Bedlam recap; Playoff teams; Top 25; Big 12 focus

Oklahoma proved it is the toast of the Midlands as the Sooners had little trouble in takng apart Oklahoma State Saturday in Stillwater to win the Big 12 Football Title.  It was Head Coach Bob Stoops 9th conference championship in 17 seasons at OU.  The pounding vaults the Big Red of the South into one of the four Playoff spots and allows the best in the Big 12 to play in a National Semi-final.  OU finishes the regular season with an 11-1 record as the Cowboys claim a 2nd place tie with TCU and Baylor and end with a fine 10-2 win/loss mark.  OSU is projected to play in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando or the Alamo Bowl as their reward for their excellent season.  TCU or Baylor will represent the Big 12 in the Sugar Bowl.  The team that doesn’t play in New Orleans has a date the Alamo.

Baker Mayfield and the Sooner offense was a pickle for the Cowboy defense as a 30 point second quarter put the Pokes to the open range.  Mayfield, the best quarterback at OU since Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, completed 17 of 25 passes with five drops to go along with eleven rushes for 77 yards and a rushing touchdown. Mayfield threw two touchdown passes.  OSU’s Mason Rudolph played only one series, throwing a interception, as the staring signal caller wasn’t good enough to go at game time.  J. W. Walsh played another fine game for the Cowboys, hitting 25 of 42 passes for 325 yards and two passing scores. He was intercepted once.  Walsh also rushed for 50 yards in twelve rushes.

Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon were the primary bulls in the Sooners run game. OSU had no answer for either as OU opened gaping holes in the Cowboy defensive line, then running over the Pokes linebackers and secondary.  The duo finished with 267 yards on 31 rushed, with long scores of 68 and 25 yards for Perine and 66 for Mixon.  Mixon had a mop-up six yard score late in the fourth quarter.  OU finished with 344 rushing yards on 44 carries and five scores.

Oklahoma State’s magnificent wide out James Washington lit up the Sooner secondary, especially All-American Zach Sanchez.  Washington had seven catches for 169 yards and a score.  It must be noted that  Sanchez was playing on a sore ankle but the fact remained that Washington owned the smaller Sanchez.  Both are expected to play on Sunday.

To summarize the Sooners game, Oklahoma State didn’t give up and though it was a blow-out, the Pokes played hard and with so much talent returning next year, Head Coach Mike Gundy will continue to have great success in Stillwater. This 10-2 season sets up the Cowboys for another successful season in 2016. As for OU, they continue to play at the highest level and have as good a chance to win the National Title this year as anyone in the playoffs.  With the return of quality players next year, OU will be right there when the pre-season ranking come out in August 2016.  The big game in September against Ohio State will be just that, huge. But as we know, a win or a loss in September, even October, doesn’t put you in a no win situation with regards to a National Title.  You have to give it up to OU and The Ohio State University for playing each other.  That is what great programs do, play the best when given the opportunity.

Big 12 Recap

TCU beat the Baylor Bears in a home win in Fort Worth Friday night.  A cold driving rain storm limited both offensives with the game being won in 2 overtimes by the Frogs 28-21. Both teams finish with 10-2 records and tie with Oklahoma State at 7-2 in conference for a three way runner-up to OU.  Trevone Boykin was the difference maker in OT as he threw the winning touchdown pass.  It was a bitter loss for Baylor and Coach Art Briles.  Expect Baylor to represent the Big 12 in the Sugar Bowl and TCU in the Alamo or Russell Athletic Bowl.  It should be the other way around if you want my opinion.

Iowa State lost the final time in the Paul Rhoad’s era at Ames.  West Virginia was much the better team and Dana Holgorsen’s November upswing for his Mountaineers.  After winning the first three the men from Morgantown lost four straight, to the Sooners, Cowboys, Bears and Horned Frogs. With the balance of the schedule, they have won four straight and end the season in Manhattan with Kansas State this Saturday.  Expect a nice bowl for them and a final 8-4 regular season.

Texas Tech was too much for the Tea Sippers in Austin, dropping the Texas Longhorns to a seventh loss in eleven games.  No bowl for UT and look for Charlie Strong to be out at Texas. He’s had enough of the Texas experience.  As for Tech, Head Coach Cliff Kingsbury got a significant win over the Horns as the Red Raiders continue to play solid offensive.

Kansas State was a winner over Poor Kansas. The Jayhawks finish winless.  Poor Kansas.  As for Coach Bill Snyder at State, he might think about retiring again. That program is going nowhere fast.

Playoff Projections:  Clemson vs Alabama in the Orange;  Oklahoma vs Michigan State in the  Cotton

First out:  Ohio State with Stanford following

Fred’s Top 25

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama

3. Clemson

4. Michigan State

5. Ohio State

6. Stanford

7. Iowa

8. Florida State

9. TCU

10. Oklahoma State

11. Baylor

12. Notre Dame

13. Northwestern

14. Houston

15. Oregon

16. Ole Miss

17. Navy

18. Temple

19. Utah

20. Florida

21. Michigan

22. LSU

23. Wisconsin

24. Memphis State

25. Southern Cal

Best team performance of the week:  Oklahoma

Worst team performance of the week:  Washington State

Best individual performance of the week:  Derrick Henry, Alabama

My List for Heisman

1. Derrick Henry-Alabama

2. Deshaun Watson-Clemson

3. Baker Mayfield-Oklahoma

4. Christian McCaffrey-Stanford

Feature Photo Credit:  Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports