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

Oct 5, 2013; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys fans pose for a photo before the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-USA TODAY Sports

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Record: 4-1 (1-1)

Previous Ranking: 4

Last Week: Bye

This Week: vs TCU

Next Week: at Iowa State

Oklahoma State got a needed break to re-group on offense, but got something even better over the bye week: An Oklahoma loss.

OU’s loss to Texas helps open up some new options for OSU to jump back into the Big 12 title race, which should give the Cowboys a new jolt of energy. In no way are the Cowboys out of this thing just yet.

The next month of the season is going to be challenging, but navigable for OSU. A home game against TCU this weekend, trips to Iowa State and Texas Tech, and a home date against Kansas all proceed the Texas/Baylor/Oklahoma threesome of death that awaits the Cowboys at the end of the season. It won’t be easy, but the margin of error may now be increasing.

None of it will matter if OSU cannot figure out the passing game on both sides of the ball. J.W. Walsh currently ranks eighth in the conference in passing efficiency and has struggled in his first two Big 12 games against West Virginia and Kansas State. Things won’t get easier for him with TCU’s defense coming to town. Like Oklahoma, the Cowboys desperately need Walsh to be a stabilizing force for their offense that has some very good pieces around him.