Tech shakes up Big 12 again

With five of its football teams in the Top 14 of the Bowl Championship Series standings, the Big 12 Conference is one of the strongest. But who is best in the conference?

Two losses have taken No. 14 Missouri out of the discussion for now, but as the Big 12 South continues to beat itself up, the question doesn't have an easy answer.

Four weeks ago it was Oklahoma sitting atop the polls. When Texas beat the Sooners a week later, the Longhorns became the new favorite. This week Texas Tech took the spotlight, though it fell shy of No. 1 in the BCS rankings after a storybook win over Texas.

Texas Tech is between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Penn State in the BCS, all at 9-0. The Red Raiders still face No. 9 Oklahoma State and No. 6 Oklahoma in the next two weeks. Should the team lose against one of those games, or falls against unranked Baylor, which gave Missouri a scare this week, the Big 12 South could have a mess of one-loss teams demanding a spot in the conference championship and the BCS bowls.

The loss at Texas Tech dropped the Longhorns to No. 4. Last week that spot was occupied by now No. 6 Oklahoma, which stomped Nebraska 62-28 on Saturday. The Sooners were pushed out of the way by Florida, which climbed back into the Top 5 after beating Georgia.

Southern California sits at No. 7, followed by Utah at No. 8. Oklahoma State stayed at No. 9 after trouncing Iowa State, 59-17.

Boise State moved up one to No. 11, with Ohio State and Texas Christian following.

After a home loss to Florida, Georgia dropped seven places to No. 13, just ahead of the Tigers.

Missouri stayed No. 14 in the BCS rankings this week, though the team inched into the No. 13 spot in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls.

The Tigers' the only Big 12 North team in the BCS rankings, return to Faurot Field on Saturday for the annual blackout game against Kansas State. The game, the Tigers' last at home, will be televised on FSN with a 6 p.m. kickoff.