What we learned about the Big 12 from Week 6:
1. The Baylor offense is amazing: I don’t care whom Baylor has played. What the Bears have accomplished so far offensively is nothing short of amazing. They became the first team since 1930 to drop 70 points in three straight games. They have scored at least four touchdowns in every first quarter. They have annihilated everyone they’ve faced with an offense that doesn't have any apparent weakness. Bryce Petty has delivered a Total QBR of at least 93 (scale of 0 to 100) and thrown for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns in every game so far despite also having taken a seat early in the second half of every game. Lache Seastrunk has eight consecutive 100-yard rushing games, the longest active streak in the FBS. Antwan Goodley and Tevin Reese are the first- and third-leading receivers in the Big 12. The superlatives are unending. The Bears will face tougher tests down the line. But this offense has a chance to go down as the best in Big 12 history, and that includes the ’08 Sooners, ’11 Cowboys and ’05 Longhorns.
2. The other Big 12 offenses are not so amazing: The Big 12 used to have the best offensive conference in college football. Take away Baylor, and it might be the worst. TCU failed to generate a first down during the first half against Oklahoma, and the Sooners couldn’t get one against TCU the third quarter, either. Oklahoma State didn’t generate a first down in the second half against Kansas State until its winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. The list goes on. The defenses in the league are better. But outside Baylor, the offenses are collectively the worst they’ve been in a long time.
3. West Virginia’s defense is improved, but nothing more: The Mountaineers' defense got off to a strong start in Big 12 play, holding Oklahoma to 16 points in Norman and Oklahoma State to 21 in a win last week in Morgantown. But they were utterly exposed in Waco. Sure, Baylor’s offense might be the best in college football. But good defenses don’t surrender 73 points to anyone. Florida State also showed Saturday in a 63-0 rout of Maryland -- which scored 37 against West Virginia -- that the Terrapins' offense is not exactly a juggernaut. The Mountaineers are definitely better defensively than they were last season, but nothing more.
4. Oklahoma State, K-State and Texas Tech have major QB questions: Week 6 only brought more questions to the QB situations in Stillwater, Manhattan and Lubbock. Texas Tech’s Baker Mayfield played his best game since the opener in a 54-16 rout of Kansas, but in the third quarter he had to be helped off the field after twisting his knee. Michael Brewer made his debut in garbage time, and Davis Webb played again, too. The Red Raiders have three weeks to figure out their QB situation before they go to Oklahoma on Oct. 26 in what could be a huge game. Meanwhile, K-State, for the first time, went mostly with Daniel Sams over Jake Waters in Stillwater to mixed results. Sams energized the K-State offense with his wheels but also cost the Wildcats with three ugly interceptions, including two to end the game. The Cowboys have QB questions, too. Oklahoma State stuck with J.W. Walsh again but continued to be very average offensively. Coach Mike Gundy gave backup Clint Chelf only two plays against K-State, then went back to Walsh the rest of the game. Is it time for the Cowboys to try something different? Either way, something has to change for the Cowboys offensively if they want to jump back into the Big 12 race.
5. Texas has one week left to find itself: The Longhorns are 2-0 in Big 12 play but have been one of the shakiest teams in the conference. Texas escaped Ames with a 31-30 win over Iowa State. But the Horns did not impress and needed help from the Big 12 officials, who negated what appeared to be a late fumble that could have won the game for the Cyclones. After losing two games in September, the only way Texas can salvage its season -- and Mack Brown’s job -- is to beat Oklahoma this weekend. The Longhorns have completely rolled over against OU the past two seasons in Dallas, and this time, they will be without several key players, including quarterback David Ash. Despite that adversity, Texas has one week to become the team Brown said it would be this season. Because if it can't beat the Sooners, the season will effectively be a failure, regardless of what the Horns do afterward.