College Football Review: Sooners, Pokes, Crimson Tide All Win; Top 25 and more

Above Photo Credit:

JOE CAMERON/USA TODAY SPORTS

Sterling Shepard ran away from a Baylor defender for one of his two touchdown catches in Oklahoma’s win.

The Baylor Bears finally played somebody and it wasn’t a good “blackout” night in Waco.  The Oklahoma Sooners used an effective pass defense, a train load of Samji Perine, and  a quarterback with attitude in defeating Art Briles best 37-27, breaking the Baylor home winning streak and giving them the first defeat in their new stadium on the Brazos River.  A highly charged game that leaves the Bears with little chance of getting into the playoffs and pushed the Sooners into contention, it was a fiercely fought game.  OU broke a two game losing streak with Baylor as Sooner coach Bob Stoops has never lost to the same team three time in a row.

Oklahoma State continued to run the table with their come-from-behind win over Iowa State in Ames. The 35-31 win was typical for this Cowboy unit as they overcame another 17 point deficient.  The win puts the Pokes at the top of the Big 12 standings with a perfect 7-0 record.  OU, Baylor and TCU all have a single loss in conference play.

West Virginia beat Texas and Texas Tech was the better of Kansas State.  TCU held serve with a home win, abet close (23-17), over Kansas. Trevone Boykin suffered a high ankle sprain and but will be ready for OU next week in Norman.

In National games, Alabama was just too much for a Mississippi State with Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame all winners.  Losers included Stanford, Utah and LSU.  The Playoff list is becoming shorter as the final weeks of the season are being played out.

Fred’s Top 25

1. Alabama

2. Clemson

3. Oklahoma

4. Notre Dame

5. Iowa

6. Oklahoma State

7. Ohio State

8. Baylor

9. Michigan State

10. TCU

11. Michigan

12. Florida

13. North Carolina

14. Florida State

15. Navy

16. Wisconsin

17. Houston

18. Stanford

19. LSU

20. Utah

21. Washington State

22. Northwestern

23. USC

24. Oregon

25. Arkansas

Final Four:  Alabama vs Oklahoma;  Clemson vs Notre Dame

Best Team Performance of the Week:  Arkansas

Worst Team Performance of the Week:  TCU

Best Individual Performance of the Week:  Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

Big 12 Rankings

1.  Oklahoma State

2. Oklahoma

3. Baylor

4. TCU

5. West Virginia

6. Texas Tech

7. Iowa State

8. Texas

9. Kansas State

10. Kansas