Around the Big 12: Week 12

By Steve Lansdale
Senior staff writer / editor

The Big 12 has proven to be a tougher conference in 2019 than many anticipated and the Texas Longhorns have been right in the middle of the evidence, battling through tough matchups against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. Each of those games was decided by seven or fewer points.

The last of those, of course, was UT’s heartbreaking two-point loss Saturday in Ames, Iowa. While that setback had an obvious impact on the postseason hopes of the Longhorns — Texas will not be playing in the Big 12’s championship game — a lot of questions remain about the postseason, as teams around the conference continue to[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] determine which teams are heading to which bowl games.

No. 10 Oklahoma 34, No. 13 Baylor 31
So much for Baylor’s perfect season.

The Bears had the visiting Sooners in the perfect position. OU was without arguably the nation’s most gifted receiver, CeeDee Lamb, and fell behind early, trailing 28-3 in the second quarter. But Oklahoma put together the largest comeback in program history, overcoming the three-touchdown halftime deficit to knock the Bears from the ranks of the undefeated on Gabe Brkic’s 31-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining.

Each team is now 9-1 overall, and 6-1 in Big 12 games. OU is No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings; Baylor is No. 13.

Heisman hopeful quarterback Jalen Hurts threw four touchdown passes in the victory. He lost two of his three fumbles, but was able to muster most of his heroics came in the second half, the Baylor offense succeeded in the first. His Baylor counterpart, Charlie Brewer, was outstanding, at least in the first half, when he threw a pair of touchdowns and ran for two more. Brewer finished the game with 194 passing yards and failed to throw a touchdown in the second half.

That Hurts led the OU rushing attack was not unusual, as he picked up 114 yards on the ground on 27 carries. Brewer, however, typically is not Baylor’s top ground threat. But he was Saturday, racking up 65 yards on 17 carries.

Oklahoma hosts TCU Saturday, while Baylor hosts Texas at 2:30 p.m.

No. 25 Oklahoma State 31, Kansas 13
Running back Chuba Hubbard ran for 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help lead the Cowboys to a comfortable win in Stillwater.

The victory lifted Oklahoma State to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in Big 12 games, while the Jayhawks stumbled to 3-7 overall, and 1-6 in conference games.

Hubbard has 1,726 rushing yards, which ranks first among all Football Bowl Subdivision runners. But it would be inaccurate to suggest he was the Cowboys’ only weapon against the Jayhawks.

Wide receiver Dillon Stoner caught five passes for 150 yards and a pair of scores, while quarterback Spencer Sanders threw for 168 yards and a touchdown.

Kansas got a solid-if-unspectacular performance from quarterback Carter Stanley, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but the KU running game disappeared; running back Pooka Williams lead the Kansas ground game with just 26 yards on 12 carries.

The running game was the biggest disparity between the two offenses: Kansas mustered just 39 rushing yards, while the Cowboys ran for 209. The other big difference was in ball security: OSU didn’t turn the ball over once, while the Jayhawks gave it up three times.

Both teams go on the road next week. Kansas heads to Iowa State, while Oklahoma State will be at West Virginia.

West Virginia 24, Kansas State 20
It was one thing when K-State lost last week on a last-minute field goal at Texas. The Wildcats were disappointed, but acknowledged that the Longhorns are a legitimate opponent and the game was played in Austin.

But the message out of Manhattan after the loss to UT was that the Wildcats were glad to be headed home, would rest and regroup and then get back on track this week. But someone forgot to tell their guests, as a rebuilding West Virginia team walked into Manhattan and headed out with an upset victory over KSU. Playing without starting quarterback Austin Kendall, the Mountaineers ended a five-game losing streak and  improved to 4-6 overall, and 2-5 against teams in the Big 12, while K-State, just three weeks announcing its presence in the Big 12 race with an upset of Oklahoma, dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in conference games.

Backup quarterback Jarret Doege passed for 234 yards and three touchdowns to lead the WVU offense, and cornerback Hakeem Bailey snuffed out the Wildcats’ hope of a late rally with an interception in the waning seconds of the game.

West Virginia won despite being outgained by more than 100 yards, 421-319.

George Campbell led the West Virginia receiving corps with five receptions for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns; Bryce Wheaton’s only catch was a 50-yard score.

West Virginia hosts Oklahoma State next week. Kansas State visits Texas Tech.

TCU 33, Texas Tech 31
The Horned Frogs relied on their kicker to get a leg up in a matchup of two teams trying to gain bowl eligibility. Jonathan Song drilled four field goals, including a 20-yard chip shot with 5:38 left, to pull out a two-point victory in Lubbock.

With the victory, TCU improved to 5-5 overall and 3-4 against Big 12 teams, while the Red Raiders fell to 4-6 and 2-5 in conference games, and will need to win both remaining games to qualify for a bowl bid.

The start of the game was a bit of an outlier for the Horned Frogs, who jumped out to a 17-0 lead after the first quarter. It was the first time since Sept. 28 that they had scored in double digits in the opening stanza of a game.

Freshman quarterback Max Duggan completed 25 of 42 passes for 323 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and he also contributed in the rushing attack, picking up 75 yards on 18 carries, trailing only Darius Anderson among TCU runners.

TCU’s Taye Barber led both teams with eight receptions for 137 yards, while Jalen Reagor made the most of his three receptions, piling up 83 yards and a touchdown.

Texas Tech quarterback Jett Duffey completed 19 of 33 passes for 333 yards and four touchdown passes, and also led the Red Raiders in rushing with nine carries for 42 yards. R.J. Turner caught just three passes, but stretched them into 116 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including one that covered 70 yards.

TCU heads to Norman Saturday to take on Oklahoma, while Tech will host Kansas State in its final home game of the season.
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