DC 2018-10-05

T H E D A I L Y T E X A N P R E S E N T S

Double Coverage VOL. 13 ISSUE 6 | OCT 5, 2018

TEXASSPORTS.COM/BIGTICKET | 512-471-3333

3 texan

staff picks

Alex Briseño

Ross Burkhart

Kirsten Handler

Steve Helwick

Robert Larkin

Wills Layton

Kihwan Lee

Keshav Prathivadi

Donnavan Smoot

CJ Vogel

LAST W E E K’S R EC O R D

8-2

8-2

8-2

9-1

7-3

7-3

7-3

8-2

10-0

9-1

No. 19 Texas vs.

No. 7 Oklahoma

Texas

Oklahoma

Okahoma

Oklahoma

Texas

Texas

Texas

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

No. 5 LSU at No. 22 Florida

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 24 Virginia Tech

Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame

Iowa State at No. 25 Oklahoma State

Iowa State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

No. 13 Kentucky at Texas A&M

Kentucky

Texas A&M

Kentucky

Kentucky

Kentucky

Texas A&M Texas A&M Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Kentucky

No. 8 Auburn at Mississippi State

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Auburn

Boston College at No. 23 NC State

NC State

NC State

NC State

Boston College

Boston College

Boston College

NC State

NC State

NC State

NC State

Arizona State at No. 21 Colorado

Arizona State

Arizona State

Arizona State

Colorado

Colorado

Colorado

Arizona State

Colorado

Colorado

Colorado

San Diego State at Boise State

San Diego State

Iowa at Minnesota

Iowa

Iowa

Iowa

Iowa

Iowa

Minnesota

Iowa

Iowa

Iowa

Iowa

OVE R AL L R E C O R D

36-14

32-18

35-15

38-12

34-16

33-17

32-18

34-16

38-12

34-16

PRESENTS

DOUBLE COVERAGE Vol. 13, Issue 6 Friday, Oct. 5, 2018

Boise State Boise State Boise State Boise State Boise State Boise State Boise State Boise State Boise State

Double Coverage Editors Alex Briseño & Ross Burkhart Design Editor...................................Kendall Jordan Photo Editor.......................................Angela Wang Copy Editor....................................Kirsten Handler Cover Photo......................................Gabriel Lopez Writers Robert Larkin Alex Briseño Wills Layton Steve Helwick

Oklahoma State

Ross Burkhart Keshav Prathivadi Donnavan Smoot

Editor’s Note For the first time in years, the Red River Rivalry is relevant once again. The No. 19 Longhorns face the No. 7 Sooners in a matchup that holds conference championship-level implications for both sides. With so much riding on the result of Saturday’s game, expect an entertaining game at the Cotton Bowl.

ALEX BRISEÑO & ROSS BURKHART

4

DOUBLE COVERAGE

BY ROBERT LARKIN @r_larkintexas

opponents to watch Q UART E R B ACK

W IDE R ECEIVER

LINEBACKER

C ORNERBAC K

Kyler Murray, No. 1

Marquise Brown, No. 5

Kenneth Murray, No. 9

Parnell Motley, No. 11

When Baker Mayfield departed for the NFL Draft in the spring, many college football fans presumed the Oklahoma offense would regress. Insert quarterback Kyler Murray. The Allen, Texas, native has energized the Sooners’ offense in his first five weeks as the starting quarterback, throwing for 1,460 yards and rushing for 285 en route to a perfect 5–0 record.

In fact, Kyler’s 2018 campaign is arguably off to an even more impressive start than Mayfield’s 2017 Heisman season.

Kyler’s 230.95 passing efficiency rating through five games ranks 32 points higher than Mayfield’s 198.9 rating last season, which stands as the current FBS single-season record for a quarterback. Although Kyler has collected these statistics against opponents who have combined for a 9–14 record, he has an opportunity against a stout Texas defense to prove he’s a bonafide Heisman candidate.

One of the country’s most explosive players, wide receiver Marquise Brown, possess the ability to provide a game-changing play each time he takes the field. For that reason, he’s been Kyler Murray’s favorite target this season, with Brown corralling a team-leading 24 receptions for 544 yards. His 22.67 yards-per-reception comes in at seventh in the FBS among wide receivers and first in the Big 12.

If Texas hopes to contain Oklahoma’s offense, it starts with finding a way to bottle up Brown and prevent his renowned big plays.

