Editors Note:

The Daily’s football reporters have voted and ranked the teams of the Big 12 based on their play through week five of conference play.

1. No. 2 Texas (8–0, 5–0 Big 12)

The nation’s clear-cut No. 2 team has dismantled Missouri and Oklahoma State by a combined score of 82–21, and with Central Florida and Baylor next on the schedule, Texas could be in some snoozers. Quarterback Colt McCoy has worked his way back into the Heisman race, and the Longhorns are on a mission to ensure nothing is left up to the computers this year.

2. No. 18 Oklahoma State (6–2, 3–1)

Losing to Texas is nothing to be ashamed of, although the Longhorns’ fast defense displayed how much quarterback Zac Robinson is missing Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter right now. The Cowboys are still ranked and don’t have a marquee matchup until the Bedlam game against Oklahoma.

3. No. 20 Oklahoma (5–3, 3–1)

The Bradford-less Sooners have taken out the Kansas schools the last two weeks, face old rival Nebraska this weekend and will look to keep tallying up points. Oklahoma hasn’t scored less than 35 points in a win, or more than 20 in a loss, and backup quarterback Landry Jones will face a good challenge to that trend in the Blackshirts.

T4. Kansas State (5–4, 3–2)

Bill Snyder’s crew showed a lot of heart fighting back against Oklahoma in the second half, but the current leader of the Big 12 North will likely need to win two out of its last three to become bowl eligible. Kansas State already shocked the conference, and a North title would be the icing on the cake.

T4. Texas Tech (6–3, 3–2)

Some teams take years to roll from good to bad, but coach Mike Leach’s ballclub has done that in a matter of weeks, from getting beat up to doing the beating. Tech is likely out of the divisional championship race, but are already bowl eligible and will get a few chances to surprise the voters.

6. Texas A&M (5–3, 2–2)

Looking like a contender with a few aberrations and bad games, the Aggies are putting enough points up on the scoreboard to be one game from bowl eligibility and likely saving coach Mike Sherman’s job. The game at Colorado on Saturday will test their legitimacy.

7. Kansas (5–3, 1–3)

If there is a team and defense sliding faster around the country, we don’t see it. Starting 5–0 and getting hiccups excused by winning close games, the Jayhawks have now allowed 175 points in their last five games, and Todd Reesing is even getting blamed for problems. A win against Kansas State would stabilize the ship.

8. Nebraska (5–3, 2–2)

The whole country knows the Blackshirts can play, but not even the coaching staff knows which quarterback can in Lincoln. Winning out against North division foes would get the Huskers into the conference title game, albeit in a different way than Bo Pelini would have chosen when the season kicked off.

9. Iowa State (5–4, 2–3)

Riding high at 5–4 with bowl aspirations and a famous YouTube video, the Cyclones are coming back down to earth with Big 12 South opponents, and will be looking to squeeze out one more win under first-year coach Paul Rhoads to get them bowling for the first time since 2005.

10. Missouri (5–3, 1–3)

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert is fully healthy again, and the Tigers are rising up from their dubious 0–3 conference start. Coach Gary Pinkel can’t get mad at the schedule from here on out, as Missouri controls its own destiny against Baylor, the Kansas duo and Iowa State.

11. Colorado (2–6, 1–3)

Quarterback issues, coaching issues, financial issues and every other kind of issue is bothering the team from Boulder right now. Even highly touted running back Darrell Scott is transferring away from coach Dan Hawkins’ program, signs that the program may be headed like a slalom skier.

12. Baylor (3–5, 0–4)

Sharing their luck with a certain movie youth baseball team this year, Baylor coach Art Briles will keep his guys fighting but probably just wants this season to be over. There is some silver in the lining: The defense hasn’t given up more than 34 points in a game.