gundy. If Gilbert cannot go, Wildcats wide receiver Tyler Lockett could go wild again after racking up a school-record 237 receiving yards on 13 catches against Texas.
2. TCU at Oklahoma, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, Fox
Rating: 2.5 stars
The skinny: If the Sooners can wear down defensive tackles Chucky Hunter and Davion Pierson, the rest of the undersized TCU defense will struggle to stop running backs Damien Williams and Brennan Clay. On the other side of the ball, Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin ranks last in the Big 12 in passing efficiency and must deal with the cornerback duo of senior Aaron Colvin and Zack Sanchez, an emerging redshirt freshman who leads the team with five pass breakups.
1. West Virginia at Baylor, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
Rating: 3 stars
The skinny: The Bears took care of business against a soft non-conference schedule, averaging a staggering 69.7 points per game. Now quarterback Bryce Petty gets his first taste of Big 12 action against a WVU secondary allowing 188 yards per game through the air and keyed the win over Oklahoma State with two critical interceptions. Whether safeties Karl Joseph and Darwin Cook can help contain receivers Tevin Reese and Antwan Goodley while also keeping an eye out for running back Lache Seastrunk (Big 12-best 417 rushing yards, 11.0 yards per carry, six touchdown) is another matter entirely.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