In the last two weeks, linebacker Kenneth Murray has emerged not only as an unquestioned leader for the Oklahoma defense, but also as one of the best defensive players in the conference. After a dazzling performance against Army where he totaled an eye-popping 22 total tackles, the sophomore followed it up with a solid performance against Baylor last week where he recorded nine tackles and a sack. Thanks in part to these performances, Kenneth now leads the Sooners in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks.

Oklahoma’s defense has been notorious for being a porous unit in the last few seasons, but Kenneth is the type of versatile linebacker who can reverse those perceptions. The Longhorns will undoubtedly try to challenge him and the Oklahoma front seven by establishing the run game early on Saturday, so keep an eye out for Kenneth, especially in the first half. His presence, or lack thereof, will influence the direction of the game.

After a strong 2017 season, cornerback Parnell Motley returns as the most decorated member in the Oklahoma secondary. He has continued his success so far this season by leading the Sooners in interceptions and sharing the team lead in pass breakups. But Motley’s performance hasn’t been enough to elevate Oklahoma’s pass defense overall. The Sooners sit just eighth in the Big 12 in total pass defense this season.

With those struggles in mind, Texas offensive coordinator Tim Beck will look for a variety of ways to attack Motley and the Oklahoma secondary this weekend. It’ll be a collaborative effort in handling the Longhorns’ passing game, but how Motley handles the duties of going against Collin Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Texas’ two best receivers, will play a big part in determining the effectiveness of Oklahoma’s pass defense.

photo copyright caitlyn epes ou daily and reproduced with permission

5

october 5, 2018

Games to watch

B Y S T E V E H E LW I C K @s_helwick

vs.

Saturday, 11 a.m., ABC How good are these teams? Both the Terrapins and Wolverines have left plenty of questions unanswered, and this Week Six matchup will serve as a benchmark to evaluate the Big Ten foes.

Maryland stunned a currently ranked Texas team and pulverized a 3–1 Minnesota squad, but

fell to Temple at home by 21 points. Meanwhile, Michigan had to claw back from a 17-point deficit to topple Northwestern in Evanston last Saturday. The Wolverines have beaten just one opponent with a winning record: Western Michigan (3–2). The revealing game awaits Jim Harbaugh and Co. at 11 a.m. in the Big House.

vs.

Saturday, 2:30 p.m., CBS The SEC interdivision rivals are off to a combined 9–1 start, as both programs trend in a positive direction. Dan Mullen staved off his former team, Mississippi State, on the road in a 13-6 defensive slugfest to send the Gators into the AP Poll. Across the Gulf, LSU is fresh off a 45-16 domination of Ole Miss. Through five

weeks, the Tigers have sported their best offense in years, led by Ohio State transfer quarterback Joe Burrow. He achieved a career-high 292 passing yards and personal-best 96 rushing yards — four total touchdowns — in a win over the Rebels. Florida’s ninth-ranked defense (14.0 points allowed per game) will attempt to limit these numbers when Burrow enters The Swamp.

vs.

Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU The two Mountain West powers have combined for the last four conference titles. Like clockwork, the consistent teams are off to hot starts once again. The 3–1 Aztecs proved they’re still strong in the post-Rashaad Penny era by knocking off Arizona State in a Week Three thriller.

Although Oklahoma State’s offense proved to be

too much for Boise State to handle, the Broncos have breezed past the rest of their competition by an average margin of 37 points. After producing many talented halfbacks recently, both of these programs can dub themselves as “Running Back U.” Juwan Washington and Alexander Mattison are no exception, and both rushing defenses should be alert on the blue turf this weekend.

vs.

Saturday, 7 p.m., ABC Virginia Tech’s on a mission to prove its upset loss at Old Dominion was an anomaly. The Hokies rebounded from the soul-crushing loss with a convincing 31-14 road win over then-No. 22 Duke. With starter Josh Jackson out indefinitely with a fractured tibia, backup quarterback Ryan Willis fit into the lineup and threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns against the Blue Devils.

But the test toughens for Justin Fuente and the Hokies on Saturday in Blacksburg, when an undefeated Notre Dame team pays a visit after squashing Stanford’s offense in a statement 38-17 victory last week. The Fighting Irish appear to have improved under new quarterback Ian Book, who, in his last two starts, completed 74.3 percent of passes and had 503 total yards.

vs.

Saturday, 9:30 p.m., ESPN This week’s recommended #Pac12AfterDark watch will transpire on The Farm, as the Cardinal look to avenge the Week Five loss to Notre Dame with their third conference win. Stanford still controls its own destiny in the Pac-12, but the Cardinal may have to function without star

running back Bryce Love, who exited the Notre Dame game last week with an ankle injury. Utah counters with junior running back Zack Moss, who averages 97.3 rushing yards per contest.

Since Kyle Whittingham and David Shaw have manned their respective sidelines, the Utes actually own a 2–1 record against Stanford.

the red riv

BY ROS

@ross_burk

gabriel lop

Texas fans the 2017 T Dallas, Tex

1900

texas 28, OU 2

The first meeting between the Longhorns and the Sooners would probably look unrecognizable to anybody watching Saturday’s game at the Cotton Bowl. The Oklahoma players traveled 400 miles by train to Austin the morning of the game, only to register two points in the game as they were steamrolled by the Longhorns, who rested their best players in preparation for an upcoming game against Vanderbilt three days later. Both teams only played six games during the 1900 season with the Sooners finishing 3–1–1 and the Longhorns going 6–0.

1963

texas 28, ou 7

The 1963 meeting between No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Texas was the first game between the two in which the Southwest Conference teams held the top spots in the AP Poll. Texas head coach Darrell K Royal led the Longhorns to an easy win over the opposing Sooners, with Texas running back Tommy Ford paving way for the victory with 77 yards and a touchdown. The two elite programs combined for 101 rushing carries and just 13 passes through the air. With a win over Oklahoma, the Longhorns cemented their place among the year’s most talented teams, eventually winning their first national championship over Navy.

1984 texas 15

In another highly anticipated meet and No. 2 Oklahoma battled in front of 7 Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns led at hal to watch the Sooners crawl back to tak 15-point third quarter in which Texas wa less than two minutes remaining in the decided to take an intentional safety rat from their own endzone. The move wo poor decision as Texas kicker Jeff Ward field goal to finalize the game in a tie, a not yet adopted overtime rules.

ver Rivalry

SS BURKHART

khart

2018 No. 19 Texas vs. no. 7 Oklahoma For the first time in many years, one of the best rivalries in college football has regained relevance on a national stage. The 4–1 Longhorns travel to Dallas with impressive wins over USC and TCU while the undefeated Sooners are led by Heisman Trophy favorite Kyler Murray. Texas fields a tough defense led by coordinator Todd Orlando that only allows 19.8 points per game while an explosive Oklahoma offense filled with playmakers has averaged 48.6 points per game. Much of the game will

pez | the daily texan staff s cheer on the Longhorn band before Texas-OU game at the Cotton Bowl in xas.

5, ou 15

ting, No. 1 Texas 75,587 fans in the lftime, 10-0, only ke the lead with a as scoreless. With game, Oklahoma ther than punting ould prove to be a d kicked a 32-yard as the NCAA had

be determined by Texas’ ability to keep Murray in the pocket and contain running back Trey Sermon. The Sooners have won 27 of their past 28 Big 12 games, dating back to the 2015 season. Although they’ll enter the game as favorites — having won six of the past eight meetings — history shows that underdogs have often played up to the competition. Despite the outcome, the pageantry between the two longtime rivals will certainly be a spectacle for both teams.

2017 ou 29, texas 24 Aside from bragging rights, last year’s matchup didn’t decide much. The No. 12 Sooners quickly jumped out to a 20-0 lead in Tom Herman’s first Texas-OU rivalry game as a head coach at Texas. Led by Heisman-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Sooners entered the game as heavy favorites, but to the surprise of many, Texas’ then-freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger pushed the Longhorns back into the game, recording 278 passing yards and another 110 yards on the ground. Texas scored 24-straight points to seize the lead with just over eight minutes remaining. But a quick touchdown throw from Mayfield and a late questionable throw away from Ehlinger on fourth down sealed Texas’ fate.

2008 Texas 45, ou 35 The 2008 game between No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 5 Texas not only featured two championship contenders, but also two Heisman candidates and college football legends in OU quarterback Sam Bradford and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. Bradford displayed excellence early with three of his five total touchdowns coming in the first half. However, the Longhorns dominated the time of possession and would eventually strike last with two touchdowns from running back Cody Johnson in the final 7:37 of play to capture a memorable victory over the Sooners.

