Around the Big 12: Week 10 (Football)

Story posted November 5, 2020 in CommRadio, Sports by JC Colavita

Throughout this unconventional 2020 college football season, the Big 12 has by far been the most perplexing conference. This season has unfolded in a way that has many experts leaving the Big 12 out of National Championship contention.

Four out of the five Week 9 Big 12 games featured one ranked team, which led to a wild day across the conference.

In the lone unranked matchup, TCU (2-3) defeated in-state rival Baylor (1-3) 33-23. A 30-0 lead at the half propelled the Horned Frogs to their second victory of the year.

TCU's offense was cooking early. The freshman running back tandem of Darwin Barlow and Zach Evans, TCU's first-ever five-star recruit, combined for two touchdowns and amassed nearly 200 yards while quarterback Max Duggan connected with Taye Barber for a 14-yard score. On special teams, Derius Davis provided a first-quarter 66-yard punt return touchdown.

The Bears made a second-half push, but a 30-point lead proved too much to overcome.

No. 23 Iowa State Cyclones (4-2) steamrolled Kansas (0-6) by a score of 52-22 as sophomore running back Breece Hall put on a show. Hall shined in the matchup, rushing for 185 yards for the second straight week with two scores on the ground as well.

The Jayhawk defense had no answer for Iowa State. The Cyclone offensive line dominated as the rushing attack flourished. In the passing game, junior quarterback Brock Purdy picked apart the Kansas secondary, throwing two touchdowns while rushing for another. Purdy's lone miscue, a fourth quarter interception, occurred when the game was already comfortably in hand.

Kansas's sole bright spot was a 102-yard kickoff return by Kenny Logan. The Iowa State defense held the running game in check as no player surpassed 40 yards on the ground. Iowa State also held Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels to a mere 165 yard, sacking him five times, while Greg Eisworth II came up with an interception.

West Virginia (4-2) stunned No. 16 Kansas State (4-2) as they came away with a 37-10 upset victory.

The Mountaineers dominated every area of the game as quarterback Jarret Doege totaled over 300 passing yards and two touchdowns. Running back Leddie Brown rushed for over 100 yards, and wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton reached the century mark through the air.

The Wildcat offense couldn't get into a rhythm as freshman quarterback Will Howard threw three picks while the running game compiled a lackluster 41 yards on the ground. West Virginia's dynamic defense came to play and proved to be too much for Kansas State to handle.

No. 24 Oklahoma (4-2) battled Texas Tech (2-4) in what became a Halloween night thrashing of the Red Raiders as the Sooners easily triumphed 62-28. Texas Tech running back SaRodorick Thompson initiated the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run less than three minutes into the game. This would be their first and only lead as Oklahoma scored 42 straight points.

Oklahoma running back Rhamondre Stevenson and quarterback Spencer Rattler were the shining stars of the contest. Stevenson found the end zone three times, averaging 6.7 yards per attempt, while Rattler passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite allowing 400 yards of offense, Oklahoma forced three turnovers in the team's fourth win of the season.

No. 6 Oklahoma State (4-1) and Texas (4-2) went toe-to-toe in the most exciting matchup of the week. A 15-yard connection between Sam Ehlinger and Joshua Moore gave Texas the lead in overtime and linebacker Joseph Ossai's third sack of the day sealed the Longhorns' win.

Ehlinger provided a serviceable day under center as he threw for a modest 169 yards, but three clutch touchdowns were crucial in the Texas victory. His counterpart, Spencer Sanders, passed for 400 yards and four touchdowns. However, two costly turnovers led to ten points for Texas, allowing the game to enter overtime.

Oklahoma State's loss marks the seventh time a ranked Big 12 team has lost to an unranked opponent this year, adding to the chaos the conference has been drowning in all season.

 

JC Colavita is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jrc6383@psu.edu.

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