Now deep into the third month of the college football season, we’ve seen Kansas University improve drastically under the tutelage of interim head coach Clint Bowen.

It’s up to the Lawrence Journal-World staff to determine if the Jayhawks (3-7 overall, 1-6 Big 12) have come far enough to knock off No. 23 Oklahoma (7-3, 4-3) on the road.

Our staff picks that game and names their top players in the nation in this week’s Pick Six.

WEEK 12 MATCHUPS

Kansas at Oklahoma

Texas Tech at Iowa State

Oklahoma State at Baylor

USC at UCLA

Louisville at Notre Dame

Ole Miss at Arkansas

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

There are still a couple weeks left in the college football season, but if you had to choose right now, who would you say is the best player in the nation?

Overall: 51-15 Last week: 5-1

Oklahoma 31, Kansas 21

Texas Tech 48, Iowa State 38

Baylor 56, Oklahoma State 14

UCLA 38, USC 35

Louisville 42, Notre Dame 31

Ole Miss 17, Arkansas 14

Answer: Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon. Even before going off for 408 rushing yards and four touchdowns on Saturday against Nebraska, Gordon was having a Heisman trophy worthy season. Gordon has rushed for 200+ yards four times and more than 120 yards in all but one game this season, while finding the end zone 25 times (23 rushing; two receiving). Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is a close second.

Overall: 50-16 Last week: 5-1

Oklahoma 35, Kansas 26

Texas Tech 34, Iowa State 14

Baylor 66, Oklahoma State 21

UCLA 27, USC 24

Notre Dame 41, Louisville 31

Ole Miss 31, Arkansas 27

Answer: Before I pick an offensive guy, let me mention three defensive players having player of the year seasons: Gerod Holliman, safety from Louisville who leads the nation in interceptions; Nate Orchard, defensive end from Utah who leads the nation in sacks; and Ben Heeney of Kansas, who leads the nation in solo tackles. But the best player in the nation is Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin, who leads the nation in rushing, rushing TDs and scoring. Gordon’s numbers are stupid good, especially in the era of the spread, and he should run away with the Heisman, literally.

Overall: 47-19 Last week: 5-1

Oklahoma 42, Kansas 14

Texas Tech 35, Iowa State 3

Baylor 72, Oklahoma State 14

USC 35, UCLA 31

Notre Dame 44, Louisville 43, OT

Ole Miss 55, Arkansas 54, 3OT

Answer: I’d say Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, but Mariota to win the Heisman.

Overall: 46-20 Last week: 4-2

Kansas 27, Oklahoma 17

Iowa State 34, Texas Tech 21

Baylor 56, Oklahoma State 40

UCLA 30, USC 27

Notre Dame 34, Louisville 28

Arkansas 24, Ole Miss 10

Answer: After forcing a fumble last week, I have to go with Trevor Pardula … or Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. 

Overall: 45-21 Last week: 5-1

Oklahoma 38, Kansas 21

Texas Tech 28, Iowa State 24

Baylor 41, Oklahoma State 17

USC 28, UCLA 27

Notre Dame 31, Louisville 28

Ole Miss 31, Arkansas 27

Answer: Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon rocks Camp Randall the way Neil Young does a festival.

Overall: 44-22 Last week: 6-0

Oklahoma 35, Kansas 21

Iowa State 28, Texas Tech 27

Baylor 42, Oklahoma State 21

UCLA 31, USC 24

Notre Dame 28, Louisville 24

Ole Miss 33, Arkansas 30

Answer: Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota

Overall: 44-22 Last week: 4-2

Oklahoma 30, Kansas 21

Texas Tech 38, Iowa State 34

Baylor 59, Oklahoma State 27

USC 34, UCLA 23

Louisville 27, Notre Dame 24

Ole Miss 20, Arkansas 16

Answer: It’s hard for me to go with anybody but Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon. The guy already has 25 touchdowns and is coming off a record-setting 408-yard game versus Nebraska. Nasty.

Overall: 44-22 Last week: 4-2

Oklahoma 27, Kansas 17

Iowa State 35, Texas Tech 33

Baylor 40, Oklahoma State 30

UCLA 28, USC 24

Louisville 23, Notre Dame 21

Ole Miss 24, Arkansas 20

Answer: I’ll go out on a fluorescent green limb and say Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.

Overall: 43-23 Last week: 4-2

Oklahoma 37, Kansas 21

Texas Tech 30, Iowa State 24

Baylor 48, Oklahoma State 23

UCLA 31, USC 27

Notre Dame 35, Louisville 31

Ole Miss 28, Arkansas 19

Answer: The close call against KU notwithstanding, I really think TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin is up there with anyone. His yardage averages are insane and put him within striking distance of being just the third quarterback in recent memory to average 300 yards passing and 50 yards rushing per game. The other two who did it — Baylor’s Robert Griffin III and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel — won Heisman Trophies. But it’s more than just Boykin’s numbers that impress me. He possesses crazy talent, is extremely versatile and dynamic and does everything so effortlessly. He’s an easy guy to root for and a fun guy to watch play the game.

Overall: 43-23 Last week: 5-1

Oklahoma 37, Kansas 20

Iowa State 21, Texas Tech 20

Baylor 54, OSU 30

USC 35, UCLA 31

Notre Dame 19, Louisville 18

Ole Miss 42, Arkansas 41

Answer: I will go with KU’s Nigel King. Man that guy has great hands. Just kidding, but he is darn good. I’ll go with Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin.