Big 12 Update: OU, Texas Survive Scares

We were a play away from one of the two top dogs losing Saturday and busting the Big 12 race wide open. To heck with CFP representation, chaos must ensue for it not to be an all-SEC Big 12 title game in December.

Oklahoma State may actually be the conference’s best hope at crashing the party in Arlington after winning its third straight, which you can read about here on PFB. Iowa State and Kansas State are still in the mix, too, though.

Here’s an update from the Big 12 this past weekend.

No. 6 Oklahoma 31, UCF 29

This game came down to OU stopping UCF on a two-point attempt that would have tied the game with 1:16 left. Instead, a questionable call and a big stop had OU taking a knee and surviving a scare for the second straight game.

UCF did look more like what we expected out of the Knights when they joined the conference, though, with quarterback John Rhys Plumlee back. OU, on the other hand, even while struggling at times Saturday, still appears to be the best team in the Big 12.

Even after its best performance during conference play, UCF (3-4) has lost four straight and is still looking for its first Big 12 win. The next chance will be against West Virginia at 11 a.m. Saturday in Orlando.

OU will put its unbeaten record on the line again in Lawrence against Kansas, which beat UCF 51-22 two weeks ago.

No. 8 Texas 31, Houston 24

Maybe it was a Red River hangover for Texas, but this game shouldn’t have been this close. However, maybe Houston has started to figure things out after beating West Virginia last week for its first Big 12 win.

The Longhorns lost a 21-0 early lead when Houston tied the game in the third quarter. The teams then exchanged field goals before CJ Baxter scored a 16-yard touchdown run with 5:37 left to ultimately win the game for Texas.

The biggest story to come from this game, though, was Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers exiting late in the third quarter after taking a hit while scrambling. His right arm was in a sling the rest of the game as Maalik Murphy took over at quarterback.

Texas improved to 6-1, but possibly without Ewers, its next matchup with BYU should be even more challenging. Luckily for Texas, the game is at least in Austin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. At 3-4, Houston will travel to Kansas State at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Baylor 32, Cincinnati 29

The loser of this game was probably destined for the bottom of the Big 12 when the season ends.

The Bearcats put up a solid effort Saturday, even after trailing 29-14 at the start of the fourth quarter. That may have been Cincinnati’s best chance at a Big 12 win, though, as the Bearcats (2-5) are still trying for their first ever Big 12 win. Cincinnati gets Oklahoma State next in a night game at Boone Pickens Stadium for the Cowboys’ homecoming matchup.

Baylor (3-4) will host Iowa State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

BYU 27, Texas Tech 14

There’s nothing noticeably impressive about BYU, but the Cougars still continue to win more than not.

BYU’s win over Texas Tech in Provo improved the Cougars to 5-2, with both of their losses coming in Big 12 play against Kansas and TCU. BYU gets its biggest challenge yet next week, though, when it heads to Austin for a date with Texas.

Texas Tech continued to be inconsistent at 3-5. The Red Raiders put up a fight with Kansas State last week, but never had a chance against BYU, starting the game down 14-0 and 24-7 at halftime. Tech gets a week off before welcoming TCU.

Kansas State 41, TCU 3

Boy, have things changed since these met in last year’s Big 12 title game.

The wheels may be falling off in Fort Worth, but Kansas State was also impressive Saturday while playing two quarterbacks. K-State started Will Howard at quarterback as usual but also used freshman Avery Johnson, who turned heads with five rushing touchdowns last week against Texas Tech. Technically, Johnson started, but not at QB as he got a four-yard carry on a jet-sweep the first play.

Saturday, Howard threw three touchdowns, compared to Johnson’s one. Neither scored on the ground but combined for 135 rushing yards.

K-State scored the last 27 points of the game Saturday while shutting out TCU in the second half. TCU was without quarterback Chandler Morris because of injury, though, as Josh Hoover started.

K-State (5-2) hosts Houston at 11 a.m. Saturday, while TCU (4-4) gets a week off before a trip to Texas Tech.

Big 12 Standings