Editor’s note: The Daily’s football reporters have voted and ranked the teams of the Big 12 based on their play through week six of conference play. The following rankings are based on the average of the reporters’ votes.

1. Texas Longhorns (10-0, 6-0)

The Longhorns are a unanimous first place heading into Week 12, and the way the Jayhawks are reeling in the national spotlight on their trip to Austin, it should be that way until bowl season. Mack Brown’s ball club still hasn’t found consistent running outside of Colt McCoy’s zone-read with Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson, but the combinations are moving the Horns to fifth in the Big 12 in rushing offense. Texas is tops in scoring offense and third in scoring defense, and McCoy’s reputation and 148.0 passer efficiency rating should get him to the final Heisman Ceremony. It’s clear Texas is alone atop the Big 12 heap.

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-2, 5-1)

A team the BCS previewers haven’t been talking about, but definitely should be. The Cowboys’ losses have been to Houston (8-2, two Big 12 victories), and Texas (see above), so the placement of Ohio State and Oregon above Stillwater’s finest is perplexing. Oklahoma State is leading the Big 12 in rushing. Not difficult for a conference that is pass-happy, but Zac Robinson has never been called a slouch, behind only Colt McCoy in passer efficiency. The Bedlam game is the season finale and could make or break their spot as Texas’ little brother in the Final Rankings, because Thursday night’s beatdown against Colorado won’t help them.

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-3, 4-2)

The Huskers’ defense looks impenetrable when it’s motivated, and with a Big 12 North title in its view, expect things to stay that way. Nebraska is just an eight turnover outing from being two games up in a mediocre division. The offense will need all the help it can get to keep up in the likely four games the Huskers have remaining, but Kansas State and Colorado appear to be soft enough defensively to let Nebraska move the ball. Playing in the North, it isn’t going to move up to the top spot, but the number two position could be in reach if Nebraska can pull off an improbable upset in Dallas.

4. Oklahoma Sooners (6-4, 4-2)

Oklahoma was offended at being ranked fifth last week, and it took out its rage on Texas A&M. Really, though, the Sooners had a problem with something last week and took out their aggression with 65 on the scoreboard that would have made last year’s Sooners happy. They get to battle it out with Texas Tech this week in a match-up that would likely only affect their two sitting spots for next week, but Oklahoma will want to win if only to avoid three losses in conference play. Bob Stoops isn’t used to these types of years in Norman, and the Big 12 should take it as an aberration rather than a trend.

5. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-4, 3-3)

Taking a hit with their tough loss last week to Oklahoma State, the Red Raiders can’t get out of the state directly to their north, getting the Sooners in a match-up that could put their conference record under .500 until they play Baylor. The aerial attack will need to get back on track quickly if they hope to unseat Oklahoma, and Taylor Potts, with his magic mustache, may be the man to do it. Running back Baron Batch has emerged as a capable option out of the backfield, if he could just get the ball, but Tech needs to close out the season strong to discourage Mike Leach from considering a change of scenery.

6. Kansas State Wildcats (6-5, 4-3)

Bill Snyder has gotten hype around the country in previous weeks for the turnaround job Manhattan has witnessed this season, but the Wildcats need another win to become bowl-eligible — and pundits seem to forget Kansas State was 5-7 last year. A single game improvement from 2008, when two wins were over FCS opponents? It just may not be the reversal of fortunes Coach of the Year voters thought about. Daniel Thomas looks indestructible carrying the rock, and quarterback Grant Gregory is playing like he has nothing to lose — he doesn’t; he’s a six-year senior. Kansas State fans would love nothing more than to see the purple-clad bunch knock off one more shock on Nebraska.

7. Texas A&M Aggies (5-5, 2-4)

Mike Sherman’s seat is warm as the Aggies’ inconsistent play is frustrating fans down South. This team may be only be outdone in bipolar play by the team occupying the spot below them, as their scores indicate. The one thing you can count on in a game at Kyle Field this season isn’t just nausea from the swaying stadium, but points, as they’ve come in bunches. A game against Baylor looks like a win for the offensively inclined squad, but it depends on how they show up. It may go a long way to where the Aggies end up, before they take on the Longhorns in the Lone Star Showdown.

8. Missouri Tigers (6-4, 2-4)

The difference is 6-6, and 8-4 is something Missouri is about to figure out. Wide receiver Danario Alexander has more receiving yards than some quarterbacks, is giving out migraines like airport-side apartments and the Tigers look to be jumping on his back. Last Saturday’s pounding of Kansas State was surprising, but simply a sign of life from Mizzou and an eventual conclusion for KSU — but two wins over Iowa State and Kansas are a matter of earning respect for and from the Big 12 North. Mizzou’s defense is built around energy, and Gary Pinkel needs to get that level up in wattage if he wants to walk through the offseason without calls for a possible coaching change.

9. Iowa State Cyclones (6-5, 3-4)

The Cyclones have gotten their wins when they need them, which is more than could be said in past years, but they can’t move above this spot until they prove they can win consistently — and not just when they get eight turnovers on the road. The win over Colorado makes them bowl eligible, and they could jump up these rankings when the last of the six win squads go down or become bowl ineligible. Iowa State could use a big win in Columbia to ensure its bowl status, and a win there could also boost Paul Rhoads into to the spotlight for Coach of the Year conversation.

10. Kansas Jayhawks (5-5, 1-5)

Five losses in a row, a defense without fundamentals, and a coach in turmoil. This season is rolling downhill faster than students entering Kivisto Field, and it isn’t getting any easier for the Jayhawks. Definitely not a team we expected to be sitting this low this late in the season, but even Todd Reesing and the offense has been frustrated by defense less than the Longhorn front they’ll see Saturday. Whether or not Mark Mangino is sticking around after defending his character on Wednesday, the Jayhawks better get amped up, or an Orange Bowl to bowl-less two season stretch is eminent.

11. Colorado Buffaloes (3-7, 2-4)

The Buffs showed signs of re-emerging after beating the Aggies in Boulder, but that’s where all their wins have stayed this season, going 0-5 on the road. Coach Dan Hawkins gets the task of attempting to knock of the No. 2 and 3 teams in our poll for their final win of the season — a feat that doesn’t seem too likely. Those powder blue shirts the students wore to show their displeasure with the program might come out one more time on campus, but fortunately for Colorado, Tyler Hansen looks like a player good enough to keep them competitive.

12. Baylor Bears (4-6, 1-5)

Taking up the cellar space once again, Baylor didn’t get a very nice reward from their win at Missouri, having to take on Texas on Saturday. The road doesn’t get easier, but a good effort against A&M could push them out of the bottom spot. Nick Florence’s 427-yard passing game wasn’t going to duplicate against Texas, but once Robert Griffin comes back next season, does he go back to the bench? A big transfer could be brewing down in Waco, and even the pass happy Big 12 has a few teams [see: 3, 6, 10, 11] that could use a proven quarterback that doesn’t make mistakes.