Big 12 football recap: Baylor Bears, Kansas State Wildcats impress again
By Brian Spaen
Another week is in the books for Big 12 play. Baylor continues to dominate in the conference, Bill Snyder’s team is doing what a usual Bill Snyder team does, and we have a candidate for best Big 12 game of the season.
Nov 7, 2013; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears running back Shock Linwood (32) runs with the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners defense at Floyd Casey Stadium. Baylor beat Oklahoma 41-12. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Baylor 41, Oklahoma 12
If I can’t convince people finally that Baylor is a legit team that could win the national championship after Thursday’s performance, I don’t know what will. Two of the better defenses were on display, and the Bears’ defense made the Sooner offense, especially Blake Bell, look incredibly pedestrian. There’s a real good chance that the Bears will go undefeated this season, with the biggest tests left against Oklahoma State and Texas.
TCU 21, Iowa State 17
Kansas State 49, Texas Tech 26
Both these teams are trending in different directions from just a few weeks ago. The Wildcats destroyed the Red Raiders on the ground, only attempting 11 passes on the day because they picked up 291 yards and five touchdowns on 45 carries. TTU had a brilliant day offensively, but three key turnovers – two picks by Baker Mayfield and a fumble – sealed the day.
Nov. 9, 2013; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks cornerback JaCorey Shepherd (24) rushes for yardage against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Rowe-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma State 42, Kansas 6
The Cowboys’ opening kickoff return for touchdown really set the mood for the game. Some good news for the Wildcats: they had over 300 total yards offensively, and had a great day on the ground with 202 rushing yards, but they couldn’t stay on the field with a horrible 5 of 20 third down conversion rate. Both quarterbacks – Montell Cozart and Jake Heaps – gives Iowa State a run for their money on worst quarterbacks in the Big 12.
Don’t worry Kansas fans, those matchups against Okie State in men’s basketball will be a lot more fun.
Texas 47, West Virginia 40 (OT)
What a game this was, with big plays being made by the Mountaineers all night long, answering every score by the Longhorns when started taking the game over. Texas forced five turnovers and got to the West Virginia quarterback seven times. Two costly injuries for each team were Texas running back Johnathan Gray and West Virginia QB Clint Trickett, but the backups were able to step up and give quite a show. This game is in the running for the best Big 12 game of the year.