It’s time to see who wants to step forward and challenge Oklahoma in the Big 12 race.
Coming into the year, many thought Oklahoma State was that team, but Gary Patterson and a TCU team we told you before the season to watch for came into Stillwater two weeks ago and came out with a 44-31 victory.
This week, the Horned Frogs host West Virginia in one of two matchups featuring teams that have started league play 1-0. Here’s a look at this weekend’s games.
West Virginia (3-1, 1-0) at TCU (4-0, 1-0)
Everyone knows about Baker Mayfield at OU and Mason Rudolph at OSU, but the two quarterbacks in this matchup have done some nice things so far this year as well.
Transfer Will Grier has lit it up for WVU, throwing 13 touchdown passes against just three interceptions, and the Mountaineers have been in the 50s in three straight games.
And Kenny Hill, also a transfer in his second year leading the Horned Frogs, came in with concerns about consistency but has been efficient. He’s completing almost 73 percent of his passes with just three turnovers so far.
Both will face more of a test in their foe’s respective defenses this week, and the one who fares better at taking care of the ball likely will wind up on the winning side.
Kansas State (3-1, 1-0) at Texas (2-2, 1-0)
The Wildcats have had good success over the years against the Longhorns, even in some seasons when Mack Brown had a strong squad.
But the Longhorns looked as good defensively as we’ve seen a Big 12 team in a while in a 17-7 win at Iowa State last week. Now they’ll try their hand against a K-State team that looked vulnerable two weeks ago in a 14-7 loss at Vanderbilt.
K-State won its league opener somewhat unimpressively last week, 33-20 against winless Baylor. The winner here takes a big step forward in the league race.
Iowa State (2-2, 0-1) at Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0)
After what should have been a 3-0 start to the season that was showing promise, the Cyclones’ offense took a huge step backwards last week.
Now they face an OU squad that comes off a bye week. Maybe the best thing for ISU is to hope to catch OU looking ahead to next week’s showdown against Texas. The Sooners have a much more stout offense than the Longhorns and if motivated shouldn’t have any trouble in this one.
Texas Tech (3-1, 0-1) at Kansas (1-3, 0-1)
Yippee. Perhaps the moms and dads and girlfriends of the players will be excited about this one.
Tech has actually looked better than many expected, winning at Houston before giving Oklahoma State all it wanted in a 41-34 loss last week. The Red Raiders may need a big season to keep coach Kliff Kingsbury employed, and so far they’re looking pretty decent.
Kansas fell 56-34 to West Virginia two weeks ago in its Big 12 opener and may not have too many more good chances to win one after this game.
