Around the Big 12: Week 7 (Football)

Story posted October 15, 2020 in CommRadio, Sports by Logan Bourandas

While not much went on in terms of games last week in the Big 12, massive news broke out, as Baylor became the first program to postpone its football season due to increasing COVID-19 cases. The program has already had to postpone two games at the start of the year against Louisiana Tech and Houston, now postponing last week’s matchup against seventh-ranked Oklahoma State as well.

It is still unclear whether or not Baylor will be able to play its game next week against Texas despite a game time being announced. The Bears have recorded 28 active coronavirus cases as of Monday.

In terms of games being played last week, the Red River Showdown lived up to the high-scoring expectations it was given, even though we didn’t see much of that scoring until overtime.

In what was supposed to be a passing duel between two pocket-passing quarterbacks, neither team eclipsed 300 yards through the air. We actually saw more with their legs. Texas’ Sam Ehlinger started off the scoring in the extra frame with a 3-yard scramble for one of two rushing touchdowns for him in OT. Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler snuck in for a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the second overtime as well. The game would go on to have four overtimes and would finally end when Ehlinger threw an interception to Oklahoma’s Tre Brown to end the game.

Elsewhere, Iowa State, fresh off an upset win over Oklahoma, continued its hit streak, as the Cyclones stifled the pass-heavy Texas Tech Red Raiders. Texas Tech quarterbacks had only 212 passing yards the entire game, as Alan Bowman struggled in the starting spot, while the offense showed slight signs of life when Henry Colombi came in as the replacement. Even then, the offense only scored 15 points, while Iowa State’s duo of Brock Purdy and Breece Hall combined for four touchdowns for the Cyclones. They’re back in the AP Top 25 this week with that win.

This week, there will only be one game taking place in the Big 12, as Kansas looks for its first win of the year, while West Virginia tries to avoid an upset. The Mountaineers are favored in this game by over three touchdowns, as Kansas has lost both of its last games by over 30 points.

 

Logan Bourandas is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.