1. Kansas (8-1) — The early-season loss to Kentucky was bad. Really bad, actually. But Bill Self has shown time and time again that early-season struggles don’t determine the team’s fate later in the season. With an 8-1 record and playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules, Kansas continues to rule the top spot until proven unworthy.

2. Iowa State (8-1) — The Cyclones, Jayhawks and Longhorns are the clear contenders in the Big 12 this season and are essentially interchangeable in the top 3 spots, but Iowa State’s double-digit wins against Georgia State, Alabama, Arkansas and Iowa — all top-70 Kenpom teams — give the team an edge over Texas in these rankings. The high-powered offense is one of the most efficient in the nation, and with transfer Jameel McKay eligible to play Dec. 20, the team is only expected to improve.

3. Texas (9-1) — As was mentioned above, the Longhorns can make the argument that they are the best team in the Big 12, and they’ve got the defense to prove it. They gave No. 1 Kentucky fits on the road, but came up short in their only loss of the season. They needed a three-pointer in the final seconds to beat a struggling UConn team and have experienced stretches of poor shooting that have caused concern, landing them behind the Cyclones this week.

4. Oklahoma (7-2) — The Sooners are only one of two teams in the Big 12 with two or more losses, but both were close losses to tournament-caliber teams in Creighton and Wisconsin. Double-digit wins against UCLA and Butler have shown that the Sooners are capable of putting the pieces together to win bigger games.

5. West Virginia (9-1) — The Mountaineers haven’t been tested like the teams ranked above them, but they’ve taken care of business outside of a one-point loss to LSU in the final seconds of the game. Transfer Jonathan Holton and Big 12 Preaseason Player of the Year Juwan Staten have formed an impressive duo that combines for 26.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.

6. Baylor (8-1) — Following the Mountaineers’ lead, the Bears haven’t played enough Big 12-caliber teams to impress the critics, but wins on the road against some of the SEC’s upper-tier teams like South Carolina and Vanderbilt have shown promise. With Oklahoma, Kansas, TCU and Iowa State slated as their first four conference games, the Bears’ identity will be revealed early.

7. Oklahoma State (9-1) — The Cowboys have coasted through their fairly easy non-conference schedule, but a 26-point drubbing at the hands of South Carolina raises concerns as the team’s best win is against a 4-4 Memphis team.

8. TCU (10-0) — The Horned Frogs are an impressive 10-0 after winning a total of nine games last season, but their schedule hasn’t exactly given the team much of a struggle to start with. Solid wins against Ole Miss and Mississippi State certainly show improvement from last season, but with one of the nation’s easiest non-conference schedules, the fate of the Horned Frogs will be determined when Big 12 play starts Jan. 3.

9. Texas Tech (7-1) — Another mediocre schedule, another tough team to gauge. The Red Raiders are having a better start to the season than many projected, but the team’s best win was a one-point victory in a comeback effort against Air Force. The Big 12 will not be as kind to the Red Raiders.

10. Kansas State (6-4) — The Wildcats were projected to finish fourth in the conference by Big 12 coaches in the preseason but they’ve got an uphill climb to get there. A loss to Long Beach State is one of the Big 12’s worst losses of the season and Kansas State’s four losses are the most by any Big 12 team. The Wildcats likely won’t sit in the cellar of the Big 12 all season, but with the way the rest of the conference has handled their non-conference schedules, it may be a while before Kansas State sees the light.