Cowboys lose undefeated season in loss to Baylor

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney should start ordering pizzas now, and Alabama fans should have iron-clad confidence in their Iron Bowl chances next week. But if one team can emerge from the heap, they’ll have a great chance to get into the playoff. It wasn’t a fluke win in Columbus.

I’ll give it to ESPN – it was a smart move.

Baylor jump-started a running game that had struggled since Russell’s injury, especially in the Oklahoma loss.

DeShone Kizer threw for two touchdowns – and three interceptions – as Notre Dame survived five turnovers to beat Boston College at Fenway Park. That’s what the sign stands for: a reminder to believe that you can win before the game, no matter who you play. They could be just waiting to turn it on against a good team, but last week they showed no signs of doing that.

The defense of MI State is the key to pulling an upset in OH today.

Defensively, DE Emmanuel Ogbah has had a strong season in spite of being a focal point of opponents’ schemes, while the CB duo of senior Kevin Peterson and junior Ashton Lampkin will need to play to their peak against Baylor’s wide-open offense. If Iowa wins out and is an undefeated Big Ten champ, there’s no question it’s in.

OSU is 4-0 on fieldturf, 6-1 against teams with winning records, 13-3 after allowing more than 200 rushing yards, 4-1 in Big 12 games, and overall, 9-3 in November, 36-16 after passing for more than 280 yards, 17-8 after failing to cover, and at home, 35-17 after a straight up win, and after gaining more than 450 total yards. Not even Heisman victor RGIII and back-to-back Big XII champ Bryce Petty could do what a 19-year-old true freshman and a forgotten third-string QB did last night: win in Stillwater.

Baylor has Oklahoma State’s undivided attention.

With Stidham, Baylor built a 24-10 lead over Oklahoma State. Before Saturday, they had won three games that they trailed by at least 15 points. They will face the victor of Saturday’s USC-UCLA game.

If you squint, that means it’s down to No. 4 Notre Dame vs. the Big 12 champion for a fourth spot. Stanford is eliminated from the playoff conversation entirely if it loses that one.

In other games involving ACC teams, Jacoby Brissett passed for 235 yards and two touchdowns to help North Carolina State beat Syracuse 42-29. Plus, several division titles could be handed out.

“That was a good team we played tonight”, Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said. Oklahoma would take a 20-13 lead into halftime. Honestly they’re not top four material. With a 45-35 win over Oklahoma State last Saturday, the Bears kept their slim playoff hopes alive, and another win this week would keep that hope alive if other games shake out the right way.

The Spartans are tied for second with No. 12 MI (8-2). The Buckeyes likely lost their shot at defending their national title. Both teams have rivalry games next week so there will not be much celebrating for the victor. The Cowboys added a late rushing touchdown, but it wasn’t enough as they suffered their first loss of the season while Baylor put themselves back into the College Football Playoff picture.

Also on Friday, two impressive one-loss teams will clash when the Navy Midshipmen visit the Houston Cougars.

No. 14 Florida State at No. 10 Florida. The Gators were 31-point favorites. This one still could theoretically impact the SEC West race, though.

Baylor won in Stillwater for the first time since 1939, snapping an 11-game losing streak on OSU’s home field.

With injuries on the defensive line, the Bears shifted away from their usual 4-2-5 scheme to a 3-3-5 look. “When they’re hitting on that segment of their offense, they’re tough to deal with”. They need to regroup, close the season with a win against Texas A&M, and then evaluate the future of the program.