Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Big 12 power rankings

By Christopher Dukes

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 07: Head Coach Lincoln Riley speaks with quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners during warmups before the game against the South Dakota Coyotes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Sooners defeated the South Dakota Coyotes 70-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 07: Head Coach Lincoln Riley speaks with quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners during warmups before the game against the South Dakota Coyotes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Sooners defeated the South Dakota Coyotes 70-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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Texas (2-1)
Last week: Beat Rice 49-14
This week: vs. Oklahoma State

The Longhorns have clearly taken a step forward from last year and are on the cusp of being an elite program. Last year Texas played in 10 games decided by one score or less. This year they are putting inferior teams away the way they are supposed to.

Sam Ehlinger has gone from a good collegiate quarterback to an elite player under center.

He’s thrown for 956 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in his first three games and has numbers Texas hasn’t seen from a quarterback since Colt McCoy was taking snaps on the Forty Acres.

Yes, Texas has a loss unlike some undefeated teams on this list, but the Longhorns looked as impressive in defeat at the hands of LSU as most of the Big 12 has in any win this season. Add to that the fact that Texas has handled its business in games they are supposed to win and you have the markings of the second-best team in the Big 12 for now.

If there’s one question about Texas, it comes in the secondary. The Longhorns are loaded with five-star defensive backs, but currently rank near dead last in the country against the pass. To be fair, they have faced a pass-happy Louisiana Tech squad and a potential Heisman contender in Joe Burrow and LSU.

Texas will find out a lot more about its defense and we will find out a lot more about the conference pecking order this week when the Longhorns host Oklahoma State in prime time.

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