Big 12 Power Rankings: Baylor’s Offense Proves Ready for Big 12 Schedule

Oct 5, 2013; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver

(88) runs in for the touchdown during the third quarter against Oklahoma State Cowboys safety

(23) at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-USA TODAY Sports

7. Kansas State Wildcats

Record: 2-3 (0-2)

Previous Ranking: 8

Last Week: Oklahoma State 33, Kansas State 29

This Week: vs. #15 Baylor

Next Week: Bye

It wasn’t a fumble.

K-State was the victim of yet another Big 12 replay officiating error when a Daniel Sams fumble that was caused by the ground was ruled a turnover. The sequence cost K-State at least three points and allowed OSU to halt the Wildcats momentum.

With that said, K-State turned the ball over four other times and committed 12 (TWELVE!) penalties. Kansas State has only themselves to look at for their loss, not the officiating.

With injuries to Tyler Lockett and Tremaine Thompson, and an offense that cannot figure out what it wants to be – especially in the red zone – the Wildcats are in serious danger of missing a bowl game. Already saddled with three losses, K-State still has three games left against Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech. Lose all three of those, and suddenly the TCU game in Manhattan becomes do or die for K-State. And that assumes the Wildcats beat West Virginia, Iowa State, and Kansas.

Baylor is going to smoke K-State. That’s not a knock on KSU, just a reality of how good Baylor is playing. How K-State bounces back from a 2-4 start is going to say a lot about the makeup of this team. And if you are into doom and gloom scenarios: consider K-State is losing three offensive linemen, Thompson, John Hubert, Ty Zimmerman, and six other starters after this season. Things are very murky right now in Manhattan.