Oklahoma State is the only Big 12 team left with a chance to run the table and might be the conference’s best chance at placing a team in the College Football Playoff.
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A week earlier, the Bears were bashed by Oklahoma and bumped from the list of college football’s unbeaten teams. Baylor must keep him away from freshman quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Oklahoma State looked dazed and confused as a once-rowdy Boone Pickens Stadium crowd was left stunned. What most people aren’t seeing is that the committee evaluated the Frogs based on how the team plays without Trevone Boykin.
We’ll know a little more about the playoff picture after tonight, but it’s still going to need a lot more paint.
“I thought our guys fought”. No one will give the Crimson Tide any credit for whacking Charleston Southern, but that’s one of the best teams in the FCS that just got destroyed.
Iowa needs to beat Nebraska in the season finale and handle MI State in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Pac-12 Conference’s top four teams have an average SOS of 22.5 – but that’s led to 10 total losses and a seat on the sidelines.
Less than a minute later, Oklahoma State got a scare when Brandon Sheperd was ruled to have fumbled and Baylor took it in for a touchdown.
Rivals Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will face off next week in a matchup that could vault the victor into the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, undefeated Oklahoma State is on a roll. Never before has OSU’s inability to rush the football been more glaring.
In rushing, the final stat sheet reflected a profound mismatch. Baylor rushed for 304 yards.
The Bears still gained 700 yards and ran 104 plays.
Two years ago MI State ended Ohio State’s ideal season and kept Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes out of the national title game with a victory in the Big Ten championship.
On his first pass of his first drive as the Bears’ quarterback, Johnson stepped up in the pocket and threw deep – because this is Baylor, after all, and Baylor quarterbacks, regardless of experience or setting, always throw deep.
MI State will be dealing with its own offensive issues, especially if quarterback Connor Cook is hampered by the shoulder injury he suffered during last week’s win against Maryland.
Sophomore Chris Johnson would quarterback the Bears after halftime, and he was extremely effective. The Cyclones led 24-7 in the first half.
IOWA CITY, Iowa – No. 5 Iowa moved to 10-0 for the first time as it defeated Minnesota to reclaim the Floyd of Rosedale trophy.
Briles expected a solid game from Johnson, and Briles said that’s exactly what he got. This time, there would be no comeback.
Baylor, which entered the game leading the nation in yards per game and points per game, set the tone immediately. Jarret Stidham threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns in 16 of 27 passes.
The Cowboys responded with two quick TDs.
A 39-yard touchdown pass from Rudolph to Washington tied it 14. Though they still might because the CFP committee clearly doesn’t like the way OSU plays. “We’ll see if we can play well again this week and say even more”.
Add Baylor to the list.
The ghosts of 2013 – in which the Cowboys lost hold of the Big 12 race by falling at home to an opponent with quarterback problems – could have been banished.
Does OSU have another “Cardiac Cowboys” effort in them? However, with Saturday’s loss, Oklahoma State is effectively eliminated from Playoff contention, barring a few serious help.
That list includes 10-0 Oklahoma State, and 10-0 Iowa.
Twice Mason Rudolph passed to Marcell Ateman for gains of 38 and 18.
Florida Atlantic (2-9) had a first-and-goal at the 9.
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One key matchup to watch in this pivotal game will be MI State’s rushing attack, led by LJ Scott and Gerald Holmes, against Ohio State’s run defense. At least until it has the ball inside the 10. Yet, this persistent (first-world) problem of losing as the hunted team will linger in Stillwater for another year. Oklahoma played without a concussed Baker Mayfield for the second half and stopped TCU on a 2-point try to win 30-29. Oklahoma State ranks 7th nationally in red zone offense….
