Around the Big 12: Week 5 (Football)
The Big 12 conference provided some real entertaining football in Week 4.
The biggest story from that week took place in Norman where the Kansas State Wildcats, who lost to Arkansas State earlier in the season, upset the No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners 38-35. The quarterback play between Spencer Rattler and Skylar Thompson was phenomenal, as they both threw for over 300 yards.
The trouble for the Sooners came on turnovers. Rattler tossed four interceptions and the team fumbled the ball twice. Along with that, Oklahoma had a 35-14 lead in the third quarter which they could not hold on to.
Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn had a great game hauling in four receptions for 127 yards, while also rushing for 45 yards and one touchdown which was the equalizer for the Wildcats. Eventually, a 50-yard field goal boot by Blake Lynch would put them ahead for good.
Kansas State improves to 1-1 and this week they host Texas Tech. The Wildcats open as a 2.5-point favorite. Oklahoma travels to Ames to take on the struggling Iowa State Cyclones.
The sixth ranked Texas Longhorns defeated Texas Tech in overtime, 63-56. Victory was in sight for the Red Raiders, but one horns down celebration later, the tide turned in favor of Tom Herman’s team.
Quarterbacks Sam Ehlinger and Alan Bowman both threw five touchdowns, but it was Bowman and the Red Raiders that made crucial mistakes. Bowman threw three interceptions and a case of fumblitis hit the team.
The Longhorns were down 15 with five minutes remaining. They happened to get back-to-back scoring drives as Texas Tech failed to recover an onside kick. From that point on, it was all Texas.
The Longhorns drop three spots and they will face TCU this week. The Longhorns open as 12-point favorites.
Iowa State defeated TCU by a score of 37-34. Brock Purdy stepped up a bit from last week’s upset versus the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns; Purdy threw for 211 yards and one touchdown compared to 145 yards and one interception in the season opener.
Most of the offensive production for the Cyclones came from running back Breece Hall. Hall rushed for 155 yards on 18 carries for three touchdowns.
Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan had a great outing throwing for 241 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. However, he couldn't secure the victory for his team in the end.
Baylor claimed victory last weekend over Kansas, defeating the Jayhawks 47-14. Charlie Brewer looked good as he tossed 142 yards and one touchdown.
The Bears are beginning a new era of football since former head coach Matt Rhule took the head coaching position for the Carolina Panthers. Even with the new head coach, Baylor looked like their 2019 selves in this win.
As for Kansas, its struggles continue. Running back Pooka Williams Jr. is a bright spot for this Jayhawks squad, but the assets surrounding him continue to break down and malfunction.
Oklahoma State bounced back in a big way after the close call against Tulsa. The Cowboys defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 27-13. LD Brown and Chuba Hubbard both rushed for over 100 yards and scored one touchdown.
Oklahoma State went with the true freshman Shane Illingworth under center. He threw for 139 yards and one interception. West Virginia’s signal caller, Jarret Doege had a nice outing completing 54 percent of his passes for 285 yards and one touchdown.
The Cowboys try to stay undefeated as they take on Les Miles’ Kansas Jayhawks as 21 point favorites. The Mountaineers look to go 2-1 as they host Baylor as a three point underdog.
Jonathan Draeger is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. You can contact him at jrd6052@psu.edu.
