Around the Big 12: Week 6

Week 6 of the Big 12 season is another set of all inter-conference matchups, that included the 119th installation of one of the biggest rivalries in college football.

The air-raid offense of the Big 12 teams came to a halt as the running backs were the big feature of game plans.

The Big 12 weekend kicked off on Friday as Oklahoma State took down Kansas State 29-21 in front of their home crowd.

Oklahoma State did it on all sides of the ball as defensive back Cameron Epps ended the first half with a pick-6.

Ollie Gordon II led the offense with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys also used the leg of Alex Hale, who drilled five field goals, and all but sealed the game for the Cowboys in the fourth quarter.

The 119th matchup of the Red River Rivalry between No. 3 Texas and No. 12 Oklahoma was the most hyped-up matchup between these two rivals in recent history. Both teams entered the game undefeated for the first time since 2011. This is also the first time both teams have been ranked ahead of their matchup since 2018.

Oklahoma got out to about as good of a start as any team could imagine. Clearly, the blowout loss in last year’s matchup was on their mind. After a two-yard loss on first down, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was intercepted by Gentry Williams. Oklahoma would then punch it in on a Dillon Gabriel run.

After a high-flying start for the Sooners, it would be back and forth for the rest of the game. Texas took only their second lead of the game with just over a minute left in the game off of a Bert Auburn 47-yard field goal.

Dillon Gabriel then led a masterful, five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in a minute to give the Sooners a 34-30 lead and the win.

Gabriel led Oklahoma’s fast-paced offense with 285 yards passing and a touchdown while adding 113 yards on the ground with a rushing touchdown.

Ewers was nothing short of spectacular as well. Despite two interceptions, he passed for 346 yards and a touchdown.

This one will go down in the history books, as Oklahoma puts itself in a prime position for a berth into the Big 12 championship game. Texas will look to rebound after this loss with a potential rematch in the championship game.

UCF was still looking for its first Big 12 win since joining this season, as the Knights traveled to Lawrence for a matchup with Kansas.

UCF’s struggles in the Big 12 would continue, as it was all Kansas from the start. Kansas would go on to win 51-22.

Another Big 12 game that featured the running backs. UCF’s RJ Harvey had 133 yards and a touchdown. Kansas utilized a trio of running backs. Devin Neal led the team with 154 yards and a touchdown, Daniel Hishaw Jr. had 134 yards and two touchdowns and Dylan McDuffie had 91 yards and two touchdowns.

Kansas relied on the run, and it led them to a dominating win over UCF.

Texas Tech continued with the blowout theme, as they took down Baylor 39-14.

The running game was big getting them down the field as Tahj Brooks ran it 31 times for 170 yards and a touchdown.

Texas Tech went to the air for a majority of their touchdowns as quarterback Behren Morton passed for 180 yards and three touchdowns.

The Red Raiders remain in the crowded pack in the middle of the Big 12 standings.

Iowa State defeated TCU 27-14 in a nighttime game in Ames, Iowa.

TCU starting quarterback Chandler Morris was injured partway through the game and backup Josh Hoover had to take over.

The Horned Frogs utilized the run with Emani Bailey as he ran it 21 times for 152 yards. His rushing was not enough to overcome the rushing duo of Eli Sanders and Abu Sama III for the Cyclones, who each scored a touchdown on the ground.

The Big 12 standings are wide open behind Oklahoma. West Virginia returns to action next week as the only other undefeated team in Big 12 play. Four teams sit at 2-1 in the Big 12 and all have their eyes on AT&T Stadium on the first weekend of December.

Andrew Deal is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email asd5765@psu.edu