Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield to return for senior year

With a title at stake, the Fu Manchu bested The Mullet with a dominant running game and two key plays to swing the game’s final period, putting Oklahoma in a familiar position atop the Big 12. Chad Whitener almost cried.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Justin Crawford ran for 209 yards, Skyler Howard accounted for three touchdowns and No. 16 West Virginia overcame a slow start to win the Big 12 game. The Sooner defense adjusted and limited the Cowboy rushing attack in the second half and forced Oklahoma State out of their designed attack.

“It hurts”, Whitener said, choking on his words.

Mayfield has led the Sooners to nine straight wins and scored at least two touchdowns in every game this season since October 1. Over the summer, the Big 12 approved a rule proposal that gave Mayfield eligibility at Oklahoma for the 2017 season. This year it happens to determine the Big 12 champion. Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine combined for 46 yards on 18 carries.

By toppling the Cowboys, the Sooners also became the first Big 12 team to run the table in conference play in seven years.

Early in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma State, Perine got tagged in the head and turned around before fumbling away the ball. That effort was led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was spectacular, throwing for 288 yards and three touchdowns.

Mayfield performed well throughout, despite finishing the game without top receiver Dede Westbrook.

When Dede Westbrook left the game midway through the second quarter, OU was without its record-setting big-play receiver.

Oklahoma has struggled in the running game, with just 2 rushing yards.

After falling behind 17-10, the Sooners marched 76 yards in a minute and a second right before the half, scoring on a 10-yard pass from Mayfield to Geno Lewis. Even with another highly productive season in 2017, it’s unlikely Mayfield will be a first-round pick.

“They weren’t as much of a complete team as those that we’re looking at in the top six this football season”, Hocutt said. That’s big news for OU, which gets back maybe its most important player. The kick was missed left, giving the ball back to Oklahoma on the 21-yard line.

“Just a rough day”, Rudolph said.

With OSU down 14, Rudolph found a spark.

On 3rd and goal from the OU 1, Rudolph fumbled the snap and recovered at the 2. They came from 11 points down in the first half to hand Baylor (6-6, 3-6) its sixth straight loss after a 6-0 start. They ran for 31 yards in the second half.

Through two quarters of Bedlam on Saturday, we had the expected – a steady, cold rain – and the unexpected – two steady, aggressive defenses.

“We can sit here and make excuses all we want”, Yurcich said. “I don’t know. It was just a weird deal”. “You can’t win ’em all”.