Dede Westbrook, Baker Mayfield are Heisman finalists

FILE – In this November 5, 2016, file photo, West Virginia cornerback Rasul Douglas (13) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas wide receiver LaQuvionte Gonzalez (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Morgantown, W.Va. Douglas was selected to the AP All Big 12 team, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016.

Against the SEC’s most prolific passing offense, Ole Miss, the Tigers surrendered 465 yards and three touchdowns to Chad Kelly in a 40-29 win on October 29.

Temple (10-3) won a league title for the first time since 1967.

Clemson prevailed in its first meeting against Virginia Tech since the Tigers posted a 38-10 victory in the 2011 ACC title game in Charlotte. Baker, again, was just outstanding: “scrambling, finding players downfield, making big plays”. But the Sooners took command with a dominant running game in the second half to beat the Cowboys, 38-20, and claim the Big 12 Championship for the second straight year and 10th in the last 16 years. If enough chaos unfolds in other championship games across the country, the victor also might be included among the four-team playoff bracket that will be announced Sunday.

Oklahoma will now play Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. After the game, he said he planned to return to Norman for his senior season.

Westbrook and Mayfield are the sixth and seventh Heisman finalists under head coach Bob Stoops. “At 6’0” and 175 pounds, Westbrook has speed, elusiveness and fine hands, and has become one of the top big-play receivers in the nation. Those guys were incredible: “Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon”. Our players, they didn’t say anything. The drive would have ended sooner, but Perine had mercy on the Cowboys and kneeled on the two-yard-line when he could have easily scored. The 5-11, 190-pound defensive back from Baltimore also led Kansas with seven pass breakups and four interceptions. From there it was all about his individual talent for running the ball in space as the electric back made no less than six different Oklahoma State defenders miss on his way to the end zone.

Despite a superlative sophomore season, Mayfield was still considered inferior to the likes of UCLA’s Josh Rosen and his Saturday counterpart, Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, at various points during the season (I was one of those critics).

Oklahoma’s quarterback is a finalist for the Maxwell Award (collegiate player of the year) and Davey O’Brien Award (quarterback of the year). “So that’s for all the naysayers or what not”, says Mike Stoops.

The game started out the way just about nobody really expected, with defense. That was OK for Gundy.

This was the fifth time Crawford ran for 100 or more yards this season, and the second time he went for 200 yards or more. “He’s a talented player, and he’s your prototypical thrower back there”. I worked so hard to get to Oklahoma and it’s been a dream come true. For the next two years, Mayfield had lost that year of eligibility despite the fact he was a walk-on.

No matter what the announcement is today, the duo is going to be on the road this week.