Tag: Big 12 Conference

No. 13 Oklahoma at BYU Cougars: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

The Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sooners Wire’s Staff predicts the outcome.

The Oklahoma Sooners go on the road for one final time in the Big 12. This trip is one they’ve never taken: Provo, Utah.

Oklahoma has only played the Cougars twice before, but never in Provo. The Sooners hope to scratch BYU from the short list of teams Oklahoma has never defeated.

The Sooners still have a lot to play for. They’ll need help, but a berth in the Big 12 title game isn’t out of the question.

The Sooners are a heavy 24.5-point favorite going into the 11 a.m. CT kick. How will the game turn out? Like we do each week during the season, the staff here at Sooners Wire provides their predictions for Oklahoma vs. BYU.

Big 12 Bowl Projections: Sooners face Pac-12 power in latest projections from USA TODAY Sports

According to the latest Big 12 bowl projections, the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Utah Utes.

The final two weeks of the regular season are upon us. It’s crunch time for the conference title and College Football Playoff contenders. While the playoff is out of reach for the Sooners, they still have an outside shot at a Big 12 title game berth.

They’ll need to take care of business against BYU and TCU over the next nine days. But if the Sooners finish strongly and get a little help, one final trip to Arlington is certainly in the cards.

But at the moment, they’re on the outside looking in, and that affects where they’re heading in USA TODAY Sports’ latest bowl projections.

Let’s take a look at where the Big 12’s projected postseason landing spots.

Drake Stoops named to Pro Football Focus Team of the Week

Drake Stoops’ career day earned a spot on Pro Football Focus’ Team of the Week.

What a game it was from Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag]. Whether it was breaking multiple tackles and carrying defenders into the endzone on his way to a 60-yard score, beating a guy on an out route for another score, or making a tough contested catch in the endzone while getting smashed. Stoops did it all on Saturday on his way to a career day.

Stoops finished with 10 catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns. He also now leads the [autotag]Big 12 Conference[/autotag] in receptions. It was the most the most receiving yards by a Sooner since 2019.

His big day earned Stoops a spot on Pro Football Focus Week 11 Team of the Week.

Stoops has had a great season so far. He has 62 catches for 692 yards and nine touchdowns. All three of those lead the team. Stoops came in known as “Bob’s boy” but has since carved his own legacy in Oklahoma Lure.

He’s had back-to-back 100+ yard receiving days when he had zero in his career prior to the Bedlam game. Someone had to step up when leading receiver [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] went out, and Stoops has stepped up in a big way.

He gave a passionate speech after the team lost its second consecutive game. He then backed that up on Saturday.

Who knows what Stoops’ future holds on the field, but one thing is for sure, Oklahoma is going to have a major void to fill next season.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Pregame social media buzz ahead of No. 7 Texas vs. TCU

Texas fans are looking forward to Quinn Ewers’ return against TCU.

Texas fans are ecstatic to see quarterback Quinn Ewers back on the field against TCU after missing the last two weeks with a shoulder injury. Continue reading “Pregame social media buzz ahead of No. 7 Texas vs. TCU”

Social media reacts to uncalled pass interference on Drake Stoops in Sooners’ loss to Cowboys

The Big 12 officiating crew failed to call a blatant pass interference in the end zone in Oklahoma’s loss to Oklahoma State and here’s how social media reacted.

It’s easy to overlook officiating when it doesn’t have a direct effect on a potential game-winning drive. But what happened in the end zone as Drake Stoops battled an Oklahoma State defender was an egregious injustice to the game of football.

On the crucial third-and-12 late in the game, Stoops was tackled in the end zone with a Big 12 official right there to witness the play. No flag was thrown. Instead of getting the ball first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, the Sooners were forced to settle for a field goal.

There were numerous plays the Oklahoma Sooners left on the field, and there are always plays that could have gone either way. But with the game on the line and Brett Yormark on hand, the Big 12 officials failed to throw a flag on an obvious pass interference. And it had a direct impact on the outcome.

Instead of getting first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, the Sooners had to attempt a comeback in the final two minutes. Instead of leading with less than two minutes to play, the Sooners were trailing. And the officials were a big reason.

It was an unfortunate ending to a rivalry that dates to 1904. Bedlam deserved better than that.

And here’s how social media reacted to the defensive pass interference no call.

Big 12 releases home and away conference matchups through 2027 season

Colorado now knows which Big 12 teams it will face at home and on the road through 2027

The 2023 season will be Colorado football’s final year in the Pac-12 as the Buffaloes will make the move to the Big 12 prior to next season.

Even with the 2023 season still in full swing, the Big 12 Conference took the opportunity on Wednesday to release its scheduling matrix for 2024 through 2027.

The announcement revealed not only which opponents each team will face, but also the home and away matchups. With each Big 12 team playing an odd number of conference opponents each season, programs will alternate between five and four home games.

See the X (formerly known as Twiter) thread below to see which Big 12 teams Colorado will face over the next four seasons:

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Big 12 Power Rankings: Kansas State blows out TCU, Oklahoma State is for real

The contenders in the Big 12 have begun to establish themselves after week 8 action. Here’s a look at the updated Big 12 Power Rankings.

