Weekend War Zone: Big 12 Games Provide Intrigue, Fireworks, Upsets

With conference play opening up in nearly full swing, surprise scores abounded. TCU’s massive upset of Oklahoma State was almost overshadowed by a shocking Baylor score, but they remembered who they were at the worst possible time. Texas Tech had a big game as well, and set themselves up for a meaningful showdown against OSU next weekend.

Baylor 41, Oklahoma 49

The only thing more unbelievable than the Bears nearly upsetting the Sooners was how they blew the chance. Baylor looked like they were going to get blown out early, but fought back from an early double-digit deficit to take the lead in the third quarter. Maybe it was Baker asking to be called daddy that inspired them, but BU kept clawing back, and pulled within a single score with just minutes remaining. They even recovered the onside kick, giving them a shot to win with 1:41 remaining. But Zach Smith fumbled after taking a big hit, and Baylor’s best chance to win to date was squandered. The Sooners move to 4-0 and the Bears to 0-4, and all remains right in the world.

Our Daily Bears will tell you all about the thriller on the Brazos, while Crimson and Cream Machine is just happy to survive and advance.

Next Up: Baylor travels to Kansas State next weekend to face an angry Cats team coming off of a bye, while the Sooners get the week off before welcoming in the Cyclones for Week Six.

Iowa State, BYE WEEK

Hey, Iowa lost a football game at home on a fourth down walk-off touchdown to Penn State. That’s basically a win for the Cyclones, right?

Next Up: Texas comes to Ames for an early season showdown between two teams trying to prove their competence.

Kansas 34, West Virginia 56

West Virginia, welcome to the hell that TCU fans have known for five years, that which is playing Kansas. For whatever reason, after jumping out to a 35-13 halftime lead, Holgo got bored or something and allowed the Jayhawks to crawl back into the game. KU outscored the Eers 14-0 in the third, meaning they were back within a single score heading into the fourth quarter at home, but then they remembered they are Kansas and WVU rattled off 21 points to pull away.

The Eers looked a little vulnerable in half number two, something that Gary Patterson will certainly pay attention to with WVU coming to Fort Worth after the bye week. Rock Chalk Talk hasn’t started a countdown to basketball season yet, but seem defeated. The Smoking Musket was scared for a bit, but happy with the result.

Next Up: Both teams have Bye Weeks, after which WVU heads to Funky Town and Kansas welcomes in Texas Tech.

Kansas State, BYE WEEK

Next Up: The Wildcats get Baylor at home. That should be the cure for what ails them.

Oklahoma State 31, TCU 44

Hey. It’s real. Not a dream. The Frogs went into Stillwater as a 13 point dog and came out a 13 point winner. TCU might just be for real, but with conference play just now beginning, let’s not get ahead of ourselves too much. We have 21 Points for your viewing pleasure, as well as a full recap, while Cowboys Ride For Free has a lot of questions to answer about their team, mainly their ability to tackle, while giving ZERO credit to TCU for going to their house and whipping them on both sides of the ball.

Pride comes before the fall, friends. Time to eat some crow.

Next Up: The Frogs get a Bye Week to heal up and prep for a really good WVU team, while Oklahoma State has to go to Lubbock. At night. Good luck with that.

Texas 24, BYE WEEK

Next Up: Texas at Iowa State is a game I will pay close attention to next week with the Frogs on a bye.

Texas Tech 27, Houston 24

Dammit, Red Raiders, I am starting to believe in you. Texas Tech went into Houston and muzzled what had looked like a really good offense on their home turf. The defense (yes, Tech has one of those it appears) flustered Kyle Allen to the tune of a 22.9 QBR, two picks, and just one TD. It’s too early to determine if Tech is a contender, Houston a pretender, or both - but this is a defense that won’t sieve away games like those of the past.

Offensively, the Red Raiders aren’t quite as explosive as in years past, and I am not a believer in Nik Shimonek quite yet - under the pressure of the Houston D Line, he looked very average, but did enough to get the job done and got a ton of help Keke Coutee and running back Justin Stockton. Next week becomes a HUGE game for two teams trying to establish/re-establish their place in the conference pecking order.

Next Up: A night game in Lubbock against the suddenly reeling Cowboys. Excellent.