Editor’s Note: Now halfway through the season, the Daily will rank the Big 12’s football teams in order, from strongest to weakest, top to bottom. National rankings and performance will be taken into consideration, but hopefully we can watch enough football to make informed opinions. Ties will be broken through unscientific methodology.

Contributors: Jake Lovett, Jeremiah Davis, David Merrill and Chris Cuellar

1: Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-0, 1-0)

It could be Taylor Martinez’s legs. It could be the fact that the defense doesn’t appear to have lost a step without Ndamukong Suh’s departure from last season. Whatever the key to their strong start has been, they’re huge favorites over Texas this week and effectively shut down their toughest threat in the Big 12 North with their demolition of Kansas State. It’s the last year for Nebraska in the conference, and the team has set itself up for a championship-type finish.

2: Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 1-0)

Wins over Florida State and Air Force are starting to look pretty good. Both opponents haven’t lost since taking on the Sooners, and while Missouri could pose a threat, the lone ranked team left on the schedule is Oklahoma State. The 33-game home winning streak is still intact. The team is coming off of a bye. Demarco Murray and Ryan Broyles are healthy. The defense could use a boost, but things are comfortable in Norman this week.

3: Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-0, 1-0)

Quarterback Brandon Weeden is tossing the ball around like it’s 2007 in the Big 12, Justin Blackmon looks like he’ll grab more scores and yardage than Dez Bryant did, and Kendall Hunter is still carting the ball around for 140 yards per game. Not nearly as high in the rankings as their in-state rivals, the Cowboys are undefeated and putting plenty of points on the scoreboard. Oklahoma State will get tested the next three weeks, but we’ll soon find out if its run for the Big 12 South crown is for real.

4: Kansas State Wildcats (4-1, 1-1)

It feels like they lost more than one game when Taylor Martinez gained 241 yards on them last week. Kansas State’s tough defense and hard-nosed running threat to Nebraska took a big hit last week. Daniel Thomas was held to 2.9 yards per carry against the Huskers, as the Blackshirts proved Kansas State couldn’t move the ball without him. They’ll get a couple weeks now to get bowl eligible and back on track.

5: Texas Longhorns (3-2, 1-1)

Hopefully the bye week will fix them? Texas’ offense has struggled all season, and Mack Brown promised changes after back-to-back losses. Things get easier after traveling to Lincoln, but you can bet fans in Austin didn’t think this team could hit .500 just nine months after a loss in the National Championship game. This team is plenty talented to still get to a good bowl game, but at least part of the turnaround needs to occur this week.

6: Missouri Tigers (5-0, 1-0)

The undefeated Tigers aren’t getting any respect, just a week removed from shutting out Colorado. To be fair, Mizzou hasn’t had to play any games away from home this season, but getting Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Nebraska in the next three weeks will define this squad. We’re taking a tentative position on this undefeated squad, and we’ll see what’s left of them come November.

7: Texas A&M Aggies (3-2, 0-1)

Two losses to ranked teams mean this Aggie team isn’t doomed, just struggling. A win at home against Missouri would go a long way to putting them back on the map as a contender or spoiler in the South. Jerrod Johnson could use some help, as his passer rating has plummeted in the past two weeks. The Big 12’s Preseason MVP better start showing why he was given that title if he’s going to get his team to eight wins.

8: Iowa State Cyclones (3-3, 1-1)

The Cyclones tough schedule is finally getting the better of them. Tired legs, tired minds, and another couple road games mean this season could get more miserable than tough in a hurry. If the Cyclones can limit the damage and take their lumps against Oklahoma, they may be able to give Texas a run next week. Confidence is on a teeter-totter right now, and this team is at a turning point, whether or not they turned the corner.

9: Baylor Bears (4-2, 1-1)

A shootout loss against the Red Raiders puts this team down from where it could have been, but a solid campaign thus far gives them the nod over Texas Tech. Robert Griffin shouldn’t shoulder any blame for the loss, but their Bears’ two minute offense didn’t shine on the final drive at the Cotton Bowl. A very winnable game against Colorado would put Baylor just one win from bowl eligibility.

10: Texas Tech (3-2, 1-2)

If the Red Raiders hadn’t been on the verge of going 0-3 in Big 12 play, the performance of Taylor Potts alone could boost them a few spots in the rankings. Tommy Tuberville’s boys are passing the ball like they’re playing for Mike Leach, but the defense could use a strong effort against Oklahoma State to salvage some toughness in their reputation. Tech ends the year with two non-conference games, but they’ll need to play well in a hurry to earn a bowl bid out of this conference.

11: Colorado Buffaloes (3-2, 0-1)

One week they rush the field after beating a poor Georgia team. The next they get shut out by a division rival. The Buffaloes can’t find any semblance of consistency, with coach Dan Hawkins having to reaffirm that Tyler Hansen would still be his quarterback this week. Baylor will show whether the Buffaloes have another shot at getting bowl eligibility, but the tough schedule the rest of the way will make it difficult for this team to have success this season.

12: Kansas Jayhawks (2-3, 0-1)

A week after a 55-7 loss at Baylor will help ease the pain in Lawrence. The last place spot and a bounce back game against a ticked off Kansas State probably won’t. It’s been a rough first half of the year for the Jayhawks, and closing out the year with three currently undefeated conference opponents isn’t any sort of light at the end of a tunnel. Ouch.