Kansas has shaken off a 1-5 start and is now playing like the top 25 team many expected it to be in the preseason. A 42-14 win over Houston has aged well. There is no shame in losing 29-27 at Kansas State. And nobody has beaten Iowa State worse than KU did last week 45-36.

SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Who can stay alive in the Big 12 title race between Arizona State and Kansas State? The Sun Devils have been one of the biggest surprises in college football this season, and are fresh off a ...

The Wildcats' best path to the 12-team College Football Playoffs would be to reach the conference championship game and win it, but with their No. 16 ranking, if enough teams ahead of them stumble, they could conceivably receive an at-large bid even without making it to Arlington, though it would be a longshot.