3 games to watch in the Big 12: Baylor's Stidham gets his chance to shine
Sorry, folks: the College Football Playoff top four is out, and there are zero Big 12 teams involved. But worry not: the month of November will change all that, with each of the conference's top four of Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma playing a round-robin schedule.
And honestly, the non-conference schedules have been mostly a bunch of tomato cans. None of the big four's 30 combined wins have come against any teams that are currently in the top 25.
November is here to change all that, and things should work themselves out for the Big 12 in the College Football Playoff. Unless there's another tie at the top and there is no clear-cut conference champion. If that's the case again, look for immediate conference expansion.
No. 6 Baylor at Kansas State
Thursday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
Obviously this will be one of those under-the-national-microscope Thursday night games, as the Bears have a lot to prove. But the nation's college football eyes will also be watching with intense interest to see how true freshman Jarrett Stidham does in place of the injured Seth Russell.
The Bears probably couldn't have asked for a better opponent to break in Stidham, since the purple Cats have lost four straight games. Kansas State quarterback Joe Hubener has regressed to a 45 completion percentage and has five interceptions compared to just five touchdowns.
The Wildcats have the eighth-ranked pass defense in the conference, giving up 269 yards per game. So now you see why Corey Coleman, Jay Lee, and company are licking their chops despite no Russell under center. Look for the BU coaches to keep things very simple for the hyper-talented Stidham. That will also open up some running lanes for Shock Linwood, who leads the Big 12 with 139 yards per game on the ground.
The onus falls on longtime defensive coordinator Tom Hayes, a 32-year coaching veteran, to find ways for the Wildcats to pressure Stidham into a lot of bad decisions and keep Kansas State in the game.
No. 8 TCU at No. 14 Oklahoma State
Saturday, Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
One of the unbeatens will fall Saturday in a matchup where both teams feature high-powered offenses and defenses that are either getting better or getting healthier.
Trevone Boykin is on every Heisman Trophy finalist list, and with good reason, because everything looks like it comes so easy for him. He is leading the Big 12 with 431 yards per game, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Of course, the degree of difficulty ramps up now, as the Frogs face a pass defense that has 10 interceptions and surrenders just 218 passing yards a game.
The big difference could be TCU's improving defense. Fifteen different players have made their first careers starts this season, but they're jelling as their bumps and bruises heal. Oklahoma State's (mostly) punchless running game must make a dent. If the Frogs can shut down J.W. Walsh's scrambling ability and make the Pokes one dimensional, it's curtains for OSU.
Keep in mind the Frogs haven't been world-beaters on the road, escaping Minnesota, Texas Tech, and K-State and also having their struggles at Iowa State. Oklahoma State has a better offense than any of those teams, with their two-quarterback system of Mason Rudolph through the air and Walsh on the ground.
Iowa State at No. 15 Oklahoma
Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
This game's profile has risen bit by bit over the last few weeks, as suddenly, Iowa State's been rejuvenated by the emergence of Joel Lanning at quarterback and naming Todd Sturdy offensive coordinator to replace Mark Mangino. It helps that the Cyclone defense looks like it has grown some teeth after holding Texas to a measly 204 total yards in last week's 24-0 clampdown (and yes, that's the same Texas team that took down Oklahoma a few weeks ago in the Red River Rivalry).
The Cyclones had moments of brilliance in their losses to TCU and Baylor before dominating the Longhorns last week. Freshman running back Mike Warren is sitting second in the Big 12 with 119 yards a game. If the Cyclone offensive line can get a good push versus the Sooners' defense, Warren could be the key in terms of ball control.
The Sooners' defense is still capable of putting a beatdown on the Cyclones and their youthful playmakers. Eric Striker is second in the conference in tackles for loss with 12 and sacks with 6.5, and as usual, he's the key to OU's defensive success.