UPDATE: SOONER RODNEY ANDERSON WILL BE LOST FOR THE SEASON WITH KNEE INJURY SUFFERED IN THE GAME WITH UCLA
Last week we found Texas, Kansas State and Texas Tech to be mediocre at best. Not special in a good way if you want to phrase it another way. Saturday we learned others in the conference might not be a strong as we thought, with TCU having early first half problems with SMU, Baylor struggling with UTSA, and Iowa State with troubling offensive difficulties. With Kansas showing life, finally winning a road game (hell, any game) and Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia, those final three having not suffered the embarrassment of a close win or a more problematic loss to a weaker team, the Big Twelve can look forward to a awful future week three. The conference has problems with regard to presentation and national perspective.
Oklahoma lost running back Rodney Anderson in a 49-21 blowout of UCLA. The junior will be out (medical report not confirmed of exact severity of injury at the time of this writing) for some time. But the Sooner machine continued to put up points and Kyler Murray, despite missing some passes, was good with a 19-33 performance with over 300 yards. The play of OU’s pass catchers was outstanding and as the Sooners continued to have long scoring plays. The defense again put the stop to the Bruins and continue to impress the football world. OU looks like it will be in good shape next week against Iowa State but with a travel to Ames, anything is possible.
Oklahoma State used the passing game to overwhelm the Jaguars of South Alabama. Selling out to stop the run, quarterback Taylor Cornelius abused the visitor’s defense for over 428 yards in a 25-40 day. The Pokes look ready for Boise State next week in Stillwater.
Texas beat Tulsa in Austin 28-21. That score against a rather weak opponent does not bode well for the Horns. UT needs a win Saturday against USC or a 1-5 start is very possible. Texas is not a very good team and has not improved in the one plus years of Tom Herman’s regime since Charlie Strong’s departure. That is not an opinion sports fans.
A shout out for the Kansas Jayhawks as Head Coach David Beaty won his fourth game and first road win for KU in ages. Congratulations Kansas in your 31-7 win at Central Michigan. No more “Poor Kansas” until next week. And I take pleasure in saying “Kansas Romps”.
West Virginia, as expected, won with ease over Youngstown State.
Texas Tech beat Lamar 77-0. I think if you go back and look at my prediction for this game last week I had the Red Raiders scoring close to 77. Imagine that.
Kansas State was pasted by a much better SEC team, the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Kansas is not a very good team right now and they are going to have difficulties hold on to a first five spot in the league. They are suspect and Coach Bill Snyder has a chore to get this Wildcat to get it’s bite back.
Iowa State was game with Iowa but the offense sputtered. I do not have high regards for Iowa, even though I picked the Hawkeyes. ISU must find a right recipe or OU will abuse them next week, even if the game is in the cornfields.
Baylor was less than impressive in beating UTSA 37-20. But a win is a win and if Notre Dame can beat Ball State 24-17 I guess the Bears win is acceptable.
TCU got behind early with SMU but got the deal worked in their rain-delayed game in Dallas. TCU was not ready to play at the start and that is a concern. HC Gary Patterson has his work cut out this week as Ohio State would like to paste them in Jerry’s World.
Big Twelve Rank
-
Oklahoma
-
West Virginia
-
Oklahoma State
-
TCU
-
Iowa State
-
Baylor
-
Texas
-
Kansas State
-
Texas Tech
-
Kansas
Final thought: There are four potential teams in the conference that are Top 25 worthy nationally. The other six will have to scramble to have positive seasons. And with what awaits next week, the Big Twelve is not looking good. Ponder these games and tell me how many of the Big Twelve teams will be favored to win?
Out of conference games Saturday:
Ohio State and TCU
Oklahoma State and Boise State
Texas Tech and Houston
Texas and USC
Baylor and Duke
West Virginia and North Carolina State
Kansas State ad UTSA
Kansas and Rutgers
Conference game:
OU and Iowa State
Feature photo: Rodney Anderson, hurt yesterday against UCLA (photo by Getty)
Secondary photo: Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb hauls in a touchdown. (Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press)
