Big 12 Lunch Links: Oklahoma Deals Baylor its First Loss

On a pleasant, late autumn day, the Cowboys survived in this one, though for the longest time, things were looking grim for coach Mike Gundy’s team, mostly because of Lanning. The Sooners host TCU and the Cowboys host Baylor. It was a game created out of necessity when Arkansas joined from the Southwest Conference and SC joined after 20 years as a football independent, putting 12 teams in a league that had previously played a seven-game conference schedule. The Bears really have no choice, not with consecutive road games at Oklahoma State (10-0, 7-0) and TCU (9-1, 6-1). But, here we are…the Pokes, unranked to start the season, remain the only unbeaten in college football’s most polarizing conference, after they somehow survived a trip Ames on Saturday. But, for simplicity purposes, there’s a major emphasis on the Bedlam game that wasn’t there before. The Longhorns ran just fine against WVU, but it couldn’t hang on to the ball. College football’s realignment facelift has taken all the natural beauty out of the sport anyway.

Iowa State defensive end Dale Pierson tackles Oklahoma State… Big 10 (3), and Big 12 (4) dominate the landscape of teams with somewhat viable playoff hopes.

The Big 12’s playoff prospects have shifted from the banks of the Brazos and Baylor to completely north of the Red River into Oklahoma, where the Sooners are surging and Oklahoma State is still undefeated. The Horned Frogs appear to be a shell of themselves, especially if QB Trevone Boykin can’t go, or is limited.

Even after their close game last Saturday at banged-up TCU, the Jayhawks are four-TD underdogs at home against the Mountaineers.

Baylor freshman QB Jarrett Stidham (back) is expected to play in Saturday’s showdown with Oklahoma State. Stanford is right behind Baylor and Utah is No. 13. It may leave Oklahoma and Oklahoma State at smaller margins for error, but just how small has yet to be seen.

“You go into the number six team’s backyard on a night like this and play this way, it just tells you that we’re one of those teams that has a chance at everything”, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said.

IN: Four teams moved into the rankings this week, including three from the Pac-12.

This is the fifth time for Oklahoma to win the National Team of the Week Award since its debut in 2002. At that point, it’s more about what the committee values more: wins or loses. A team who seemed content to just “break serve” and outscore you no matter what you did.

At the top of the playoff rankings Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State all won, but the results could give the selection committee reason to reconsider its No. 1. Tennessee also beat a Bowling Green team that’s now 8-3 and is second in the nation in passing offense.

Facing a third-and-goal from the Baylor 7 in the fourth quarter, Mayfield scrambled to buy time, then found Dimitri Flowers open in the end zone for the touchdown, extending Oklahoma’s lead to 10 points.

Still, the undeniable focal point either way would be Texas, of all teams.

If it plays out that way for Oklahoma, Notre Dame would theoretically have another argument on its side.