Last week, the Big 10 went out and showed the nation just how bad a "power 5" conference can be. Going into week 3 of the season, the Big XII was in position to make a similar showing, or make a (small) statement. The results were kind of mixed, but overall pretty good. Here's how things unfolded:
8 Baylor 63
Buffalo 21
The Bears finished out their easy out-of-conference schedule with a thrashing of Buffalo. About the only real noteworthy thing I took from this game was Bryce Petty's participation a week after sitting out with a back injury. I didn't notice any drop off in his performance, but then again it was Buffalo. There was a time, not too long ago, that Buffalo was a decent enough team and may have given the Bears at least a little competition...those days are gone, Buffalo is a terrible team and the Bears made quick work of them scoring on their first four possessions. Things get a little more interesting for BU soon, as they play their next game in Ames, on September 27.
Next up for Baylor: BYE
West Virginia 40
Maryland 37
It seems like 6 or 7 years ago Clint Trickett was coming off the bench for an injured EJ Manuel when the Sooners played the Seminoles in Tallahassee...but it was just 2011. Regardless, Clint Trickett has matured as a player since then, and led the Mountaineers to a victory over Maryland. In the process, Trickett became the first Big XII QB to pass for over 1,000 yards, which is pretty impressive. WVU led almost the entire game except for a brief period in the 4th quarter when Maryland tied them up at 37-37. Clint Trickett led the Mountaineers on a 65 yard drive late in the game to set up a Josh Lambert 47 yard FG as time expired. The Mountaineers gained 694 yards of total offense against Maryland, but also allowed 447 yards of offense. Maryland wasn't known as an offensive juggernaut, so that is something I'm sure Holgerson will want to avoid this week.
Next up for West Virginia: Oklahoma
Kansas 3
Duke 41
When you see this score, you just assume KU is still KU and Duke just walked through the 'hawks. That's not too far from what happened, but KU did play a decent first half of football. The Jayhawks trailed 20-3 at the half, but it was penalties and turnovers that kept KU from really staying in the game. The 'hawks ended up with 7 penalties for 74 yards and two turnovers. Duke isn't a top 10 type of team, but they are good enough that a team like KU can't beat them if they don't play a clean game. KU ran the ball well (ending with 202 yards rushing), but the passing game was almost non-existent. The Bluedevils had their way on the ground, rushing for 331 yards and 3 TDs. KU simply had no answer for Duke's running game, and didn't provide enough offense to keep the Jayhawks within striking distance. Another long year may be on the horizon in Lawrence.
Next up for Kansas: Central Michigan
Texas Tech 28
Arkansas 49
Things are going south in a hurry in Lubbock. This was the first solid out-of-conference game Tech has played in a while, and was supposed to be the game that the Red Raiders announced they were 'for real'. In turned into a track meet for the Razorbacks. The porous Tech defense allowed 438 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs. Arkansas averaged 6.4 yards per carry for the game. That number is shockingly big. In the few instances the Razorbacks needed to go to the air, they were very average (just 6 of 12 for 61 yards), but it didn't really matter as they had no problem running the ball. Tech had survived the first two games in large part by putting points on the board, this time they came up short. The offense played well at times, but couldn't answer the bell in the second half, only scoring one touchdown. Tech cut down on the penalties this game (with 5), but showed major flaws in their defense again. Things don't get any easier for the Red Raiders as they open conference play a week from this Thursday in Stillwater.
Next up for Texas Tech: BYE
Iowa State 20
Iowa 17
It seems like every year, when ISU plays Iowa, it's a clear, sunny day. That was the case again last Saturday in Iowa City, and it ended up being a really good game. Iowa State is slowly getting better each week and rebounded from last week's close loss to KSU by beating their in-state rival. After a fumble stopped ISU at the Iowa goalline in the second quarter, the Hawkeyes jumped to a 14-3 halftime lead and it looked like they had taken control of the game. About midway through the third quarter, Cyclone QB Sam Richardson hit TE E.J. Bibbs on a jump pass in the endzone to pull the Cyclones within 4 points. After a back and fourth defensive game, the Cyclones scored another TD midway through the fourth quarter to take the lead 17-14. Iowa added a field goal with 4:00 left to tie the game 17-17. As defensive a game as it had become, it looked like Iowa would survive the upset. After the kickoff, ISU took possession of the ball at their own 32 and went on an 11 play drive that set up a last second field goal to win the game. The Cyclones are a scrappy group, and never gave up on the victory. ISU will have the week off before hosting Baylor on the 27th.
Next up for Iowa State: BYE
TCU 30
Minnesota 7
Treyvon Boykin is quietly off to a pretty good start for the Frogs. Against Minnesota, Boykin threw for 258 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ran for another 92 yards. Minnesota was outmatched all day, and could barely muster much offense. TCU held the Gophers to 99 yards rushing (2.5 yards per carry) and 169 yards passing. The game was over by half-time, with TCU up 24-0. Minnesota didn't get into the endzone until the 4th quarter. Minnesota suffers their first loss of the year, and had been really solid in OOC games in recent years. It's hard to tell if Minnesota is going downhill, or if TCU is playing really good, but there's no denying the TCU defense is as good as it has been in recent years and Treyvon Boykin has played a lot of football and appears to be comfortable in the new TCU offense. TCU gets a week off before finishing their non-conference slate against SMU on the 27th.
Next up for TCU: BYE
Oklahoma State 43
UTSA 13
UTSA had earned their stripes heading into this game, and I thought they would give the Pokes a hard time. Apparently I was way off. With the news of Walsh probably being gone for the year, OSU leaned on Daxx Garman again, and he delivered. His accuracy isn't going to win him any awards this year (16 of 30), but he connected for quite a bit of yardage (315). Garman was helped by the OSU ground game (that gained 162 yards) and the Poke defense. The game wasn't decided until the 4th quarter, but it never really felt like OSU was in danger of losing. The OSU defensive line looked pretty solid on the day, and they'll need to hold up if OSU is to finish in the top half of the league. The Pokes are walking a tight-rope at QB, but so far Garman appears to be a serviceable QB. OSU will get this weekend off before hosting Texas Tech in Stillwater on Thursday the 25th.
Next up for Oklahoma State: BYE
Texas 17
UCLA 20
The game started on a bad note for Texas when UCLA won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Texas chose to kick-off, which led to UCLA getting the ball to start both halves. The game went about as expected, with the Texas defense keeping them in them in it and Tyrone Swoopes continuing his solid play. The most important thing Swoopes was able to do was take care of the ball. Unfortunately, the Horns needed the offense to do more than protect the ball, and just didn't have enough production to win the game. Texas looked to have the game wrapped up late when they took possession with a little over 4 minutes remaining in the game. Some questionable play-calling led to Horns punting after only using up a little over a minute of the clock. After a great punt return, the Bruins went deep on the first play of the series and took the lead on a 33 yard touchdown pass. Texas got the ball back with about 3 minutes remaining, but turned it over on downs. The Texas defense played a solid game (and knocked out UCLA starting QB Hundley), but were unable to close the deal when it mattered. Texas gets a bye week before going to KU.
Next up for Texas: BYE
BYE week: Kansas State
Originally Posted by BoulderSooner79
