Three Matchups To Watch In the OSU-TCU Game

Let’s get right to work.

1. The President vs. TCU Cornerback Ranthony Texada

James Washington is a walking highlight reel that’s only gotten better since a slow day in Lawrence.

And here’s the thing: teams know who he is. He’s preseason All Big 12, the only returning 1,000-yard receiver, and he had incredible games against a lot of these teams in recent years. Over the last three games, he’s averaging 130.7 yards per game, so he’s hitting a stride and now it’s time to see what one of the best defensive coaches in the league are going to throw at him.

The unlucky winner of the “who has to guard No. 28 game” is likely to be junior Frog Ranthony Texada. Texada had himself a bit of a game a couple of weeks ago when he housed a stop/curl route thrown by Seth Russell, showing off his ball skills. Texada didn’t play last year in Stillwater because of injury and will be eager to prove himself against one of the nation’s best.

Also, we got our hands on some footage from the practice facility in Fort Worth earlier this week where Coach Gary Patterson has mentioned that the first person to move has to guard No. 28 on Saturday.

Only one way to celebrate a road win in Waco: #MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/elsxEbQhmz

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) November 6, 2016

2. Mason Rudolph vs. Horned Frog Quarterback Kenny Hill

You can win a lot of games in the Big 12 if you’re ahead in the “arm(s)” race, and boy are the Cowboys enjoying that advantage this season. It’s fair to say Mason is 1-1 vs. the pair of elite throwers he’s faced (beat Mahomes, lost to Russell) and while Kenny Hill isn’t elite, he’s a ballplayer.

You may remember him from opening night in 2014 when he broke Johnny Football’s single game record at Texas A&M, but the fall was hard and now he’s surfaced and earned the job in Fort Worth.

After getting benched in the home loss to Tech, Kenny Hill had his best game of the season against the Bears.

To give Hill a fair shake, we have to do some serious stepping back for some semblance of objectivity to see what we have here (because let’s be real, No. 2 has been lighting up defenses like a Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center). Here are some stats to compare the two:

Hill isn’t a chump, he’s having a good season but I think you gleam more from who is around him in the standings.

Passing efficiency (a number that adjusts for completion percentage, yards per attempt and touchdowns/interceptions) stats have Mason top ten in the country ahead of Mahomes and Mike Leach’s quarterback Luke Falk at Washington State, while Hill is just a hair short of beating out Jake Lanning, Iowa State’s predominantly running quarterback.

Hill had a career day on the ground last week, but Mason is tied with Alabama freshman phenom Jalen Hurts and Houston’s Greg Ward, Jr. in “points responsible for” while Hill is chasing Arkansas’ Austin Allen (who runs a plodding Big 10 attack).

Again, Hill can throw the rock and has an embarrassment of riches in playmakers with running back Kyle Hicks and dynamo KaVontae Turpin, but Rudolph has been “unstoppable” and the Pokes will have an edge this weekend because of it. Color me excited about this matchup.

Plus, I’m not totally sure how to feel about comparing Mason to a guy who fans were saying this about three weeks ago.

3. TCU Defensive End Josh Carraway vs. Cowboy Left Tackle Victor Salako

It was an absolute revelation when Victor Salako transferred to Stillwater in the spring of 2014 when his program called it quits at UAB, especially in the wake of the devastating loss of NFL-hopeful Devin Davis in 2013.  And while last year was an adjustment, OSU’s gentle giant Victor Salako stands at 6’6” and 335 pounds and looks to be a handful for one of the conference’s best pass rushers in senior Frog Josh Carraway.

We’ve missed big time chances to see what Salako can do with other productive rushers lining up at the left end spot (K-State’s Jordan Willis and KU’s Dorance Armstrong, Jr.), but not this week. While I think Mason’s improved footwork has only helped out the line, how well Salako protects the No. 2’s blindside will only help the #Rudolph2Washington connection.