Daily Mullets (November 14)

Dez catching a 50-yarder the day after his dad died to get America’s team to 8-1 on the year? Whoo boy it was a great weekend to be a Cowboy of any variety.

Thunder and lightning

We all know how good Carson and Hill have been over the last few weeks. Now they’re starting to get some national recognition.

Chris Carson and Justice Hill: The Cowboys’ one-two punch at running back ran hard in a 45-44 win over Texas Tech, combining for 199 yards and three touchdowns. They did a nice job finishing off the win on the ground, including Carson’s vicious truck-kneel combo to end it. Hill’s exciting freshman campaign continues with four 100-yard performances in his past seven games. [ESPN]

If OSU wins the Big 12 this year, I have no doubt this duo will be one of the top three reasons why. It’s also true that the offensive line deserves a ton of credit.

Oklahoma State is 8-2, on a six-game winning streak and in control of its own fate with regard to the Big 12 title. The Cowboys, like the team of a year ago, have won in improbable fashions. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about OSU’s last two victories, though, is that the game was clinched via a ground game that was in hiding the past two seasons. [Tulsa World]

Justin Phillips, future star?

I raved about Phillips after he had 1,393 tackles in Bedlam 2014 (approximate number), but he hasn’t done much since. Well, until Saturday against Texas Tech.

The key to Phillips’ improvement? Consistency. “It comes in spurts,” defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said. “He’ll be the first one to tell you he hasn’t been consistent. He’s made some mistakes. But he didn’t have a choice today … He came up big on a couple big plays.” [NewsOK]

Hopefully this sets him up for a big final two seasons.

Brad Underwood’s problem

Brad Underwood was frustrated with a few things in the Campbell game. Turnovers on screens and how much Oklahoma State was talking back and forth. Both seem easy to correct.

“I was very disappointed with ball-screen coverage,” Underwood said. “That’s something that we pride ourselves on. My team last year was No. 1 in the country in turnovers forced on ball screens, but our rotations were off. “One of our biggest problems as a team, is we’re quiet. Quiet teams have problems. You can’t be quiet. You have to be vocal. We’re getting there. We’re a lot better. But the way we play, in our coverages, you’ve got to call screens and you’ve got to be loud. And the guards have to be able to make their adjustments through being vocal.” [NewsOK]

I’m personally more concerned about the lack of flow in the halfcourt offense, but I’m not going to lose my mind over one game, either. Plus, future pro Jawun Evans seems like he’s about to have a monster year.

“It feels great wearing teams down.”

It would have been easy for @J3vans1_ to talk about himself after going off for 34 points Friday night, but that's not his style. #okstate pic.twitter.com/plTBeFMpfQ

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) November 13, 2016

Does the Big 12 have hope?

It probably doesn’t, but at least Saturday provided a glimmer.

Saturday brought good news in the afternoon. Conference contenders OU, OSU and West Virginia all won interesting tests. Then the sun went down and chaos finally found this sport. Five of the nation’s top 10 teams lost, including No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4, the first time those slots had all fallen on the same day since Oct. 19, 1985. [NewsOK]

The road Mason is paving

This on Mason Rudolph’s home town of Rock Hill is fascinating. I didn’t know they produced Jadeveon Clowney!

Beyond sating the demands of readers in the place that calls itself Football City, U.S.A., the weekly roundup reminds the current players at Northwestern, South Pointe and Rock Hill of what is possible. Some of the athletes they grew up watching and reading about, these young players know, have gone on to play beyond college. [New York Times]

The playoff is so silly

Not only do you not have to win your conference. You don’t even have to win your own division in your own conference, and everybody knows it. This is from 11 Warriors:

I don’t care that the loss paved the way for “James Franklin, Big Ten champion.” Penn State may still lose, and if it doesn’t, there’s no way ESPN will allow the committee to deny them an Alabama–Ohio State rematch if the Buckeyes finish 11-1. Penn State can have the trophy, if that’s the case. That’s another week to get healthy and prepare for the playoffs.

As the kids these days say … so true.

If Oklahoma makes the playoff, it will be another clear indication that brand name rules all else in selection process. https://t.co/TgKBn2xLsf

— Michael Peters (@mgpeters23) November 14, 2016

That blown situation at Oklahoma State earlier this year against CMU is going to come back to haunt the Big 12

— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) November 13, 2016

Those helmets tho

I’m not a fan, but tons of people loved them. And OSU kept them a secret for weeks … even in the minutes leading up to the game when they came out for warmups in Chrome Pete.

It seems the black chin straps were needed on these helmets, so the equipment staff had white chin straps in the orange chrome helmets that were in the lockers when the players arrived. Some of the players complained. “I had to get my story straight,” head of equipment Matt Davis said. “I told them we had to wear the white chin straps because we have always worn white chin straps on Senior Day and that was tradition.” [Go Pokes]

I didn’t love the lids, but I did love the surprise. Well done by all.

More PFB

OSU continues to win close games, and Mike Gundy says that’s not an accident … here are all the Big 12 title scenarios … Glenn Spencer is trying to snag this big-time recruit out of Georgia from a number of SEC teams … Rudolph was better than Mahomes on Saturday … Justice Hill nears freshman rushing record.

More Stuff I’m Reading

Chappelle on the election is terrific … so is this on how to love those around us (quite a world when Chappelle and Desiring God are saying basically the same thing).