The road win meant a lot more to Briles – who was previously winless in Stillwater – than he figures it did to a committee that has looked down on the Big 12’s lack of quality wins in nonconference play.
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And more importantly, whether any of them deserve a playoff spot.
Oklahoma State’s 45-35 loss to Baylor dropped the Cowboys from fourth to ninth and pushed Baylor to seventh.
LSU (7-3, 4-3, No. 15 CFP) rallied in the third quarter to cut it to 24-17, but the Rebels responded with two quick touchdowns.
“The obvious part for us is we have to play well these last two weeks”, Stoops said. They had been the surprise of the Big 12.
No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 9 Oklahoma State.
Baylor scored anyway, and momentum was lost. The CFP is a fickle beast and the committee’s opinions tend to change with the day of the week. A rivalry with higher stakes than ever was taking place.
“I don’t know what more we can do as a conference”, OU coach Bob Stoops said earlier this week. But it did. And because of it, the Spartans could be playing for a national championship.
Good enough to win in Stillwater with its third-string quarterback.
If we’ve learned anything from the Big 12’s November to remember, it’s this: the league doesn’t have a respect problem, it has an image problem. That Ohio State win was brilliant, but struggles against Maryland, Nebraska, Indiana, Rutgers and Purdue don’t just magically disappear now. Facebook.com/PeteFiutakCI In a few weeks the pretentiously scientific formula will come out with the college football rankings based on which teams had the best seasons – blowing off belief systems and thoughts for proof of what actually happened. With Ohio State’s loss, Iowa could move into the top four on Tuesday. The Bears were trying to go undefeated so that the Committee would recognize them this year. Then Mike Warren fumbled and Kansas State recovered. OSU’s run game was nonexistent with 23 carries for just eight yards. The close calls against Iowa State, West Virginia Kansas State and Texas are still a problem. Two plays later, Jack Cantele hit a 42-yard field goal to ensure the Wildcats won’t go winless in conference play this year. If Iowa wins out and is an undefeated Big Ten champ, there’s no question it’s in. The score was set up after Mason Rudolph found Marcell Ateman for a 38-yard gain. However, when the night ended, the two teams morals would be reversed. Yes, you read those stats correctly. Three alone were inside the Boston College five-yard line.
The Irish will have their first opportunity – battling Stanford in the final game of the season – but so too will the Sooners.
Falk finished 27 of 35 for 199 yards and one touchdown.
Baylor is more than willing to be judged by its quarterback depth. It’s true. A Bret Bielema-coached quarterback tied a conference passing record. The lose to Mississippi State, they beat Ole Miss. “Right now, we’re just trying to win a conference championship”. Since returning, Adams has been great and the Ducks haven’t lost.
Receiver K.D. Cannon turned five receptions into 210 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears. Since his return from injury, Adams has thrown for 1,499 yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. After the Sooners’ win in Waco last week, the Bears need an Oklahoma loss to have a shot at cracking the Playoff. A very good defense.
The Tigers gained 506 yards against a Demon Deacons defense that held Notre Dame to 282 yards a week earlier. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Notre Dame beat Texas, but that was in the opener before all the injuries hit. There’s no question what Justin Fuente has done at Memphis is incredible, and he’s about get super paid somewhere else. No. 25 Temple gives the American Athletic Conference three ranked teams, joining No. 16 Navy and No. 21 Houston.
Baylor won the toss, took the ball and quickly took a lead.
Baylor’s offense has left the starting blocks like a dragster this season.
New Mexico, which has won six games for the first time since 2007, has not won a division title since winning the WAC’s Mountain Division in 1997 under coach Dennis Franchione. Or maybe MI State just exposed the Buckeyes for being mediocre. The Owls were 4-3 after a 38-31 win over Army and needed just two wins for a bowl berth.
You see where this is heading? Not the way you want to end the season.
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Backup Jarrett Stidham suffered a deep back bruise in last week’s loss to Oklahoma, and Chafin estimated that Stidham was only at 60-70 percent during practice before Saturday’s win. And Charlotte is the next opponent on the schedule. They perhaps could have endured a loss, but not to Baylor.
