Associated Press
Key matchup’s early hype downgrades after disappointing start
By Krista Pirtle
Sports Writer
Before the season began, the Sooners-versus-Aggies game looked to be the deciding factor of the Big 12 champion.
Now, due to Texas A&M forgetting to play in the second half and both teams being stunned at home by a loss to an unranked team, the matchup does not have quite the same hype.
Luckily, hype is not needed for a quality football game.
6 Oklahoma (7-1, 4-1)
Oklahoma returns to Norman after a dominant 58-17 win over hopeful Kansas State.
The Sooner offense stole the show with 690 total yards. Junior quarterback Landry Jones threw for 520 yards, 171 of them to senior wide receiver Ryan Broyles.
Defensively, the Oklahoma secondary stepped up its game allowing only 58 passing yards.
Saturday, determination will be key for Oklahoma as it relinquished its nation-leading 39 home game win streak to Texas Tech two weeks ago.
That in itself should add plenty of fuel to the offensive fire for a Sooner squad that will take on Texas A&M Saturday.
Texas A&M (5-3, 3-2)
Whoops. No one in College Station predicted an overtime loss to Missouri 38-31.
The Aggies rush defense allowed its highest number of rush yards on the season with 284.
Offensively, Texas A&M recorded a total of 500 yards with 317 fired from the arm of senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
A trio of turnovers could have been the root to the loss at Kyle Field.
After so much preseason hype, the Aggies look to redeem themselves on a national stage in a big game. This match-up will be nothing short of a shoot-out.
However, Texas A&M’s pass defense will need to step up its game to slow down OU’s dynamic duo of Jones and Broyles.
3 Oklahoma State (8-0, 5-0)
The Cowboys enjoyed their homecoming last weekend, defeating Baylor 59-24. Sophomore running back Joseph Randle went to the end zone four times and ran for a total of 152 yards.
Senior quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 273 yards and a trio of touchdowns, a pair of those touchdowns and 172 yards going to junior wide receiver Justin Blackmon.
Saturday the Cowboys will host the Kansas State Wildcats. Offensively, Oklahoma State should be able to control their own destiny.
On the other side of the ball, the number one priority needs to be stopping the quarterback, who is responsible for most of the Wildcats’ offensive yards this season.
14 Kansas State (7-1, 4-1)
The Wildcats are bowl eligible, but their undefeated streak was snapped by the Sooners 58-17.
Junior quarterback Collin Klein’s pass threat was shot down as he only threw for 58 yards.
He did rush for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns, however.
Besides those two, there was not much else happening for the Wildcats’ offense.
Saturday, Kansas State travels to take on Oklahoma State.
Defensively, the Wildcats need to step up their game is they intend to hang closely to the Cowboys.
Texas Tech (5-3, 2-3)
Tech got beat 41-7 by Iowa State last weekend in Lubbock.
After upsetting OU in Norman the week before, this game should have been an easy Red Raider victory.
The Tech offense only recorded 290 yards the whole game.
Junior quarterback Seth Doege threw for 171 yards and a pair of interceptions. Doege was responsible for the lone Red Raider touchdown with an 8-yard rush.
Tech’s offense was on the field for less than 20 minutes.
It’s hard to tell which Red Raider team will show up in Austin on Saturday; the team who won in Norman or the team left in shambles by the Cyclones.
21 Texas (5-2, 2-2)
The home losing streak is over as the Texas defense went to work last weekend, shutting out the Kansas Jayhawks 43-0.
Texas expanded its run game as freshman Joe Bergeron led the ground attack with 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Freshman running back Malcolm Brown also had two trips to the end zone, racking up 119 yards.
Receptions weren’t huge for the Longhorns, used only to spread the Jayhawk defense before the offense would attack the gaps on the run.
Freshman wide receiver Jaxon Shipley led the receivers with only 47 yards.
Texas needs to keep up the intensity on the defense and get something rolling offensively as Texas Tech comes to town.
Baylor (4-3, 1-3)
The Bears got beat down last weekend by OSU 59-24, but what’s passed is past.
Baylor recorded great offensive numbers with 622 total yards, 425 fired from junior quarterback Robert Griffin III.
However, five turnovers and failure to score in the red zone meant Baylor couldn’t propel past Oklahoma State.
This Saturday is homecoming for Baylor, which brings extra motivation to get a W.
Missouri is calling Griffin III an iPhone because he can do it all.
Home field advantage should be a huge energy boost. This win is essential in a bowl trip for the Bears.
Missouri (4-4, 2-3)
The Tigers seem to be peaking at the right time, defeating the Aggies at Kyle Field in overtime 38-31.
Sophomore quarterback James Franklin threw for a total of 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Sophomore tailback Henry Josey ran over the Aggies with 162 yards and a touchdown.
Franklin is also capable of squeezing through the offensive lines and breaking into open field.
So far, Missouri has relied heavily on the run; however, its pass game will determine the outcome of its game Saturday against Baylor.
The Tigers don’t have a standout receiver so far this season; every option offers similar results.
Iowa State (4-4, 1-4)
The Cyclones upset Texas Tech in Lubbock last weekend with their first conference win of the season 41-7.
Freshman quarterback Jared Barnett started to get comfortable in the pocket with 144 yards and a touchdown.
Iowa State recorded 512 offensive yards, 368 of them coming on the ground Sophomore running back James White led the rush attack with 138 yards and a touchdown.
Iowa State looks to get its second win in conference play as it hosts the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday afternoon.
Against a team like Kansas, the Cyclones will have a great opportunity to mold their offense around young Barnett.
Kansas (2-6, 0-5)
Good news. It’s November, which means basketball has just begun and there are only four games left in the football season.
Texas didn’t cut Kansas a break, allowing only 46 total offensive yards. The Jayhawks recorded a whopping -2 yards rushing.
Kansas only had a trio of first downs and it had the ball for only 16 minutes.
This was the first time all season that the Jayhawk offense was completely shut down.
This weekend Kansas travels to Ames, Iowa, to battle Iowa State.
The Jayhawks need to work on their rush defense to win.
