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Texas Tech football: Big 12 power rankings after two conference games

By Matthew Conner

MORGANTOWN, WV - SEPTEMBER 22: The Big 12 logo on the field during the game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Maryland Terrapins on September 22, 2012 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. WVU defeated Maryland 31-21. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - SEPTEMBER 22: The Big 12 logo on the field during the game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Maryland Terrapins on September 22, 2012 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. WVU defeated Maryland 31-21. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
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Oct 3, 2020; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers players cheer from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2020; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers players cheer from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 7: West Virginia

While the Mountaineers are 1-1 in Big 12 play, they sit at just No. 7 in our power rankings.  That’s because their win came over a Baylor team that has the look of a 5-5 squad and their loss was a two-touchdown setback at the hands of an Oklahoma State team that was starting a freshman QB making his first collegiate start.

Right now, the defense is carrying the Mountaineers.  In fact, they rank in the top 20 nationally in red zone defense (No. 5), total defense (No. 6), pass defense (No. 9), 3rd down defense (No. 12), sacks (No.12), tackles for loss (No. 14), and run defense (No. 18).

Now, the question that is worth being asked is whether or not that’s a function of a truly dominant defense or a result of playing a schedule that has brought them two teams with significant offensive challenges given the Oklahoma State QB injury and Baylor’s offensive line woes.

The immediate schedule will continue to be kind to the Mountaineers as KU and Texas Tech are the next two opponents on their schedule.  Thus, Neal Brown‘s team could rise to 3-1 in league play and 4-1 overall at the half-way point of the season.

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