What’s at Stake for Chuba Hubbard in the Texas Bowl

Where do we even begin? The top tailback in the country is on the precipice of finishing off what could be one of the great seasons since the turn of the century and maybe end up the best year by a running back in Oklahoma State history (non-Barry division).

We could of course debate the latter into oblivion, but No. 30’s numbers would back up those riding for him over the Terry Millers, Thurman Thomases and Kendall Hunters of the world.

Since it’s been a while since we’ve seen Chu gallop, it’s worth noting what’s at stake tomorrow night against a Texas A&M team that ranked 55th nationally in yards per carry allowed (one spot ahead of OU).

Here are a couple of scenarios.

Scenario 1

If Chuba rushes it 20 times for 100 yards and 1 TD, he would finish with 329 carries for 2,036 yards — or 6.19 a carry and 156.6 a game — and 22 TD, which would be the …

• 24th-most yards in a single season in NCAA history
• Fourth-most yards in a single season in Big 12 history
• Second-most yards in a single season in OSU history

Scenario 2

If Chuba rushes it 25 times for 150 yards and 2 TD, he would finish with 334 carries for 2,086 yards — or 6.25 a carry and 160.5 a game — and 23 TD, which would be the …

• 19th-most yards in a single season in NCAA history
• Third-most yards in a single season in Big 12 history
• Second-most yards in a single season in OSU history

Scenario 3

If Chuba rushes it 30 times for 200 yards and 3 TD, he would finish with 339 carries for 2,136 yards — or 6.3 a carry and 164.3 a game — and 24 TD, which would be the …

• 13th-most yards in a single season in NCAA history
• Second-most yards in a single season in Big 12 history (Troy Davis, 2185 yards)
• Second-most yards in a single season in OSU history

And as long as he rushes it for at least 100 yards and a TD, he will achieve the following.

• Second-most yards per carry for a career in OSU history at around 6.2 (Barry was at 6.8 ?)
• Tied for the most 100-yard rushing games in a season in OSU history (12)
• The fourth-most points scored by a non-kicker in a single season in OSU history

So there’s a lot at stake historically for Chuba beyond the OSU stuff. If he puts up two bills on A&M in his season (and career?) finale, that’s real, and it’s also the 13th-best season in college football history by a running back. BUT TELL ME MORE ABOUT JONATHAN TAYLOR!

“Our staff, they’ve done a good job with him, and Chu knows this,” said Mike Gundy on Thursday. “Toward the end of the year he got a little fatigued. Hopefully, he’s had enough rest, and we can get him back up and running.

“Once two went down and three went down, we had to revamp and do some things differently. Unfortunately in football, those things happen. So you stay the course, find ways to move the ball, score points. We made some adjustments in the way we played those games.”

If there’s one thing Chuba — who confirmed that he was worn down but now rested up — has proven he knows how to do, it’s move the ball. He’ll get one final opportunity to do that this season as OSU shoots for its ninth 9-win campaign in the last 12 years.