It was another wild weekend in the Big 12 Conference. The Texas Longhorns started the day by losing to Texas Christian at home. The fun in the conference didn’t stop there. As it sits right now, the two teams who needed strong showings are sitting closer to the bottom of the conference, setting up a wild Red River Shootout in the Cotton Bowl.
Oklahoma loses its second straight game for the first time since 1998
Last year in Norman, the Iowa State Cyclones came within a point of the Sooners. It was a wild 42-41 win for Oklahoma as it marched toward the Big 12 championship and another College Football Playoff appearance. This time, the Cyclones were held off the Sooners 37-30.
In this contest, Spencer Rattler had a chance to lead a late rally. However, the game-tying pass attempt was picked off in the end zone with less than two minutes left. Using Breece Hall, the Cyclones ran out the clock. Brock Purdy was much better in this game than in the previous two weeks. Now Iowa State shares the lead in the Big 12 with a 2-0 conference record.
Oklahoma State steamrolls Kansas
The Kansas Jayhawks didn’t put up much of a fight against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Lawrence. The Cowboys, playing without Spencer Sanders, had everything working. Chuba Hubbard looked like the player many thought might make a run at the Heisman Trophy. He averaged 7.3 yards per carry. Tylan Wallace also had a monster game.
Kansas looked like, well, Kansas. It was held scoreless until the game was over. In the fourth quarter, it got on the board with a touchdown from Velton Gardner. The Les Miles experience isn’t looking so great as it starts Year 2. The Cowboys won 47-7.
Kansas State wins the battle of backup quarterbacks
When the game started, the big matchup was Skylar Thompson against against Alan Bowman of Texas Tech. Neither quarterback finished, as the backups were asked to win this game. Thompson and Bowman combined for a total of 17 passes.
Henry Colombi led Texas Tech back into this game after it was shut out in the first half. Tech even led late in the second half. However, Kansas State made the plays when it needed. Deuce Vaughn once again made a big play that helped seal the win. Kansas State joined Oklahoma State and Iowa State atop the Big 12 Conference standings.
West Virginia survives overtime to beat Baylor
It was quite the low scoring affair. They were tied at halftime and again at the end of regulation. West Virginia scored first in each half on 1-yard touchdown runs only to see the Bears tie it up. Josh Fleeks of Baylor caught a 34-yard pass for a touchdown with just 1:19 remaining to force the extra session.
Jarret Doege threw two touchdowns in the overtimes to help WVU. However, the interception in the second overtime by Charlie Brewer sealed the deal. All the Mountaineers had to do was score at that point. The loss put Baylor in a tie with West Virginia, Texas and Texas Christian for fourth in the conference.
Red River Shootout: Texas and Oklahoma fighting for their lives
The outcomes of the Texas Christian and Iowa State games set up a wild game in the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns and Sooners come in with a combined 1-3 record in the conference. Spencer Rattler has thrown interceptions on back-to-back weeks that essentially ended the game. Sam Ehlinger is coming off his worst performance through three games. Something has to give in Dallas.