If we wanted to try to orchestrate week ten takeaways across all of college football, it would look closer to a doctorate dissertation. The games from start to finish had thrilling, close-fought games that had conference and playoff ramifications. As Robin Williams said in Good Will Hunting, “That’s the good stuff.” That said, we are going focus on the Big 12 slice of this college football pie. The Big 12 special includes plenty of bitterness and an emerging rivalry game.
The Big 12 Week Ten Takeaways
Bonkers Bedlam
As fans stormed the field after a thrilling 27-24 Oklahoma State victory over the hated Sooners, everyone could hear very clearly the lyrics “We are never, ever, ever, ever getting back together. Like, ever.” Sure, Oklahoma fans can be salty at the blatantly missed pass interference call on Drake Stoops with just under five minutes left in the game and the Sooners down six points. But Brent Venables has to be kicking himself at all the opportunities Oklahoma had to put the Cowboys away and missed on everyone (which also included three turnovers). Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II came back to earth slightly with just 33 carries for 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
But it was the precision of journeyman quarterback Alan Bowman that made the difference for Oklahoma State on offense. It is fitting that the team who has struggled mightily with the blueblood Sooners gets to kick them out of the conference with a loss that will sting for a long, long time. Mike Gundy’s team is now in full control of their Big 12 conference championship game destiny. It really is going to take some madness for them not to reach Arlington with UCF, Houston, and BYU as their remaining opponents standing in their way.
Texas Is Lone Big 12 Playoff Hope
Speaking of the Big 12 title game, the Texas Longhorns will need to get there if the Big 12 is going to send a team to the playoff in 2023. The week ten takeaways were going to start with Bedlam regardless of the outcome. But what Texas did on Saturday against a very resilient and tough Kansas State team is very noteworthy for a few reasons. If we replaced the Longhorn uniform with any top-10 program, the following situation would be commendable for anyone: win a late-season game against a top-25 opponent with the backup quarterback making his second career start. That is exactly what Steve Sarkisian’s team managed to do against the Wildcats from Manhattan, Kansas.
Now, it was not the prettiest of victories. After being up 27-7 in the third quarter, Kansas State came storming back to tie it up in the fourth quarter. Texas did have three turnovers (two of which were in the fourth quarter) that aided in the comeback effort. Quarterback Maalik Murphy was far from perfect (19-for-37 for 248 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions). But the Longhorn defense made the game-winning stop in overtime that kept Texas’ playoff hopes alive by the score of 33-30. If Texas is going to make the playoff, it is going to require a 12-1 record with a Big 12 title (and assuming ACC, Pac 12, SEC, and Big 10 champions aren’t all 13-0).
Sunflower Showdown Turning Into Must-See TV
While the Kansas State Big 12 title defense appears to be dead, their in-state rivals are making more noise. Lance Leipold’s team went into Ames this past weekend and raced out to a 21-3 before holding on to a 28-21 victory. Quarterback Jason Bean continues to play well with Jalon Daniels dealing with a persistent back injury. The defense hasn’t been great, but it has been good enough. Plenty of teams could learn a lesson about having functioning units on both sides of the ball (looking at you USC and Iowa).
But the week ten takeaways from the Big 12 paint a pretty clear picture between these two rivals. Barring a collapse by either Oklahoma State or Texas, the winner of the Sunflower Showdown in two weeks will be playing for third place in the Big 12. Even if Texas does go 12-1 to win the Big 12 title, if Kansas goes 10-2 this year, Leipold should win coach of the year honors running away.
