TCU, Oklahoma State losses put Big 12 in tight spot

— -- The Big 12 better hope Texas is for real.

The league's College Football Playoff hopes are already dangling like a pinata after Arkansas, Houston and Central Michigan (with an asterisk) have taken their swings.

Yes, it's still early, but that's part of the problem -- the heart of the conference schedule hasn't even begun yet, and the Big 12's preseason favorites are already playing from behind.

Oklahoma already has a loss to Houston -- and faces Ohio State next week before taking on TCU and Texas. TCU couldn't seal the deal in a double-overtime loss to Arkansas and once again faces a back-loaded schedule that includes November games against Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas.

The Longhorns? They're 2-0 and looking like one of the most improved teams in the country after a season-opening statement win over Notre Dame in double overtime. But Texas is entering a stretch against Cal, Oklahoma State and OU.

"We'll be ready," Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson said of the upcoming road trip to Cal. "It just takes preparation like we do every week, and we all have to be in our playbooks. We all have to be ready for this week because we're going in as the big dogs."

Or the lone wolf.

As of right now, No. 11 Texas and No. 23 Baylor are the only undefeated, ranked teams in the Big 12. It's not that the CFP won't take a one-loss team -- six of the eight previous playoff teams, including Oklahoma in 2015, have each had a loss in the past two seasons, with Clemson (2015) and Florida State (2014) being the only undefeated teams to make the semifinals. But there's immense pressure to produce a one-loss champion in large part because the Big 12 still doesn't have its championship game to help compensate for another ink stain on the r?sum?. Not until 2017 will the Big 12 officially add its championship game.

For one more season, the Big 12 faces a similar gamble to Notre Dame's status as an independent -- it has to impress the committee with the 12 games on its schedule.

"Like I told them in there, they've got 10 more chances," said TCU coach Gary Patterson. "You've got to feel positive. We've got a lot of football to go. We haven't played our best football yet."