Blair Kerkhoff’s going for two: Enjoy the ranking, now get to work
Ranking thresholds are being crossed throughout the Big 12. How will the teams handle the positive perception?
By appreciating the attention and then dismissing it.
Texas is No. 1 in the regular season for the first time since 1984. Texas Tech’s No. 5 ranking in the USA Today poll of coaches matches the highest in school history.
Oklahoma State, eighth in The Associated Press poll and 10th in USA Today, is at its highest point since coach Mike Gundy quarterbacked the Cowboys 20 years ago.
“You let them enjoy it, then you get them focused so we can have a good week of practice,” Gundy said.
The weekend’s seismic games — Texas over top-ranked Oklahoma and Oklahoma State over No. 3 Missouri — left the Big 12 with six teams among the top 15 or 16. The Sooners fell to No. 4, with the Tigers 11/12 and Kansas 15/16.
The polls will come into sharper focus next week, when the first Bowl Championship Series standings are released. The USA Today and Harris polls, along with six computer rankings, are the components. The final top two teams in those standings play for the BCS national championship.
Texas coach Mack Brown has faith the Longhorns won’t be distracted by the ranking. It comes at a time when the program has been laser-sharp — the post-Oklahoma game. Texas is 10-0 in those weeks under Brown.
Brown was Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator in 1984. The Red River Rivalry ended in a famous 15-15 tie. The Sooners escaped Iowa State with a 12-10 victory the next weekend.
That’s why Brown treats the week after Oklahoma as the opening weekend of the second half of the season.
“Whether you win or lose, you have to get rid of that game,” Brown said.
By the way, Texas entered 1984 with the No. 1 ranking, lost it with the tie and didn’t get it back until last weekend.
Two story lines•North vs. South. What have become the North Division heavyweights — Missouri and Kansas — visit reigning South powers in Oklahoma and Texas. The South still rules, but the gap has closed over the last five years.
•K-State momentum. Hey, it’s only one game, but the victory at Texas A&M has infused much-needed good feeling into the Wildcats’ locker room. K-State heads to Colorado — which is riding a three-game skid and in desperate need of a victory.
Two questions•What will Iowa State do for a backup quarterback now that Phillip Bates quit the program last Thursday?
Cyclones coach Gene Chizik said freshman Jerome Tiller moves into the No. 2 slot but hopes not to burn his redshirt. As long as starter Austen Arnaud is healthy, Chizik plans to give him every snap.
•Who did Nebraska nominate for Big 12 defensive player of the week?
A walk-on freshman, Matt Holt, from Lee’s Summit West. Holt entered Saturday’s 37-31 overtime loss to Texas Tech with five tackles in the first four games. He started for the first time and finished with seven solo stops and eight tackles. At Lee’s Summit West, Holt rushed for more than 1,500 yards for the Class 4A championship Titans last season.
Two quotes•“He’s a big-time quarterback who showed great poise and leadership during the course of our game. We were very impressed with him. He’s durable and effective as a runner and thrower and did a great job with the scheme. When he elects to make that decision (to enter the NFL draft), a lot of people will be beating down his door.”
| Texas A&M and former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman on Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman.
•“It was just bad football.”
| Iowa State coach Gene Chizik after the 38-10 loss to Baylor.
Ranking the Big 12
| Team | Next opponent | Comment |
| 1. Texas (3) | Missouri | Riding high |
| 2. Oklahoma (1) | Kansas | Still strong in BCS picture |
| 3. Oklahoma State (6) | Baylor | Cowboys can’t look ahead |
| 4. Texas Tech (4) | at Texas A&M | Raiders survived a scare |
| 5. Missouri (2) | at Texas | Doesn’t get easier |
| 6. Kansas (5) | at Oklahoma | Sooners will be motivated |
| 7. Nebraska (8) | at Iowa State | Making progress |
| 8. Baylor (9) | at Oklahoma State | Catching Cowboys at right time? |
| 9. Colorado (7) | Kansas State | QB play inconsistent last week |
| 10. Kansas State (11) | at Colorado | QB play terrific last week |
| 11. Iowa State (10) | Nebraska | Will Cyclones dig in? |
| 12. Texas A&M (12) | Texas Tech | Schedule gets tougher |
(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)
