Four Reasons Why OU-Baylor Will Wind Up in a Sooner Victory

To Paul Rhoads, though, this season’s OU football team is quite enough to worry about. Lawton’s Mike Warren, a redshirt freshman, gained 157 yards rushing against Texas and the native Oklahoman will no doubt be motivated to play the game of his life against the Sooners. Jeff Long says the difference between No. 5 (Iowa) and No. 8 (Oklahoma State) is not a lot, but the fact that the Hawkeyes are ahead of the two undefeated Big 12 teams is concerning.

K-State had won 49-straight games when leading at the half, which was the longest active streak in the country, until dropping two-straight games (Oklahoma State and TCU) when leading at half.

The play sparked the offense, which scored 21 points in the first quarter for the second week in a row.

So how would Bob Stoops’ team respond?

The offense responded by averaging 8.6 yards per play as Washington enjoyed another productive performance after generating 201 yards off four receptions the previous week at Texas Tech. That’s what outscoring Kansas State, Kansas and Texas Tech 180-34 will do. “There was a rhythm that was established out there on the field”, Rhoads said. Opponents can’t afford to pay too much attention to Coleman, because Cannon can burn them just as quickly. “They’ve played at their highest level since then, no question about it”.

Iowa State Offense and Defense Analysis.

AIR RAID ON DISPLAY: Mayfield completed 27 of 32 passes for 383 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 62-7 win over Kansas before leaving after one possession of the second half.

That’s not the whole statistical story for OU, though. And, oh, by the way, the Sooners are second in the nation this season in quarterback sacks. Linebacker Eric Striker is the program’s career leader in that department with 22.

That is a bit unusual and is the way it is because there have been no games yet this season between any of the Big 4 at the top of the standings.

Little wonder, then, that Oklahoma outgained lowly Kansas in total yards by a 710-216 margin. Iowa State falls to 3-6 on the season with their loss to the Sooners. Since Stoops replaced John Blake as OU’s head coach, the outcomes have been very lopsided. Coming off a rousing upset of Memphis, the 7-1 Midshipmen debuted at No. 20, highest of any Group of 5 team, and in fact higher than 9-0 Houston. TCU even converted 9-of-19 third downs, while Oklahoma State was just 2-of-11.

After a first drive that led to a field goal, ISU struggled to consistently run the ball.

Defensively, ISU posted its first shutout against the Longhorns.

Stidham had appeared in every game for the two-time defending Big 12 champion Bears before top-rated FBS passer Russell fractured a bone in his neck in their last home game October 24.

So the Cyclones go to Norman in a good frame of mind. They are well aware of what can happen when the focus is not sharp.

But none of those Baylor victories, including back-to-back triumphs over OU by a combined margin of 89-26 the past two years, have earned the Bears the type of national respect they believe they are due from college football analysts, rival coaches or members of the CFP selection committee. If that is the case, the fact that none of the schools face a tough out-of-conference schedule will mean the Big 12 could be on the outside looking in come playoff time. You can not do that.