Around the Big 12: Week 11 (Football)
Despite Oklahoma State’s recent loss to Texas a couple weeks ago, the Big 12 still has a couple teams in the back half of the Top 25 that could look to make some noise. Teams such as Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas and the previously mentioned Oklahoma State are all outside the top 10 in the polls but will make the end of the season much more interesting.
After falling from sixth to 14 in the polls, Oklahoma State found a way to rebound winning 20-18 against previously unranked Kansas State. The win however came without star running back Chuba Hubbard as he left the game with a leg injury.
That meant that backup LD Brown was the team’s new running back for the game and he played well, recording 110 rushing yards. Without Hubbard involved for most of the game it became a defensive showdown and Oklahoma State’s two turnovers helped out in that regard.
Iowa State is now on a two-game winning streak after defeating Baylor 38-31. The game was dominated by the Cyclones sophomore running back Breece Hall who ran the ball 31 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns.
Hall ran the ball seven more times than quarterback Brock Purdy threw the ball. Despite being down 24-10 in the third quarter, the Cyclones managed to score 28 unanswered points with 21 in the third quarter alone to win the game despite three interceptions from Purdy.
Oklahoma finds themselves back in the Big 12 conversation as the Sooners destroyed Kansas 62-9 to win their fourth game in a row. This blowout score came despite quarterback Spencer Rattler leaving early with a hip injury. While Rattler and backup Tanner Mordecai both didn’t play well during the game, the quarterback situation for the Jayhawks was so much worse. Jalon Daniels was sacked nine times in the game and threw two interceptions. Add that with Sooners running back Rhamondre Stevenson going for 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns and you have a blowout victory.
With a majority of teams on bye in the Big 12 this week that leaves just two games being played this weekend, none of which involve ranked teams. TCU against West Virginia may be the best game as the Horned Frogs are coming off back to back wins against Texas Tech and Baylor while the Mountaineers were close to upsetting Texas last week. The other matchup features Baylor playing Texas Tech and while both teams have struggled all year this is projected to be a close game with Texas Tech coming in as just a 1.5 point favorite.
Logan Bourandas is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him email lxb5412@psu.edu.