Week 8 in the Big 12 began to reveal which teams will be contenders for the final five weeks of the regular season.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns are the favorites to meet in the Big 12 title game, but several other teams are making their case.

Big 12 play has been wild through the first half of the schedule, but we’re beginning to see some separation from the contenders and the pretenders.

Here are this week’s Big 12 power rankings.

No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners vs UCF Knights: How to Watch, key players, weather forecast for gameday

Here is how to watch, some key players and the weather forecast for gameday against the UCF Knights.

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to take on another [autotag]Big 12 Conference[/autotag] newcomer, the [autotag]UCF Knights[/autotag] in Norman on Saturday. The Knights come in 3-3 whereas the Sooners are first in the Big 12 and undefeated at 6-0.

Both teams are coming off a bye week. The last time they played, the Sooners knocked off the Texas Longhorns in a thrilling showdown at the Cotton Bowl. The Knights had a tough 29-point loss to the [autotag]Kansas Jayhawks[/autotag].

The bye weeks couldn’t have come at a better time for both schools. Oklahoma was nursing some injuries and hope to get some of those guys back like [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] and [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag], who left the game against the Longhorns. According to Brent Venables, Savion Byrd, Kani Walker, Jasiah Wagoner, and Makari Vickers are back.

For UCF, it sounds like they’ll get back their do-everything quarterback, but also they need to regroup. The Knights have lost three straight games and have given up 36 or more points in those three games.

It should be a good game in Norman, OK, so let’s check out how you can watch the game, the injury report, players to watch, and the weather forecast if you decide to be in attendance.

Dillon Gabriel says it’s a full circle moment to play his former team

Dillon Gabriel is set to take on his former team this Saturday which he calls a “full circle” moment.

The game is finally here for [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag]. The Oklahoma Sooners take on Gabriel’s former team, the [autotag]UCF Knights[/autotag], on Saturday.

Gabriel spent three seasons in Orlando, Florida, playing for the Knights. He threw for 8,037 yards, 70 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He is fourth all-time in passing yards and touchdowns and has by far the least amount of interceptions of the other top four throwers.

If you add his numbers at Oklahoma, he would have by far the most yards and touchdowns. Gabriel talked to reporters about playing against his former team.

“It’s interesting how college football brings it all full circle,” Gabriel said. “I’m excited for it. I’m excited for every opportunity and grateful that I get to run out with these guys. It will be a great time.”

Gabriel left UCF after one season playing under Gus Malzahn. He initially announced his intent to play for the [autotag]UCLA Bruins[/autotag] but changed his pledge to Oklahoma after Caleb Williams departed for USC.

When asked if it was weird to play his former team as a [autotag]Big 12 conference[/autotag] foe, he said he’s accepted how crazy college football is now.

“Now, I’m just kind of settling into college football is what it is, and it’s wild,” Gabriel said. “Once you think one thing, it’ll turn into a whole other. So, just letting it all happen. I’ll say this, I’m not surprised with college football and how things are going.”

The UCF Knights are allowing 190 passing yards per game, but giving up 197 rushing yards per game this season. They’re allowing 43 points per game in Big 12 play and now have to face a Heisman contender (Gabriel) and one of the nation’s best offenses.

The team has been consistent about treating every game the same, but for Gabriel, I’m sure this one has a little more meaning to it. And it will be a big opportunity for Dillon Gabriel to continue to put up some big numbers.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Danny Stutsman named to Pro Football Focus’ midseason all-prospect team

The midseason accolades keep on coming for the Sooners, this time for Danny Stutsman.

The Oklahoma Sooners are off to an incredible start to the 2023 college football season on both sides of the ball. The biggest jump has been on defense

The Sooners ranked No. 122 last season, and this year, they’ve moved up to No. 50. A big part of that has been the jump [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] has made.

Stutsman has 58 tackles, 10.5 for loss, two sacks, and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. Stutsman’s 58 tackles rank No. 16 in the nation. His 10.5 tackles for loss rank No. 5 in the nation. He leads the Big 12 in tackles and tackles for loss.

His performance this year has him square in the race for the [autotag]Butkus Award[/autotag] given to the nation’s top linebacker and also has him in the running for a consensus All-American selection.

[autotag]Pro Football Focus[/autotag] put together their midseason all-prospect team and Stutsman was one of two linebackers selected to the squad.

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a player on the defensive side of the ball play at the level he’s been playing at this season. It’s attributed to the work Stutsman has put in and the coaching job of [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. Stutsman has transformed into one of the best leaders on the team.

But we are just halfway through the season, and you don’t get any awards for performing well up to this point. Something tells me Stutsman isn’t someone who will rest on his laurels the rest of the way.

With the way he’s playing, he’s on track to be a top-100 prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. The hope is he’ll hang around for one more season in Norman as the Sooners make their transition to the SEC. His toughness, physicality, leadership and performance will be difficult to replace.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.