1. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last Week: No. 1 (-)

Key Player: RB Rex Burkhead: 20 rush, 129 yards, 2 TD

Outlook: The Cornhuskers held on by shoestrings for their victory in Ames, without really playing a quarterback for most the game. Nebraska will definitely want its dual-threat quarterback under center as soon as possible, but Big Red is well on its way to the Big 12 title game.

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Last Week: No. 4 (+2)

Key Player: QB Brandon Weeden: 34/42 pass, 435 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Outlook: With the Weeden-to-Justin-Blackmon hookup and Kendall Hunter out of the backfield, the Pokes look like this year’s Big 12 South juggernaut. Third in the country in points and passing yardage, if Oklahoma State is a legitimate BCS game contender, it’ll knock off Texas and Kansas the next two weeks no problem.

3. Oklahoma Sooners

Last Week: No. 2 (-1)

Key Player: RB Demarco Murray: 25 rush, 80 yards, 1 TD, 10 rec., 67 yards

Outlook: When Bob Stoops gives Demarco Murray 35 touches, he expects more than one touchdown. The Sooners were soundly beaten by Texas A&M on Saturday and now will need the Bedlam game against OSU to capture the Big 12 South.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

Last Week: No. 8 (+4)

Key Player: WR Ryan Swope: 8 rec., 139 yards, 1 TD

Outlook: Big jump in the rankings for the Aggies, after taking over the game against Oklahoma and winning three in a row. Tough schedule from here on out, but with Ryan Tannehill comfortable at quarterback, A&M is already bowl eligible, and it should be in a high-scoring affair Saturday.

5. Kansas State Wildcats

Last Week: No. 7 (+2)

Key Player: QB Colin Klein: 25 rush, 127 yards, 2 TD

Outlook: The Wildcats only had to throw four passes to beat Texas. Daniel Thomas wasn’t even the leading rusher. On the down side, home games are over for the season, but the upside is huge for this team, which should have no problem getting to eight wins.

6. Missouri Tigers

Last Week: No. 5 (-1)

Key Player: QB Blaine Gabbert: 12/30 pass, 95 yards, 0 TD

Outlook: They only drop one spot, but the Tigers ran 40 less plays than Texas Tech and couldn’t even hit 100 yards through the air. The loss moves Nebraska to the top of the Big 12 North, and Mizzou has to rebound quick for a string of three divisional games.

7. Iowa State Cyclones

Last Week: No. 6 (-1)

Key Player: QB Austen Arnaud: 21/32 pass, 203 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT, 13 rush, 63 yards, 1 TD

Outlook: The Cyclones were one play from turning the Big 12 picture upside down and shaking up the status quo in the North. Instead, Iowa State needs to win one of the next two games just to get to a bowl game, and it looks like Arnaud and Alexander Robinson will be held responsible for getting them there.

8. Baylor Bears

Last Week: No. 3 (-5)

Key Player: QB Robert Griffin III: 30/48 pass, 267 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Outlook: Huge free-fall for the Bears, perhaps unwarranted, but they were down 34-0 at one point in Stillwater. We were waiting for this potent offense to collapse, and it did, looking thoroughly out-manned Saturday. All ranked opponents from here on out, so Baylor needs to win at least one to prove it didn’t just feast on a weak schedule.

9. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Last Week: No. 10 (+1)

Key Player: RB Barron Batch: 28 rush, 134 yards

Outlook: Quarterback Taylor Potts saved the game, but Tech’s commitment to the running game took it to victory over Missouri. The Red Raider defense came up huge, and fans in Lubbock are looking at a bowl game after a rough start to the year.

10. Texas Longhorns

Last Week: No. 9 (-1)

Key Player: QB Garrett Gilbert: 32/59 pass, 272 yards, 1 TD, 5 INT

Outlook: Gilbert was the leading rusher for Texas in Manhattan last week, in addition to his less-than-helpful five picks. Times are tough in Austin, and Mack Brown’s once-plush seat is getting a little warm.

11. Kansas Jayhawks

Last Week: No. 12 (+1)

Key Player: QB: Quinn Mecham: 23/28 pass, 252 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Outlook: Turner Gill’s squad had scored 40 points in four Big 12 games. They Jayhawks scored 35 in the fourth quarter Saturday. Either Kansas has a secret explosive offense ready to win out, or Colorado absolutely collapsed.

12. Colorado Buffaloes

Last Week: No. 11 (-1)

Key Player: RB Rodney Stewart: 27 rush, 175 yards, 3 TD

Outlook: Stewart is the key player, because the rest of the running game combined for four carries and -33 yards. How the Buffs blew their 28-point fourth quarter lead, we don’t know. We do know that this spot in the cellar is earned.