Editor’s Note: Every week, The Prospectors’ own Jason Green will rank all 12 Division I college football teams in the Lone Star State.  The Texas 12 power rankings are based on the results from the past week of games, along with the strength of wins and losses, according to Jason. 

It took a while for the Aggies to move into first but, it was bound to happen. With Houston playing in the AAC, the competition just could not compete with the Aggies and their SEC schedule. This week we have a new No. 1 and a new No. 11, with North Texas actually putting on a pretty good show against the firmly entrenched Rice Owls.

12 – RICE OWLS (0-4) C-USA

Last Week: Lost to North Texas 42-35

Looks like the Owls are working toward securing that No. 1 draft pick. Oh wait. But, they do have Prairie View A&M on their schedule in two weeks – it may not be a winless season after all. Plus, there’s always the chance of beating UTEP and their “high-powered” offense.

This Saturday: Away vs. Southern Miss (3-1) 5 p.m. MT

11 – UTEP MINERS (1-3) C-USA

Last week: Lost to Southern Miss 34-7

What is there left to say about UTEP that has not been written about in The Prospector at this point? The team that has scored seven points, 14 points and seven points in their last three games is about to simplify their offense. SIMPLIFY. THEIR. OFFENSE. That is all.

This Saturday: Away vs. Louisiana Tech (1-3) 5 p.m. MT

10 – UTSA ROADRUNNERS (1-3) C-USA

Last week: Lost to Old Dominion 33-19

The Roadrunners continue to put up close scores against good opponents – granted, Old Dominion is not Colorado St. or Arizona St. but, they were still only down a touchdown heading into the fourth quarter. They are the only other 3-1 team and they are clearly better than the Miners at this point. Here again, this will all be sorted out when the two play – and hopefully the Miners will get that high-powered offense rolling – and put up 10 points.

This Saturday: Bye

9 – TEXAS STATE BOBCATS (1-2) SUN BELT

Last week: Lost to No.6 Houston 64-3

Hey! The Bobcats got a field goal! interestingly enough, that is exactly what they got in the fourth quarter of their 30-13 win over the Cougars in 2012 in Houston. I guess you could call this payback? For senior defensive end Cameron Malveaux, it actually was. He would have been a redshirt freshman on that team. On this day, he had two tackles – one for loss – in an effort to avenge the Cougar team that lost to the then FCS Texas State Bobcats.

This Saturday: Home vs. Incarnate Word (FCS) (1-3) 5:30 p.m. MT

8 – NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN (2-2) C-USA

Last week: Won against Rice 42-35

You would think in the battle of the two last place teams, that the team who wins by one touchdown would only move a spot or two, huh? Nope. The Mean Green vault all the way to No. 8 due to the general “suckiness” of the teams below them and the strength of their Bethune-Cookman (FCS) – sarcasm included – win earlier this year. Luckily for all of the viewers, they’re in C-USA with all of the other bottom dwellers and we will get to see them battle it out all season long on BEin Sports! Woo-Hoo!

This Saturday: Away vs. Middle Tennessee (3-1) 5 p.m. MT

7 – SMU MUSTANGS (2-2) AAC

Last week: Lost to TCU 33-3

It can be said for SMU that they beat the people they are supposed to beat and lose to the people that they are supposed to lose to – and in the words of Forrest Gump, “That’s all I have to say about that.”

This Saturday: Home vs. Temple (2-2) 10 a.m. MT

6 – TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (2-1) BIG-12

Last week: Bye Week

Top 3 Coolest Names on Red Raiders Roster:

1. Paul Stawarz – Seriously? Dude’s last name is Star Wars. That’s every kid’s dream!
2. Keke Coutee – Apart from always having the cootie’s when you were little, it’s a cool name now.
3. Giovanni Pancotti – Sounds like an Italian dessert. Probably has mafia ties.

This Saturday: Home vs. Kansas (1-2) 6:30 p.m. MT

5 – TEXAS LONGHORNS (2-1) BIG-12

Last week: Bye Week

Top 3 Most Interesting UT Attendees:

1. Janis Joplin – After frat guys named her “Ugliest Man on Campus,” she left and never looked back
2. Owen Wilson – Met him at a Dodger’s game once. He’s cool. His brother Luke was a douche that day.
3. Robert Rodriguez – McConaughey is too easy here. Plus, I love Spy Kids and Machete.

This Weekend: Away vs. Oklahoma State (2-2) 1:00 p.m. MT

4 – TCU HORNED FROGS (3-1) BIG-12

Last week: Won against SMU 33-3

The Horned Frogs are not known for their defense but, this one was a defensive gem. It was the first time since 2014 when TCU held Ole Miss without a touchdown that TCU had last held an opponent to a field goal. It took two years and a visit from SMU to make it happen again but, here we are. Quarterback Kenny Hill threw for 452 yards and two touchdowns and is still somewhat in the Heisman conversation should Lamar Jackson from Louisville be abducted by aliens. By the way, TCU is up to No. 21 in the national polls now.

This Saturday: Home vs. Oklahoma (1-2) 3 p.m. MT

3 – BAYLOR BEARS (4-0) BIG-12

Last week: Won against Oklahoma State 35-24

The first of the three unbeaten – and the least impressive of the three. The Bears faced a decent test for the first time in Oklahoma State and came through with flying colors. Even though it took until the third quarter for the No. 16 Bears to pull away, quarterback Seth Russell continue to light it up on offense. The Bears remain in third in large part to the fact that the Cowboys fumbled the ball three times and basically kept the Bears in the game. It honestly seems to be a matter of time before the Bears – following the sudden loss of head coach Art Briles just prior to the season – feel his loss for the first time.

This Saturday: Away vs. Iowa State (1-3) 10 a.m. MT

2 – HOUSTON COUGARS (4-0) AAC

Last week: Won against Texas St. 64-3

Finally the Cougs have fallen from the No. 1 spot. It was bound to happen eventually, being in the AAC and all. The level of competition just is not enough to keep them at the top. It is the same reason that Houston is still only No. 6 in the country. It will probably stay that way – the No. 4-6 range – until the Cougars meet up with Louisville near the end of the season to decide which at-large team finally makes the BCS Playoff.

This Thursday: Home vs. UConn (2-2) 7 p.m. MT

1 – TEXAS A&M AGGIES (4-0) SEC

Last week: Won against No. 17 Arkansas 45-24

There were a lot of times this season when the Razorbacks had looked like they may be a fraud and that they did not deserve a top-25 ranking. Still, the fact remains, the Aggies beat the No. 17 team in the country convincingly and will go on to face a tough SEC schedule the rest of this season. Quarterback Trevor Knight showed all of his tools with huge touchdown runs and massive pass plays when they were needed. Running back Trayveon Williams got in on the act with 153 rushing yards – four short of Knight’s total – and two touchdowns. The Aggies are No. 9 this week in the national polls.

This Saturday: Away vs. South Carolina (2-2) 2 p.m. MT