Texas Tech, Oklahoma battle for Big 12 positioning

The latest incident involves Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield.

In 2013, the Texas Tech Red Raiders named walk-on freshman Baker Mayfield the starting quarterback. With the Red Raiders visiting Norman, Mayfield’s past and present piqued the interest of writers seeking an angle. “I don’t want to take away from that [meeting] based on that storyline”.

– Oklahoma strikes first as Joe Mixon runs it in from 11 yards for touchdown. OU’s quarterback acknowledges that facing his former team matters.

“It’s human nature to try and get revenge”.

“Just another game”, he said. “So I’m excited to watch those two teams go at it”. On the ground, DeAndre Washington rushed for 160 yards and one touchdown in 22 attempts. “Things tend to work themselves out”. Pretty good Oklahoma? Really good Oklahoma? Can Texas Tech solidify itself as an upstart in the league, or can Oklahoma prove it is still a Big 12 contender? Iowa State will need to get running back Mike Warren back on track. Patrick Mahomes completed 30 of 51 passes for 359 yards and one touchdown. The Red Raiders are #2 in both total and passing offense. Opposing coaches are saying Baylor’s attack is close to unstoppable. OU now leads the conference in scoring defense (18.8 ppg), total defense (321.7 ypg), passing defense (152.2 ypg) and pass defense efficiency (99.5). It’s rare to see a shutout in a conference like the Big 12. The Wildcats had six consecutive pass plays and trailed 14-0 before its first running play.

Texas Tech’s five wins this season represents one more than the Red Raiders achieved in all of 2014, when they finished 4-8. They’re hoping to maintain the magic from their 24-17 victory over Oklahoma. On defense, Texas Tech is allowing 554 total yards including 290 passing and 264 rushing yards.

This and that: The Wildcats have only committed 34 penalties in six games and average 47 yards in penalties per game. Coverage of this game will air on ABC or ESPN 2 beginning at 3:30 pm ET from Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK. The Red Raiders have a 5-2 record for the year.

On the season, the Texas Tech Red Raiders average 426.9 yards in passing and 196.9 yards in rushing. Oklahoma is coming off a 55-0 win at Kansas State.

Oklahoma has shown it can shut down the offenses of opponents several times this season, but the Red Raiders are the best offense Stoops’ defense is facing so far this season. Down 21-7 early in the third quarter, OU outscored Texas Tech 35-3 until a Red Raiders touchdown on the game’s final play. Striker ranks fourth in the Big 12 in sacks this year (0.75 per game) and third in tackles for loss (1.67 per game).

It’s not exactly easy to figure out, this football version of a family tree, but then again nothing about this 2015 bunch of Sooners is predictable.

TV: 2:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN2.

Fifty-five points against Kansas State, efficient and effective. Will Oklahoma fans be pushing for a new coach? Freshman Ryan Willis has taken over as KU’s quarterback and has displayed the ability to move the offense. Shepard missed last year’s Tech game due to injury. That year, he started the season 6-0, and was awarded Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.