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The Kansas State Wildcats remain on top of the Big 12 football standings after their 44-30 win over Oklahoma State Saturday. The Wildcats remained perfect on the season, with a 6-0 record in the conference and head-to-head wins over two of the three teams that remain mathematically eligible for the conference crown. Kansas State needs either two wins in its final three games or a win and an Oklahoma loss to cement its first conference title since 2003. With games against Baylor, TCU and Texas left on the schedule, a perfect record looks increasingly likely.
The Oklahoma Sooners are 4-1 in conference play and in sole possession of second place in the Big 12 standings. Oklahoma is 6-2 overall after a 35-20 win over Iowa State Saturday. However, the Sooners' sole conference loss was to Kansas State, a defeat that could be critical. Under Big 12 tiebreaker procedures, the head-to-head winner between two tied teams wins the championship. Kansas State would have to finish 7-2 in conference play for Oklahoma to have a chance to win the conference, a scenario that looks less likely after each week.
If Oklahoma is to win the championship, it would need help from its rival, the Texas Longhorns, which is third in the conference at 4-2 (7-2 overall) and plays Kansas State in its regular season finale. Oklahoma State remains in the race at 3-2 (5-3 overall), though their loss to the Wildcats makes it especially difficult for them to win an outright title. Oklahoma State would have to defeat all four of its remaining opponents -- West Virginia, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Baylor -- and have both Kansas State lose their last three games and Texas lose another game.
Texas Tech and TCU are both 3-3 in conference play, and are both eliminated from contention due to previous losses to Kansas State. The Red Raiders were beaten by Texas Saturday, while the Horned Frogs recorded an overtime win against West Virginia, which is now 2-3 in conference play and losers of three straight games. Iowa State (2-4), Baylor (1-4) and Kansas (0-6) round out the standings.