Heading into the seventh weekend of games, 15 FBS (Div. I-A) teams have survived without a loss, and five of those teams reside in the Big 12 Conference: Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. But the winds of October are blowing - strong and full of promise - and when the sun rises Nov. 1, things will be different, that's for sure.

This weekend's slate turns the heat to a sizzle as four of the unbeatens have at each other with the Red River Shootout - Oklahoma vs. Texas in the midst of the Texas State Fair - and Oklahoma State at Missouri. The other unbeaten, Texas Tech, hosts Nebraska, while Colorado visits Kansas in a key North Division match-up.

Oct. 18 turns the spotlight on Norman, Austin and Boulder as Missouri takes on Texas, Kansas invades Oklahoma and K-State challenges Colorado.  October 25 sends the Sooners to Manhattan in a testy road game vs. K-State, while Oklahoma State goes after Texas in Austin, Colorado travels to Columbia to tackle Mizzou and the Red Raiders face-off against Kansas in Lawrence.

Who has the toughest October schedule? Texas faces three consecutive showdowns that can make or break their season. If they can get by OU in the venerable Cotton Bowl, the Longhorns could have the upper hand as they play both Missouri and Oklahoma State in Austin the next two weeks. Missouri plays one road game in this stretch - Oct. 18 at Texas - whole hosting Oklahoma State and Colorado. Texas Tech looks to have the easiest path through the rest of October,   hosting Nebraska, and then traveling to hapless Texas A&M before taking on a dangerous Kansas squad. OKlahoma State has a daunting assignment - facing Missouri and Texas on the road, sandwiched around a home game against Baylor.

So as we look to the showdowns of this weekend, Oct. 11, five Big 12 teams are undefeated and ranked nationally (4 of them in the Top 10).  But it's time for them to start playing each other, and the winds of change - cold and unforgiving - are blowing across The Great Plains.

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