3 games to watch on a big Saturday for the Big 12
This weekend, the Big Four will match up in what's essentially a pair of elimination games.
TCU goes to Oklahoma and Baylor plays at Oklahoma State on Saturday. Combined, these squads have a record of 36-3. No other conference in the country has four teams with one or fewer losses, making this the biggest weekend of the season so far.
Baylor at Oklahoma State
Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Okla. 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports
It was expected the Bears would miss their Heisman candidate Seth Russell, and now it's obvious they aren't the same team. Since Russell's injury, the Bears are averaging "only" 37 points and 474 yards per game. With Russell in charge, they were averaging 64 points and 719 yards per game.
The Bears are coming off a loss for the first time this season and freshman Jarrett Stidham (who's still dealing with a sore back) will be in the crosshairs of sack-man extraordinaire Emmanuel Ogbah, who leads the Big 12 with eight solo sacks and six assists. The Pokes are second in the conference in scoring defense at 24.5 points per game, though, they got run over by Iowa State, giving up 250 yards on the ground and 6.6 yards per carry.
It's no surprise the Bears may lean on their grinding running game Saturday since Shock Linwood leads the Big 12 with 127 rushing yards per game and Baylor leads the loop with 292 yards per game on the ground. Put simply, the team will need that running game to click.
The Cowboys are brimming with confidence because their two-quarterback system of Mason Rudolph and J.W. Walsh have them clicking through the air and on the ground. This is a team that's come from behind to steal five of its wins, including a pair of games in which it trailed by 17 points. No lead is safe against Oklahoma State. The running game's still a weak spot, but it's improved in the past few weeks and will need to work some clock and possession time against the potentially dangerous Bears.
TCU at Oklahoma
Memorial Stadium, Norman, Okla. 8 p.m. ET on ABC
The complexion of this game changed completely when TCU's main operatives Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson suffered injuries recently. As of Thursday, Frogs head coach Gary Patterson said Boykin is "questionable" for the showdown Saturday while Doctson's been ruled out for the rest of the regular season. Considering their dubious 23-point output against an awful Kansas defense last week, missing their most explosive players does not bode well for the Frogs in Norman.
Coming off a stellar win at Baylor, the Sooners will face a rejuvenated Frogs defense that's rebounded to rank as the second best team in total defense at 389 yards per game. There are no big stars - no Frog ranks in the top 10 of the Big 12 in tackles, sacks, or interceptions - but it's a unit that's making a comeback as its injuries mend. Look for a little bit of a defensive game here, despite this being a Big 12 contest (meaning both teams will still score 30 points or so).
The difference here? Baker Mayfield has become "Baker Magic," and having Sterling Shepard, Samaje Perine, and Joe Mixon gives the Sooners an edge. Don't be surprised if defensive coordinator Mike Stoops unleashes linebacker Eric Striker and defensive end Charles Tapper to put pressure on TCU's offense and force some turnovers.
Iowa State at Kansas State
Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, Kan. 12 p.m. ET on FS1
It's the battle of embattled coaches.
Both Iowa State's Paul Rhoads and Kansas State's Bill Snyder are facing heavy criticism for their teams' recent foibles and it's rumored neither of them will return next season.
This will be the third straight season in which Iowa State will miss the postseason and Rhoads' overall record is a paltry 32-53. A buyout of his contract at this time will cost the school $4.5 million since he's signed through 2021.
The Cyclones got a midseason jolt of energy from quarterback Joel Lanning, beating Texas and pushing TCU and Oklahoma State to the brink. Freshman phenom Mike Warren got a little dinged up against the Cowboys, but managed to become just the seventh frosh to post a 1,000-yard season.
Kansas State's playing for its postseason life, which should be incentive enough. At 3-6, it'll need to beat Iowa State, Kansas, and West Virginia. Quarterback Joe Hubener has been hit and miss, as witnessed by his 47-percent completion percentage, and leads an offense that's dead last in the Big 12 at 338 yards per game.