Big 12 Ratings of October 30, 2022
1. AP no. 7 Texas Christian, 5-0, 8-0. TD with 20 seconds left seals TCU’s 41-31 victory at West Virginia. Next, v. Texas Tech.
2. AP no. 11 Kansas State, 4-1, 6-2. Duece Vaughn’s 156 yards rushing and 62 yard TD burst propel Wildcats to 48-0 beat down of 7th ranked Cowboys in Manhattan. Next v. Texas.
3. AP no. 18 Oklahoma State, 3-2, 6-2. Waddies fumble inside K-State twenty while trailing 14-0, and Wildcats leave Waddies stuck in quick sand as OSU injury woes mount. Next, at Kansas.
4. Baylor, 3-2, 5-3. Bears three touchdown 4th Quarter burst headed by 18 yard interception score bury Texas Tech’s comeback attempt, 45-17. Next at Oklahoma.
5. Texas Tech, 2-3, 5-3; Two late 2nd quarter Baylor drives break 3-3 tie as Bears dominate Red Raiders in Lubbock. Next at TCU.
6. Texas, 3-2, 5-3. Longhorns use open date to launch serious drive for Big 12 title. Next at Kansas State.
7. Oklahoma, 2-3, 5-3. Sooners use field goal trickery to recover momentum and post most points allowed during season by d-tough Cyclones, 27-13. Next v. Baylor.
8. Kansas, 2-3, 5-3. Previously amazing Jayhawks after open date must now face Big 12’s power houses to attain bowl eligibility; Next v. OSU.
9. West Virginia, 1-4, 3-5. Mountaineers show Big 12 depth by pressing Horn Frogs until 4th quarter before losing, 41-31 in Morgantown. Next, at Iowa State.
10. Iowa State, 0-5, 3-5. Cyclones’ 4th quarter rally snuffed out in Norman with fewer than five minutes remaining by Oklahoma linebacker’s interception return to two yard line. Next, v. West Virginia.
Previous Week’s Ratings, October 23, 2022.
1. Texas Christian
2. Oklahoma State
3. Kansas State
4. Texas Tech
5. Texas
6. Baylor
7. Oklahoma
8. Kansas
9. Iowa State
10. West Virginia
Summary
The Big 12’s two leading contenders enjoyed wins Saturday that continue those teams as front runners in the Conference title chase. With no losses, and victories over one loss Kansas State and two loss Oklahoma State, the Texas Christian Horn Frogs seem destined for the December 3 Big 12 title game. And with Saturday’s 48-0 blasting of Oklahoma State, Kansas State, our pre-season pick for honors, holds the edge at second in the Conference race. Two loss Texas, Baylor and OSU are virtually the only other other squads with a chance to overtake the leaders.
The OSU Cowboys, down 14-0 in the first quarter, shot themselves in the foot by fumbling at the Wildcats 18 after a long first quarter pass reception. Then with Quarterback Spencer Sanders hindered by an injured passing shoulder, and with leading rusher Dominic Richardson also sidelined, the Waddies’ defense also cratered in the embarrassing K-State beat down.
Texas Christian held onto its Big 12 lead by outlasting West Virginia, 4131, while Baylor used a three TD fourth quarter to bury Texas Tech, 45-17. Baylor’s QB Blake Happen has been joined lately by freshman phenom Richard Reese to make a late season charge for Conference honors. Reese netted 148 yards rushing and three TD’s, along with another 215 yards passing by Shappen, to put away the Red Raiders.
Baylor could jumble the Conference race by beating TCU, Kansas State and Texas; thereby placing them in a championship re-run match (providing OSU loses once more). However, Oklahoma State has already beaten Texas and Baylor, so should the Cowboys win out, together with a two game slip by K-State, the Cowboys would be propelled to the championship contest, no matter what Baylor would do. Also, Texas still must play TCU and K-State, which could provide the Longhorns an edge to overturn the two leaders, should OSU slip.
So, the Big 12 title race is far from over. Oklahoma’s Bowl Projections With Oklahoma’s conference title aspirations almost certainly ended by losses to three of the Big 12’s five leaders, the 5-3 Sooners face post season bowl elimination, should they fail to win at least six games. OU’s Conference wins are over two of the League’ three lowest rated teams. So, can Oklahoma secure one more win essential for bowl eligibility with a higher rated schedule? Let’s look at their possible destinations, should they qualify for a bowl game.
If the Sooners win out (Baylor, Texas Tech, West Virginia, OSU), and finish 9-3; they could play in the Cheesits Bowl, in Orlando; with possible opponent-North Carolina. Sooners win three more games, and finish 8-4; then the Texas Bowl, in Houston; with a possible opponent in LSU or Texas A & M. Sooners win two more games, and finish 7-5; the Liberty Bowl in Memphis would be likely. with a possible opponent-Kentucky or Arkansas. And should the Sooners win one more game, and finish 6-6; the First Responders Bowl in Dallas; with a possible opponent-Cincinnati or Central Florida. And should the Sooners fail to win another game; and finish 5-7. no bowl game in 2022.
(Could Oklahoma still qualify for the Big 12 title game? Well, maybe. However, Oklahoma would need to win out and K-State lose three times and Texas twice. Not likely.).
