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Even before a game is played in October, notably the Red River Rivalry, the Big 12’s hopes of sweetness in January have already taken a couple of big hits.

In the days following the revelation that Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione sold information to big-money boosters, another image problem is emerging in the Big 12.

Sure, there were plenty of other upsets around the country this weekend. But losses on the same day by Oklahoma and Texas to unranked foes took much of the luster of their game and have already put the Big 12 on the outer fringes of any national title talk.

Forget the Sooners or Longhorns trying to establish themselves as legitimate contenders for a spot in the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans. The 102nd meeting in their series, played in the middle of the State Fair of Texas, instead is a desperation game Saturday for two teams trying to avoid 0-2 in the Big 12.

“We have to bounce back from the loss like good teams do, like great teams do. … We think we’re a great team,” Oklahoma receiver Juaquin Iglesias said after the Sooners blew a 17-point lead in the second half Saturday and lost to Colorado, 27-24.

“We just have to come back and win all of our games now,” running back Jamaal Charles said after Texas’ 41-21 setback against Kansas State.

The Sooners or Longhorns are both 4-1 and had free falls in the new AP Top 25 poll. Oklahoma dropped seven spots to No. 10, and Texas was down 12 to 19th.

The poll was shaken up after seven of the top 13 teams lost. But no conference was hurt more than the Big 12.

“The only thing surprising would be if there were no surprises,” Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. “It happens every single year. There’s going to be more to come.”

For the Big 12, that’s the only hope of getting back in the national championship picture.

Above the 10th-ranked Sooners are three teams from the SEC, two from the Pac-10, two from the Big Ten, surprising South Florida and Boston College. The top eight are undefeated and defending national champ Florida was ninth after losing on a field goal against Auburn.

At least the Big 12 got another ranked team. Kansas State (3-1), jumped into the poll at No. 24 after beating Texas. Missouri (4-0) was up three spots to 17 after an idle week. Nebraska (4-1) remained 25th after a 35-17 victory over Iowa State.

The only undefeated Big 12 teams left are Kansas and Missouri, both 4-0 without playing a conference game – and a long way from truly proving themselves. Kansas and Missouri now have eight straight weeks of conference games, culminating with their Nov. 24 game in Kansas City.

The last time Texas or Oklahoma came into the Red River Rivalry coming off a loss was 1999 – when both of them also lost the previous game.

“I think we surprised Texas,” Kansas State running back James Johnson said. “I think they were looking past us because they have Oklahoma coming up.”