Big 12 rankings: OSU soars to the top after Baylor’s loss

Most of the players – like the Texas head coach – were different, but the larger reality was the same. Tucker has recorded a TFL in nine of 10 games this season and leads the team with 13. Four are outside the top 100.

Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham, front, jogs off the field as Oklahoma players at rear, celebrate an interception caught by safety Ahmad Thomas late in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, November 14, 2015, in Waco, Texas.

“There’s something special about him”, Stoops said. If you think about it, there’s nothing more to play for.

The number two ranked Alabama Crimson Tide unexpectedly dominated the 20th ranked Mississippi Bulldogs 31-6 after a strong effort by the Tide’s defense.

Yet, whereas Mark Richt and Frank Beamer have failed to return to the limelight, Stoops has Oklahoma headed for a showcase bowl at worst, and a playoff spot at best, if he can win two games inside state borders over the next fortnight. Take two potential All-Americans off the field, and any offense suffers.

The Sooners hope they play.

Kansas State (3-6, 0-6, next game Saturday vs. Iowa State) – Even as the Wildcats are struggling through their longest streak since Bill Snyder’s first season in 1989, they still have hopes of making a bowl trip. Two wins and Oklahoma is sitting at 11-1 with the lone loss to Texas. “Just a few things haven’t gone our way here and there and then we’ve made some mistakes and other teams have capitalized”. There was a locker-room-wide epiphany following the loss to Texas. The biggest one of all came in the fourth quarter, when he eluded several tacklers in the backfield and hit Dimitri Flowers on the run for a game-clinching touchdown.

A week after that, it’s Bedlam in Stillwater, a game that could determine the Big 12 title – and possibly a playoff spot. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention OU completely shutting down Corey Coleman.

That became the point of emphasis since. It’s one of those fundamental things that are not part of the game plan. The increased competition in the middle of the week has paid off on Saturdays.

“An offense like that, you just never know, ” Rosen said. “I’m excited about how we’ve performed at most times this season”. It gave me a good laugh, and shows that the dude can take a joke. “That basically goes on us”. The freshman was hardly awful, thrust into the national spotlight, but he was “freshman” enough to give the Sooners a chance. The Cowboys are 17-8 ATS in their last 25 home games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 conference games. The Bears, playing with their backup quarterback, trailed by 14 points midway through the third quarter and pulled to within three points with 10 minutes to go, but they could get no closer in suffering their first defeat of this season. That could change if Boykin cannot play. Eliminate tempo from the equation and the unit is fairly efficient: Oklahoma State allows 0.325 points per play-a far cry from the likes of fellow playoff contenders Ohio State (0.192) and Alabama (0.219), but less so from Clemson (0.290) or Notre Dame (0.315).

Anyone who expects epic offensive shootouts is basing that on the conference logo on the jerseys. The only question is how will their defense hold up against the two best offensive teams they’ve faced this season. They have the numbers to prove it. “You can see week in and week out the [increasing] amount of people who you can see in their eyes believe we’re going to win the game“, said Walsh, the Cowboys’ primary running quarterback who comes in regularly to spell sophomore starter Mason Rudolph.

“He’s just excitable, but does it in the right way… he’s still very serious about his work, obvious in the way he’s played”, Stoops said of Mayfield.