Big 12: Longhorns, Cowboys win big games

The upset bug finally bit the Big 12.

For better or worse, depending on the vantage point, the league experienced a seismic shift that spanned both North and South divisions Saturday.

How upsetting for Oklahoma and Missouri.

How uplifting for Texas and Oklahoma State.

Those four were 5-0 heading into the weekend, meaning two teams would fall from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Both were upsets, at least from the standpoint of rankings, yet business as usual in today’s landscape of college football craziness, where the Top 25s are reshuffled with regularity. Volatility had excused the Big 12 this season, until Saturday.

No. 5 Texas 45, No. 1 Oklahoma 35.

No. 17 Oklahoma State 28, No. 3 Missouri.

In the span of a few hours, the Big 12 lost one No. 1 and another likely No. 1, not to mention the favorites for the Big 12 title game.

Then on Sunday, the league had a new No. 1 — the Longhorns — and a new hot team to watch in the Cowboys.

It could have been wilder, except Texas Tech survived Nebraska’s late charge for an upset bid, finally prevailing in overtime to remain unbeaten.

Overall, the Big 12 held up well despite the knockoffs.

The new Associated Press rankings still showed the league much respect:

1. Texas.
4. Oklahoma.
7. Texas Tech.
8. Oklahoma State.
11. Missouri.
16. Kansas.

But another conference quake could be but days away. Missouri visits Texas and Kansas heads to OU, as the spotlight doesn’t dim, but redirects on the top teams.

Scoreboard

Texas 45, Oklahoma 35
Oklahoma State 28, Missouri 23
Baylor 38, Iowa State 10
Kansas State 44, Texas A&M 30
Texas Tech 37, Nebraska 31
Kansas 30, Colorado 14

Team of the Week: Oklahoma State

There had been lingering questions about the Cowboys, who built a 5-0 start around a soft non-confererence schedule. They were a two-touchdown underdog against the Tigers.

But OSU’s win in Columbia ranks as the best of the Mike Gundy era and could be the program’s top road victory — ever.

The Cowboys scored first to accomplish the fast start they were seeking. They ran strong, getting 187 yards on the ground, including 154 and a touchdown from Kendall Hunter. They got leadership and production from quarterback Zac Robinson, who tossed two scoring passes to Damian Davis and ran for another score.

And they got solid defense, yes defense, picking off Chase Daniel three times.

“This is a really big win for our program,” Gundy said after the game. “If (the Tigers) win, they may go to No. 1. To beat a team like that on the road is a really great victory for our program.”

Disappointment of the Week: Oklahoma

The Sooners’ No. 1 ranking lasted all of two weeks.

OU had looked so good in rolling to a 5-0 start. Not so good at times against Texas.

The running game sputtered, totaling 48 yards on 26 carries, with starter DeMarco Murray stuffed to the tune of six yards on seven tries. The Sooners committed 10 penalties and had two turnovers. And when middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds went out with an injury — torn knee ligaments, ending his season — the Sooner defense wilted, allowing four fourth-quarter scoring drives to the Longhorns.

“We needed stops and just couldn’t get them,” OU defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said.

The good news for the Sooners, they dropped only to No. 4 in the rankings. That’s not a long climb to the top.

“We’re halfway through the year,” Bob Stoops said. “The major part of it is coming, our conference play. We have to take pride in it, which we do.

“We have to keep our heads up and keep competing.”

Player of the Week: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

Reeling of late and coming off their worst home loss in a dozen years, the Wildcats needed a sign of life.

Freeman provided it, running for four touchdowns to spark a road win at A&M, snapping a five-game losing streak against the Aggies.

It was a dual-threat day for Freeman, who passed for 234 yards and scored on runs of 12, 11, 1 and 4 yards. Freeman carried 18 times for a career-high 95 yards.

“Whatever it takes to win,” Freeman said.

Freshman of the Week: Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor

Griffin continues to give Bears fans a reason to keep watching, attention they’ve struggled to maintain this deep into seasons.

But get this, Baylor is 3-3. And Saturday’s rout of Iowa State ended a 13-game conference losing streak.

Thanks to Griffin.

The true freshman threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score. Griffin completed 21 of 24 passes without an interception and got the Bears started right with a TD pass and run in the first half, leading the Bears to a 21-3 halftime lead.

Griffin’s completion rate, 87.5 percent, was a program best for a single game.

One and done?

Talk all last week celebrated Missouri’s offense and the fact that the Tigers hadn’t suffered so much as one three-and-out series under the guidance of Daniel.

That ended against Oklahoma State.

Did Daniel’s Heisman Trophy candidacy end with it?

In his first big spotlight game this season, Daniel struggled against a defense hardly considered elite. After throwing one interception in the first five games, he pitched three to the Cowboys, often throwing into heavy coverage.

Mizzou fell more than four touchdowns shy of its season scoring average.

“We didn’t play the part,” said Daniel. “We made too many turnovers, and I put it all on me... we seemed like we were a little bit off all night, the reason, I don’t know.

“I couldn’t figure out why.”

Tech-Huskers play extra

Texas Tech held on at home, avoiding a devastating defeat, with a bit of defense.

The Red Raiders scored first in overtime, only to offer Nebraska an opening to victory by missing the point after.

But Jamar Wall intercepted Joe Ganz on the Huskers’ possession, clinching the win.

It was a rare mistake for Ganz, who completed 82 percent of his passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns.

In the end, the Raiders survived to remain No. 7 in the polls.

“I thought we played a really good team who did some really good things,” said Tech coach Mike Leach. “I thought we had a really good week of preparation.

“Now, did we miss some opportunities and should some things have been different? Absolutely.”

Jayhawk soars

Kansas found an answer for its struggling running game, finally.

The Jayhawks turned to Jake Sharp, finally.

Hesitant to entrust Sharp with the job, despite past success, KU coaches went to him time and again Saturday and weren’t disappointed. Getting a career-high 31 carries, Sharp ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns to help the Jayhawks pull away from Colorado.

“Anybody who’s ever doubted that I can do that, there you go,” Sharp told reporters after the game.

Schedule drag

When Colorado upset West Virginia on a Thursday night in Boulder, all signs pointed up for the Buffaloes and their progression plan in the Big 12 North.

The arrow has flipped for the Buffs since.

Three straight losses, including a fourth-quarter fade at Kansas Saturday, was enough to cause the Buffs to call a team meeting to rally the troops Sunday.

The situation bears watching, with Cody Hawkins — the son of coach Dan Hawkins — under the microscope at quarterback. Playing behind an inexperienced and leaky offensive line, Hawkins has struggled and Colorado has fallen to 99th nationally in total offense.

Maybe Hawkins and the Buffs just need a break in the schedule. Their losses have come at Florida State, home against Texas and at KU.

D-flated Aggies

At Texas A&M, the Aggies are 0-2 in conference play for the first time since 1984. They’ve lost three of four home games and stand 2-4 overall.

And in one of the few remaining games in which they were given a shot to win, the Aggies were popped at home — again — by Kansas State.

“I think everyone’s patience is running a little thin,” said A&M Ryan Tannehill. “It’s real frustrating when you don’t make the critical plays. It starts to wear on you.”

’Clones reshuffling at QB

Iowa State’s 14th straight road loss came with added sting Saturday.

The Cyclones were routed by one of the league’s other also-rans, Baylor. And they were reeling from the loss of backup quarterback Philip Bates, who quit the team just days before the trip.

“We weren’t focused on the task at hand,” ISU cornerback Devin McDowell told reporters. “We just went out there and gave up, pretty much.”

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