The Big 12 is unlikely to return to the College Football Playoff this season and the conference championship game won’t resume until next year.
Still, the Big 12 has to determine a champion to represent the league in the Sugar Bowl against an SEC team, and fill the league’s other six bowl spots.
Here’s a look at each Big 12 team for the rest of the regular season, through the first weekend in December when other Power Five conferences play their championship games:
OKLAHOMA
Record: 6-2, 5-0 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: at Iowa State; vs. No. 13 Baylor; at No. 14 West Virginia; vs. No. 22 Oklahoma State.
Notes: The 12th-ranked Sooners are going for their 10th Big 12 title, and still have to play the three teams with only one league loss. Since Big 12 went to 10 teams with round-robin schedules in 2011, no team has gone through the league without a loss. While Oklahoma is a Big 12-best 14th in the initial CFP rankings, no two-loss team has made the playoff. WR Dede Westbrook had breakout October with 40 catches for 881 yards and 11 TDs in five games.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Record: 6-2, 4-1 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: at Kansas State; vs. Texas Tech; at TCU; at No. 12 Oklahoma.
Notes: Oklahoma State just gave West Virginia its first loss , and won its fourth in a row since losing at Baylor with two fourth-quarter drives ending inside the 5. The Cowboys would be in even better shape if not for the controversial loss to Central Michigan, which got a game-ending touchdown that shouldn’t have counted .
BAYLOR
Record: 6-1, 3-1 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: vs. TCU; at No. 12 Oklahoma; vs. Kansas State; vs. Texas Tech, at Arlington, Texas; at No. 14 West Virginia.
Notes: Baylor control its fate in pursuit of a third Big 12 title in four years. But the Bears are coming off their first loss and still face the toughest part of their schedule. Quarterback Seth Russell had concussions symptoms after loss at Texas. Baylor is eligible for seventh consecutive bowl since a 16-year postseason drought.
WEST VIRGINIA
Record: 6-1, 3-1 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: vs. Kansas; at Texas; vs. No. 12 Oklahoma; at Iowa State; vs. Baylor.
Notes: West Virginia will be hard pressed to repeat the 4-0 November it had last year under coach Dana Holgorsen, who entered this season on the hot seat. The Mountaineers are coming off their first loss, when QB Skyler Howard’s three turnovers led to 17 Oklahoma State points.
KANSAS STATE
Record: 5-3, 3-2 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: vs. No. 22 Oklahoma State; at No. 13 Baylor; vs. Kansas; at TCU.
Notes: The Wildcats will likely be favored only against Kansas down the stretch, but they are just one win from becoming bowl-eligible for the seventh straight season. Two wins would give K-State coach Bill Snyder 200. He ranks first in the FBS in wins among active coaches at their current school.
TCU
Record: 4-4, 2-3 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: at No. 13 Baylor; vs. No. 22 Oklahoma State; at Texas; vs. Kansas State.
Notes: The Horned Frogs have lost two in a row, the first time since 2013 that they have lost consecutive games. They are coming off their second double-overtime loss this season, though the defense had one of its best performances.
TEXAS
Record: 4-4, 2-3 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: at Texas Tech; vs. No. 14 West Virginia; at Kansas; vs. TCU.
Notes: Coach Charlie Strong is facing a critical stretch that will likely decide his future with the Longhorns. Reminder: Late in the 2014 season, Strong said Texas would never lose five games again. One more loss and he’ll be at that dubious threshold three years in a row. D’Onta Foreman has nine consecutive 100-yard rushing games, two behind Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell’s school record.
TEXAS TECH
Record: 4-4, 2-3 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: vs Texas; at No. 22 Oklahoma State; at Iowa State; vs. No. 13 Baylor, at Arlington, Texas.
Notes: Like two of its remaining opponents, Texas Tech needs at least two more wins to get bowl eligible. In the double-OT win at TCU, the Red Raiders scored only 17 points in regulation, a week after their fourth loss in two seasons when scoring more than 50. Patrick Mahomes leads the nation with 440 yards passing per game.
IOWA STATE
Record: 1-7, 0-5 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: vs. No. 12 Oklahoma; at Kansas; vs. Texas Tech; vs. No. 14 West Virginia.
Notes: Iowa State is already guaranteed its seventh consecutive losing record in coach Matt Campbell’s first season. The Cyclones lost 45-42 at home to Baylor on Oct. 1 when the Bears never led until the game-ending field goal.
KANSAS
Record: 1-7, 0-5 Big 12.
Remaining schedule: at No. 14 West Virginia; vs. Iowa State; vs. Texas; at Kansas State.
Notes: The Jayhawks, who have lost 17 consecutive Big 12 games, have been last in the Big 12 six of the last seven seasons. Second-year coach David Beaty’s team came close against TCU, but the Jayhawks missed three field goals in the fourth quarter while TCU rallied from a nine-point deficit to win 24-23.
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AP Sports Writers Dave Skretta, Jim Vertuno, John Raby and Cliff Brunt contributed to this report.
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More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org
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