1996 oU 30, Texas 27

Although the Longhorns entered the 1996 matchup with just a 3–3 record and the Sooners with only a 1–4 mark, the game proved to be one of the most memorable between the two. Texas running back Ricky Williams headlined the Longhorn offense as he paired 99 yards and a touchdown on the ground with four catches for 59 receiving yards. A field goal in overtime from kicker Phil Dawson would not be enough to propel the Texas to a victory, though, as Oklahoma running back Alexander James contributed heavily to a powerful running attack that combined for 276 yards. James ran for a two-yard score to give Oklahoma the win in what eventually turned out to be a difficult season for both programs.

| the daily texan staff Former Texas wide receiver Jordan Shipley runs past an Oklahoma defender during the Longhorns’ 45-35 win on Oct. 11, 2008. caleb miller

8

DOUBLE COVERAGE

heisman

continues from page

10

Saturday, every Ohio State game has been decided by more than 10 points. Haskins has stepped into J.T. Barrett’s position and has quickly assumed a leadership role for the Buckeyes. Even if he doesn’t win the award this season, he has set himself up to be a favorite for the award in his junior season.

keys

continues from page

10

difference? Murray led the Sooners to a 66-33 win.

Murray has the arm to torch opposing defenses while also being agile enough to run the ball when necessary. He gives opposing team’s nightmares, and the Longhorns will have to be ready for the largest task of the season.

Luckily for Texas, the defensive line came to life last week against the Wildcats, racking up three sacks, and a ton of pressure and

#7 Will Grier, quarterback, No. 9 West Virginia

efficiently. He has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of nearly 6:1. Grier’s biggest game will come at the end of the season. He and the Mountaineers will play fellow Heisman candidate Kyler Murray and the Sooners in a game that could very well end up deciding who wins the Big 12. Until that day, Grier will have to continue impressing to further raise his chances of becoming a Heisman winner.

tackles for loss. Senior Breckyn Hager finally recorded his first sack of the season, and senior Charles Omenihu sacked the quarterback twice.

Another strong outing for Todd Orlando’s bunch will bode well for Texas.

Against USC, freshman Caden Sterns blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown. Last week in Texas’ matchup with Kansas State, freshman D’Shawn Jamison returned a punt for a 90-yard touchdown.

Freshman kicker Cameron Dicker has also made several 40-plus yard field goals and has yet to miss a single extra point.

If the Longhorns want to upset the Sooners and really burst onto the national scene for the first time since the Mack Brown era, special teams will need to be solid in every facet of the game.

Will Grier is an electrifying quarterback in an electrifying conference. The senior quarterback is performing up to the expectations placed on him a year ago. He has led a high-powered offense that ranks in the top 10 in the country. Against Texas Tech, he put up 370 yards and three touchdowns.

In addition to his statline, Grier has shown he can play

Keep up the good work on special teams Much like many games against highly ranked teams, special teams can play the largest role in completing an upset or coming up a bit short.

Luckily for the Longhorns, special teams have been a strong point in recent weeks.

APPLY to work at

austin311.org

THEDAILYTEXAN.COM/PARTICIPATE

9

october 5, 2018

texas B Y K E S H A V P R AT H I VA D I @kpthefirst

From 2000-2012, both Texas and Oklahoma headed into their annual Red River Showdown as ranked teams on all but one occasion. Following 2012, Oklahoma continued to not only remain a ranked team but also dominate the rivalry.

The Sooners have topped the Longhorns in six of the last eight meetings and seem to be slowly closing in on Texas’ 61–46–5 series lead year by year. However, the Longhorns will finally be ranked as they make the trip up to the State Fair this year.

People have recognized the hype surrounding this year’s team. ESPN’s College GameDay and exuberant ticket prices, but most importantly that little number affixed next to Texas’ name, have brought the national spotlight back on Saturday’s Cotton Bowl showdown.

If Texas wants to capitalize on the buildup and spotlight, here’s what it’ll have to do:

wins if... ...it controls the ball.

Let’s face it. Saturday’s game is going to be nmore about whether the Texas defense can hold the Sooner offense rather than stop it. For that reason, it’s imperative to keep the ball out of junior quarterback Kyler Murray’s hands. Oklahoma moves the ball and moves it fast, and the last thing Texas wants to do is give them more time.

-Just two weeks ago, Army gave a clue as to how to stop the Sooners: hold onto the football for as long as possible. Army had possession for over three quarters of the game and forced overtime as a result. The Longhorns used the same formula to put away Kansas State and TCU in back-toback weeks, and sticking to it again could yield another win.

...it gets another special teams play.

