Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Dede Westbrook (11) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. “This team went through so much and battled so much adversity all year”. Quarterback Baker Mayfield passed a concussion test, but still needs to be cleared for contact to play against the Cowboys. Beating Clemson in the ACC Championship Game doesn’t guarantee their inclusion into the tournament, however, as an upset by Michigan State would leave five teams with a single loss.
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They were tough, necessary decisions.
Barring any major upsets, though, the field will consist of Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and the Big Ten champion. “It’s what you work for”, he said. Then the Buckeyes rolled through the rest of the regular season undefeated and dominated Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten Championship Game to make the Playoff. “This one was hard as hell, and he’s won nine”. Since that increasingly head-scratching October 10 loss to Texas, the Sooners have beaten opponents by an average margin of 32.6 points. “They did a great job in all parts of the game”. “It’s paid off this year”.
The Oklahoma Sooners (3) can claim the Big 12 title with a win, likely representing the conference’s best shot at placing a team in the CFP. There were two one-play touchdown drives in the first quarter and two 10-play drives in the second half.
I asked Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby more than 16 months ago at 2014 Big 12 Media Days if he was concerned that the lack of a title game would cost the league in playoff considerations.
All that awaits the Sooners and Cowboys now is the news of where the two will go bowling.
Joe Mixon ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns, Samaje Perine had 131 yards and two scores, and Jordan Thomas intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, for the Sooners. So let’s learn a little about our fellow Oklahoma school, who has made quite a turnaround since that loss early in the season. So I know what I’m getting myself into when I play football. I think it’s safe to say that Oklahoma’s running attack is legitimately legit now.
Rushing Defense: Oklahoma literally ran away with this one. There is the weight of expectations, yes, but there is the promise of opportunity.
While that big hit left a dent in the helmet, the Cowboys took major hits from the Sooners all night long, as Oklahoma ended up rolling to a 58-23 victory. We just didn’t tackle well enough. Riley said. “To do that in the first year?”
Having Mayfield available is critical for the Sooners.
Who could have seen Oklahoma’s rise to playoff contender coming?
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They got the same quarterback they had all season, darting past defenders, throwing blocks downfield and lowering shoulders into defenders while ignoring invitations from the sideline to coast out of bounds.
