Big 12 Weekly Review

Texas Tech's No. 7 quarterback Seth Doege works upfield against Kansas State's Tre Walker during a college football game in Lubbock on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011.
Associated Press

Wildcats square off with Sooners in Top 10 matchup

By Krista Pirtle
Sports Writer

Baylor (4-2)

The Bears return to the gridiron Saturday to play Oklahoma State in the Cowboys’ homecoming game. Baylor entered its second bye week of the season with a loss to rival Texas A&M.

The offense never seemed to click well as the Aggie secondary was never truly attacked and the run game was shut down from every angle.

The defense, however, left much to be desired. With some changes to the lineup, like junior Chance Casey from cornerback to safety to bring speed to the secondary, hopefully things begin to click better than they have been.

The secondary will be the main focus of attack by the Cowboys with quarterback Weeden. Stopping him will be the key for Baylor.

Iowa State (3-4)

The Cyclones couldn’t keep their early momentum rolling against Texas A&M, losing 17-33.

Due to an ankle injury, junior quarterback Steele Jantz was replaced soon after the coin toss by freshman Jared Barnett who passed for 180 yards and led the rush game with 66 yards.

As a whole, the offense totaled its lowest number of yards with 305.

This week, Iowa State travels to an ecstatic Texas Tech team. The Cyclone secondary will have to step up its game against Tech quarterback Doege who favored the pass over the run in last week’s victory.

For the offense, Iowa State needs to adjust to the play calling of Barnett instead of Jantz. The stability in the offense has been shaken and is in need of some stability if it wants to win a conference game, other than against Kansas.

Kansas (2-5)

The Jayhawk offense had its best game of the season, compiling 466 yards for the evening in a 21-59 loss to in-state rival Kansas State.

After suffering back-to-back 600 yard games allowed by the defense, it shut the Kansas State offense down to 466, its lowest allowed in conference play.

Saturday the Jayhawks travel to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns. Defensively, Kansas should focus on stopping the run game that has been improved upon by Texas running back Brown.

Offensively, Kansas needs to pray for some lucky breaks against an average Texas defense.

Kansas State (7-0)

The Wildcats played their second straight game without a single turnover and recorded their highest offensive yard game all season at 466.

It’s no surprise that 261 of those yards are on the ground with 92 from junior quarterback Collin Klein.

Klein accounted for five of the Wildcat touchdowns, one in the air and four on the ground.

Saturday afternoon the Wildcats host an angry Oklahoma team, whose road record is not the best but due to last week’s upset, the Sooners will enter the stadium ready to play, not with their heads down and tails between their legs.

The key for the Wildcats is to contain the secondary attacks made by the Sooners.

On the offensive side of the ball, Kansas State needs to read the weaknesses.

Oklahoma has never been consistently dominant against the run game or in the backfield so it is up to the judgment of Klein to command his troops efficiently.

Missouri (2-5)

The Tigers remain winless in conference play and hope to find one before the Nov. 26 matchup against Kansas.

Last week the Tigers committed a season high four turnovers, a key factor in the 24-45 loss to Oklahoma State.

Sophomore quarterback James Franklin led the offense to a total of 463 offensive yards with 184 yards, a touchdown and a trio of interceptions.

Saturday Mizzou heads down to College Station to face the 12th Man of Texas A&M.

There’s not much this team can do in practice to prepare for the type of environment it will be playing in this weekend.

If the Tigers aren’t careful, Aggie quarterback Tannehill will connect with Swope multiple times for a handful of touchdowns like he did against Baylor.

Oklahoma (6-1)

Not many people would have predicted Texas Tech to hand the Sooners a loss, 38-41.

However, when receivers have popcorn butter hands and the defense seems off, it doesn’t matter the national ranking or the name on your jersey.

Oklahoma allowed 572 yards with 452 of them passing for Tech.

Vengeance will be the name of the game Saturday against Kansas State.

Last week, OU received its first loss at home, and this weekend provides the opportunity for the Sooners to return the favor to the Wildcats.

The only other game this season the Oklahoma defense allowed over 500 yards to an opponent was the close call to Missouri 38-28.

The Sooners should shake out of the funk that enveloped them last weekend and get back to playing the football they are known for.

Oklahoma State (7-0)

After a sound defeat at Missouri for the Tigers’ homecoming, 45-24, the Cowboys return to Stillwater, for their homecoming against Baylor.

Last weekend featured an average offensive game for Oklahoma State with a total of 533 offensive yards for the evening.

Senior quarterback Brandon Weeden passed for 338 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

Junior wide receiver Justin Blackmon left the game in the second half as a precaution for concussion like symptoms.

There has been no confirmation on his status for Saturday’s game.

With a solid defense to showcase the explosiveness of its offense, the Cowboys have a good chance to hold off the threat of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Texas (4-2)

The Longhorns rested up last weekend and prepared for the remainder of their season.

Throughout these two weeks without a game, the outlook on who will start as quarterback still has yet to be decided.

Freshman David Ash received the start in the last game against Oklahoma State while sophomore Case McCoy stood on the sidelines with a head set on.

The Jayhawks pose a miniscule offensive threat to the Texas defense and the Texas offense should be able to do pretty much whatever it wants.

For Texas this will be a game that will most likely bring the Longhorns to something that eluded them last season: bowl eligibility.

Texas A&M (5-1)

The Aggie defense stepped up its game allowing only 305 yards to Iowa State, winning in Ames 33-17.

The first quarter featured a murky Aggie team, resulting from either overlooking the competition or the travel time to Iowa.

Either way, the Aggies managed to pull it together and leave with the win.

Running backs junior Christine Michael and senior Cyrus Gray combined for 267 yards and a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Saturday the Aggies host Mizzou, a game that with the help of the 12th Man, should be over by the end of the first quarter, making Texas A&M bowl eligible.

Texas Tech (5-2)

No one could have seen that coming. The longest home win streak in the nation was snapped by the Red Raiders in Norman with a 41-38 victory over Oklahoma. Junior quarterback Seth Doege was on point, leading his squad to a total of 572 offensive yards.

The Tech defense allowed over 400 yards to the pass game of Oklahoma quarterback Jones.

After facing Jones’ talent, the fresh arm of Iowa State’s Steele Jantz shouldn’t bring a problem to the Red Raiders.

One thing that could hold Tech back is looking past the Cyclones to Texas next week. If they don’t take this seriously, Iowa State could upset them with a dose of their own medicine.