In 2008, it was Jordan Shipley. In 2013, it was Daje Johnson. Special teams has made the difference in two of Texas’ four wins over Oklahoma in the past decade. A kick return or a safety can either give Texas momentum when its struggling or give it the separation it needs to win a game. Freshman defensive back D’shawn Jamison proved that last week as his 90-yard punt return for a touchdown proved to be the difference when the offense stagnated in the second half. Another big play like that this week could be the difference between a win and a loss. carlos garcia | the daily texan staff Senior cornerback Kris Boyd tackles a Golden Hurricane ballcarrier during Texas’ 28-21 win at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sept. 8, 2018.

loses if... ...it can’t help its defensive backs.

Five teams have already seen and fallen victim to Oklahoma’s speedy wide receivers. With threats like junior Marquise Brown and sophomore CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma is going to keep the Texas secondary busy. Expect the Longhorns to stray away from one-on-one matchups to eliminate what could be a huge advantage for Oklahoma. If the Longhorns can’t get pressure on Murray or force a turnover, it’s could spell for a long day for Texas’ defensive backs.

elias huerta | the daily texan staff Sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger is tackled by multiple TCU defenders during the Longhorns’ 31-16 win over the Horned Frogs on Sept. 22, 2018.

...Ehlinger can’t take care of the ball.

It seems like ages ago when Ehlinger last turned the ball over. That was on the last play of Texas’ season-opening loss to Maryland. In the Longhorns’ four-game win streak, Ehlinger has been turnover free and it has translated to the win column. The Sooner defense has only forced four turnovers all season, but if Ehlinger isn’t careful in the pocket or misses a man downfield, the Sooners could make it five.

10

DOUBLE COVERAGE

Heisman watch B Y D O N N A VA N S M O O T

@Dsmoot3D

Through five weeks, the Heisman race has boiled down to a few quarterbacks around the country. Here’s how the top candidates performed this past week:

#13 Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback, No. 1 Alabama

albert lee

| the daily texan staff

QUARTERS ON CAMPUS West campus living redefined

• 1-4 BEDROOMS • SWIMMING POOL • 2-4 BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS • 24HR FITNESS CENTER • 6 LOCATIONS • BUSINESS CENTER • INDIVIDUAL LEASES

512-531-0123

quartersoncampus.com 2222 rio grande st | austin, tx |78705

The Crimson Tide show no sign of slowing down, especially with superstar quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the helm. Over the weekend, Tagovailoa put on yet another show. As of late, though, Tua’s performances usually only last one half. He went 8-for-8 passing for 128 yards and two touchdowns as Alabama completely thrashed UL-Lafayette.

According to Bovada Sportsbook, Tagovailoa’s odds to win the Heisman are 10/11, making him the favorite at this moment. His season has been spectacular thus far, exceeding any level of expectation prior to the season. And considering the

fact that for the rest of the season, Alabama will only play two currently ranked teams, he has a very realistic chance of putting up video game-like numbers for the rest of the year.

#1 Kyler Murray, quarterback, No. 7 Oklahoma

If Tagovailoa is ahead of Kyler Murray for the Heisman, it isn’t by much.

Murray demonstrated that he can be just as, if not more, explosive than Tagovailoa.

He threw for over 430 yards and six touchdowns, and rushed for one touchdown in Oklahoma’s 66-33 win over Baylor. Murray’s seven touchdowns tied a Sooner record for most touchdowns in a game — last accomplished

by Baker Mayfield in 2016.

Murray is performing every week at a high level. Although he is currently trailing Tagovailoa, he has an opportunity to jump him in the rankings when the

Sooners play the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry. College GameDay will be in attendance, making this a highly anticipated matchup. This is Murray’s biggest opportunity yet to have his Heisman moment and take control of the race.

#7 Dwayne Haskins, quarterback, No. 3 Ohio State

Haskins is trying to keep the Heisman race as open as possible, even as Murray and Tagovailoa begin to separate themselves from the pack.

During last Saturday’s comeback win over then-No. 9 Penn State, Haskins showed he isn’t going to let people erase his name from the ballot. The sophomore signal caller led the Buckeyes on a 96-yard drive at the end of the game to lead Ohio State to a 27-26 road win.

With the exception of

HEISMAN

page

8

Keys to the game: No. 7 Oklahoma B Y W I L L S L AY T O N @willsdebeast

The biggest game of the season is finally here, and it’s bringing both national and conference implications with it. Saturday will feature the 113th edition of the Red River Rivalry, and one of the biggest matchups between the schools in recent history. The winner will likely be the favorite to win the Big 12, while the loser may have to kiss any chance of making the College Football Playoff goodbye. The Longhorns need to do several things right if they want to beat the No. 7 Sooners for the first time since 2015. Here are your keys to the game:

Stay consistent through four quarters

This season has been a tale of two halves, both good and bad. In the Tulsa and Kansas State games, the team nearly gave away double-digit leads before hunkering down in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory in the second half.

