Big 12 Review: Sooners need work; Texas improved; Cowboys romp; Kansas gets victory

A brief look at the Big Twelve in Week One of the 2016 football season

It was a telling week in the Big 12 as the Univ. of Texas found a way to win taking a thrilling 50-47 double overtime game at DKR.  The Oklahoma Sooners were not quite up to snuff as the Houston Cougars proved they were a better team in a 33-23 upset.  West Virginia proved it was ready for the home opener by taking SEC contender Missouri to the woodshed, 26-11.  Stanford held up their end of the deal in Palo Alto by beating a game Kansas State 26-13.  On the weekend, the Big 12 was 7-3.

The Games:

Baylor 55-7 over Northwestern State-a no contest game for the Bears.  It was expected;

Oklahoma State over Southeastern  Louisiana  61-7-a no contest game for the Cowboys.  The blowout was expected;

Stanford a 26-13 win over the KSU Wildcats- in California the Big 12 foe gave a good performance against a top echelon PAC team.  The defense did good job keeping the team in the game and the experience gained will be good for KSU as the season moves along. There is hope for this version of Coach Snyder’s team;

West Virginia 26-11 over Missouri-a win in Morgantown showed that beating any SEC team is a good way to start a season.  The defense did their job and West Virginia did not disappoint the fans of the Mountaineers;

Kansas 55-6 over Delaware-Coach David Beaty gets his first win in his career at Lawrence as the Jayhawks did what they needed to do against a weaker opponent.  Kansas needed this one and they got it;

Texas Tech 69-17 over Stephen F. Austin-a no contest game for the Red Raiders.  It was expected;

Northern Iowa 25-20 win over Iowa State-Not that unexpected as Northern is always tough and plays its in-state rivals as some might say, in a hard way.  It will be a long year for the Cyclones;

TCU 59-41 victory of South Dakota State- the 59 points for the Frogs at home is nice.  The 41 points by the Jacks in Fort Worth is not nice. What does Coach Patterson do to shore up this defensive team to be a contender in the Big 12? This performance was not what the TCU doctor ordered.

Houston 33-23 win over OU- Houston came ready to play hard nosed Big 12 football and OU was not ready to play a non-Power Five team. The Cougars were better in many areas including the all important kicking game and game day coaching decisions.  It was not as close as the score indicated.  Bad personal foul penalties, a botched field goal that went for a kick-six, third down conversions by a prepared Houston team, and a star freshman defensive lineman that was every bit a five star recruit was just too much for OU to overcome.  Houston was the better team Saturday and might be a better team down the 2016 road.  Impressive win over an OU team that will be better in two weeks to play Ohio State.

Texas 50-47 double overtime win over Notre Dame-for the first time in a while the Horns seemed to have an offense that can move the ball both in the air and on the ground.  No, this is not a great Texas team right now, but it shows what a passing game can do if you have big play possibilities.  Texas still has a lot of work ahead and one game does not make a season.  Give Texas all credit in the world for being ready for this one.

Big 12 Rankings after week one:

1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Baylor
4. Oklahoma State
5. West Virginia’
6. TCU
7. Texas Tech
8. Kansas State
9. Kansas
10. Iowa State

Big12 Offensive Player of the Week:  Shane Buchele, Texas

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week:  Texas (by holding the Irish to a field goal on the 2nd overtime possession

Big 12 Coach of the Week:  Sterlin Gilbert, Texas Offensive Coordinator

Feature photo credit:  Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) runs his way into the end zone in the first quarter against Houston Cougars in the Advocare Texas Kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, at NRG Stadium in Houston.  Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle