Big 12 Power Rankings: Texas Beats Oklahoma, Big 12 Up In The Air

Oct 12, 2013; Lubbock, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Sam B. Richardson (12) rushes against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first half at Jones AT

10. Iowa State Cyclones

Record: 1-4 (0-2)

Previous Ranking: 10

Last Week: Texas Tech 42, ISU 35

This Week: at #12 Baylor

Next Week: vs Oklahoma State

Iowa State forced three turnovers and held the ball for nearly half the game, but they couldn’t slow down Tech’s offense enough to pull off the upset.

As the season moves along, the Cyclones are proving to be a tough win for opponents. Texas needed a gift call and a late touchdown to beat them last Thursday. And Saturday ISU was two or three plays short of pulling of the upset over Tech. There is improvement on this team, and Paul Rhoads is building the kind of mentality needed to make next year more successful.

Until then ISU has to figure out how to improve the passing game. Sam Richardson was a dreadful 15-for-38 against a Tech secondary that ranks eighth in the Big 12. Sustaining drives and shortening games should improve the defense and give ISU a better shot at winning some of these closer games. A more consistent passing game would go a long way towards that.