Texas followed inconsistent first halves against both USC and TCU with flat-out dominant second halves, allowing only three points in the each of the final two quarters of both games.

Closing against those ranked teams had many proclaiming that Texas was indeed back.

Although Texas was able

to get away with inconsistent performances in the last four wins, the Sooners will not allow the Longhorns to get away with it a fifth time. If the Longhorns want to win this game, they will need to put together a consistent, strong performance for four quarters.

Shut down Kyler Murray

Although this may seem like common sense, quarterback Kyler Murray deserves to be mentioned. Murray is fresh off a seven touchdown clinic against Baylor, in which Oklahoma led by 19, just as the Longhorns did against Kansas State. The

KEYS

page

8

e s t s e

, o

p s d e .

9 d e l a f e

f

t r t t f n o , r

m s y , y d e

11

october 5, 2018

big 12 power rankings

BY CJ VOGEL

@cjvogel3

NO.3

Texas Longhorns It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest victory, but Texas kept their winning streak alive and did so in a place they hadn’t won since 2002. The bright side for the Longhorns is their defense will keep them in games even when the offense is not clicking. A punt return for a touchdown and a safety gave Texas a much needed boost early against Kansas State.

NO.7

Baylor Bears Baylor didn’t pose much of a threat to Oklahoma despite putting up 33 points.

The biggest positive is the play of quarterback Charlie Brewer (400 yards and two touchdowns). There is certainly reason for optimism with Brewer leading the way for the Bears.

NO.9

Kansas State Wildcats There’s a quarterback problem in Manhattan. Kansas State is averaging just 10 points per game in conference play so far, which does not bode well for how Big 12 offenses are designed. An offensive turnaround is not out of the picture, though, especially with head coach Bill Snyder still on the sidelines.

RECYCLE

your copy of

NO.4

Oklahoma State Cowboys Coming off a bad loss to Texas Tech at home, Oklahoma State responded well with a 20-point victory over Kansas. Through five games, the Cowboys rank 6th in yards per game in the nation. Mike Gundy’s team rebounded well and the momentum should continue against Iowa State this week.

NO.8

Kansas Jayhawks The Jayhawks hung around for most of their 48-28 loss to Oklahoma State this past weekend. The improvement in a brutal outing against Baylor keeps Kansas out of the cellar of this week’s power ranking. Running back Pooka Williams Jr. is averaging 7.9 yards per carry and is one of the conference’s most underrated players.

NO.10

Iowa State Cyclones The Cyclones fell to 1–3 on the season after their loss to TCU this past weekend. Although their three losses have come against very solid programs, the Cyclones just seem to have too much missing this season. Iowa State is averaging 17.5 points per game, which is dead last in the Big 12.

NO.1

West Virginia Mountaineers Going on the road to Lubbock and beating No. 25 Texas Tech is certainly enough to keep the Mountaineers at the top spot in the Big 12 power rankings. Will Grier continues to put up ridiculous numbers after throwing for 370 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. West Virginia hosts Kansas this week, which puts them in a great position to stay at the top spot yet again.

NO.5

Texas Tech Red Raiders Starting quarterback Alan Bowman suffered a punctured lung in the loss to West Virginia, but luckily for the Red Raiders, Jett Duffey stepped in and accounted for 258 yards of offense in just over a half of football.

Although Texas Tech likely won’t be able to sustain their offensive production that is averaging nearly 600 yards per game without Bowman, Duffey proved he can hold his own.

NO.2

Oklahoma Sooners A 66-point showing from the Sooners’ offense keeps them planted at No. 2 in the rankings, but for the second straight week, the opponent exploited Oklahoma’s defense.

Regardless, the Sooners head into the Red River Rivalry ranked No. 7 at 5–0. Kyler Murray and company are scoring 48.6 points per game, which ranks 8th in the nation.

NO.6

TCU Horned Frogs After two straight losses, TCU gets back on the right track with a 17-14 victory over Iowa State. The Horned Frog offense has scored just 30 points over the last two games, a type of production that will not keep them in a ball game with their matchup next week with Texas Tech.

GAME TIME

15-minute departures on routes all over Austin

CapMetro.org/Remap