Sooners Jump To No. 3 In AP Poll With Win Over OSU

“It feels really good but right now, we just really want to celebrate this Big 12 championship win”, Sooners receiver Dede Westbrook said.

Associated Press photos Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (center) celebrates Saturday with fans following the Sooners’ 58-23 shellacking of Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. The victory solidified the Sooners’ status as No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Sooners defeated the Cowboys 58-23. “Oklahoma has performed…at a high level since (the Texas loss), so they’ve overcome that loss with their play on the field and the success they’ve had and the wins they’ve accumulated”. That is an average score of 52-19. Iowa and Michigan State will meet in this weekend’s Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis, the victor likely earning a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Oklahoma has beaten a pair of 10-win teams on the road in the past three weeks (Oklahoma State and Baylor) and also beat an eight-win team on the road back in September (Tennessee).

Turns out, Oklahoma State couldn’t jump start the Bedlam series for a second straight time.

Oklahoma State’s offense struggled, but had a few highlights with J.W. Walsh tossing 325 yards for two scores, while James Washington pulled in seven passes on his way to a 169 yard game for the Cowboys. That sounds a whole lot like last year’s title winners. “We’ve been getting better and have more football to play”. That is the most of any team in the conference. Michigan State’s only loss this season came to a fledgling Nebraska team, although it narrowly squeaked out wins over Michigan and Ohio State.

Reminded that Oklahoma could see Clemson again in the playoff, Striker said the movie should begin with the Sooners’ humbling 40-6 defeat to Clemson last December in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Before a snap had been taken, Baylor and TCU were considered to be the darlings of the Big 12 after their shootout on the Brazos the year before. OU is the only FBS team since 2000 that has 13 seasons with double-digit wins.

For the third consecutive week, Oklahoma faced a team starting its backup quarterback.

Mayfield missed the second half of the TCU game with a concussion, but was healthy for the rest of it. Anyone who saw the pancake block he had on OSU cornerback Ashton Lampkin that ignited Mixon’s touchdown run in the second quarter Saturday knew the quarterback felt fine. He also rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown. At least one mock draft lists him as a late first-round pick, but he stressed that he remains undecided about his next step. It was Mixon’s sixth rushing touchdown of the year and his 10th overall score.

When they weren’t running it, the Sooners found success throwing the ball, especially to Sterling Shepard who had 10 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. It was the second time this season that both players have gone over 100 yards rushing in the same game.