In the biggest clash pitting the Big 12 against a rival from the SEC, Oklahoma did not look up to the challenge playing on the road against Tennessee.
Trailing by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the Sooners looked incapable of reviving a woeful offense.
Then, suddenly, Oklahoma went on the attack behind quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Samaje Perine. After forging a tie to send the game into overtime, the Sooners scored touchdowns in both extra sessions and sealed the 31-24 comeback win with a game-ending interception.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops had little difficulty rating the victory, even though the loss was the 28th for Tennessee in its last 29 meetings against ranked opponents.
“It’s one of the more special wins, maybe my favorite of all of them,” Stoops said. “A little Sooner magic came back out.”
In making that assessment, it did not hurt that Oklahoma’s victim was from the SEC. Stoops has never been shy commenting about the reputation the SEC garners while generally perceived as the nation’s best football conference.
Before the road game, Oklahoma linebacker Eric Striker also chimed in.
“I don’t know why people blow gas up their (behinds) all the time,” Striker said about the SEC. “I don’t understand why.”
For the better part of the game, it appeared he and the Sooners would have to dine on those words. Then Mayfield, a Texas Tech transfer who unseated Trevor Knight during fall camp, calmly directed touchdown drives of 15 and 13 plays in the fourth quarter. Eight third downs were converted on those possessions.
The performance signaled the possibility the Sooners (2-0) will be eager to challenge for a Big 12 title after listless performances at the end of last season against Baylor and Clemson contributed to a disappointing 8-5 finish.
That season prompted Stoops to make changes on his staff and even send his brother Mike, the defensive coordinator, up to the booth to monitor games. The alterations may have refreshed the attitude and vibrancy of the program.
“The biggest thing coming off last year was mindset,” Perine said. “We wanted to start a new identity, that it was very important to stay in the game. We just stuck around (at Tennessee) and kept at it.”
BAYLOR (2-0, 0-0)
Game: Baylor 66, Lamar 31. WR Corey Coleman set a Baylor record with four touchdowns passes as the Bears eventually outlasted a stubborn FCS opponent. Baylor generated 785 total yards, the second-most in school history, behind three 100-yard rushers. Coleman was one of two receivers to top the 100-yard mark as the Bears played without offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and wide receivers coach Tate Wallis, who were suspended for one game by Baylor for involvement in apparent recruiting violations.
Takeaway: Although Baylor was able to overpower Lamar, four turnovers the Bears committed contributed to a game that was too close for too long.
In particular, the miscues lead to questions regarding QB Seth Russell, a first-year starter who replaced Bryce Petty. Russell threw three interceptions and also lost a fumble, contributing to easy scores for Lamar. Three turnovers were in the second quarter. The Bears also committed 12 penalties for 93 yards.
“When he was good, he was really good,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “When he was bad, he was bad. He forced the ball a couple of times. I thought we played OK, but we can’t turn the ball over three times in one quarter. That’s just unheard of and uncalled for. We were fortunate to come out with a win.”
At some point, sheer athleticism will not overcome such mistakes. But with Coleman on the field, Baylor was fine against Lamar. Coleman’s four TD receptions were for 42, 21, 61 and 34 yards and he finished with six grabs for 182 yards.
“(Coleman) didn’t get the ball in the first series and he let me know,” Russell told the Waco Tribune. “When you get the ball in his hands he makes plays. You never know who is going to strike in our offense.”
Next: vs. Rice, Sept. 26.
IOWA STATE (1-1, 0-0)
Game: Iowa 31, Iowa State 17. The Hawkeyes snapped a fourth-quarter tie with two late touchdowns. QB Sam Richardson completed 19-of-35 passes for 247 yards, but a late interception led to Iowa’s final touchdown after the Hawkeyes gained the lead. Iowa State could not blunt pressure as Richardson was sacked four times. The Cyclones were limited to 66 second half yards after grabbing a 17-10 halftime lead.
Takeaway: The in-state rivalry, which is renewed each season by the Big 12 Cyclones and Big Ten Hawkeyes, took on something of a carnival atmosphere with the Republican frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race, Donald Trump, milling among fans.
Iowa State, however, could not capitalize on the home-field advantage after gaining the halftime edge.
Not only did the Cyclones fail to make good adjustments offensively, they also could not settle on a featured running back. Four tailbacks, including walk-on Trever Ryen, shared the load, yet no one was effective. That contributed to the pressure faced by Richardson as the Cyclones were punchless offensively throughout most of the second half.
“You’ve got to give people space to run the football and we didn’t do it,” Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said. “But you’re going to continue to see all those (rushers) active in the offense.”
Next: at Toledo, Sept. 19.
KANSAS (0-2, 0-0)
Game: Memphis 55, Kansas 23. Kansas recovered a fumble on the very first play of the game, marched downfield for a touchdown and managed to extend its early lead to 10 points. Then Memphis got rolling and ended a 19-game losing streak against Power-5 conference teams finishing with 651 yards of total offense. The point total represented the most allowed by the Jayhawks since permitting 66 in a 2011 loss to Georgia Tech. The 0-2 start is the first for Kansas since 2002 and comes under first-year coach David Beaty.
Takeaway: Offense was at a premium for Kansas despite a strong start that gave the Jayhawks, and their home crowd, considerable hope.
QB Montell Cozart, who struggled the previous two years after he was appointed the Jayhawks’ starter midway through the 2013 season by former coach Charlie Weis, completed just 13-of-28 passes for 118 yards. RB Ke’aun Kinner enjoyed his second straight game as a 100-yard rusher, finishing with 113 yards and one touchdown.
“Those (incomplete) throws, I wish I could have back,” said Cozart, “because they would have been big plays for us and they would have sparked us.”
Cozart will remain the starter, Beaty said when asked about his quarterback, though evaluations will continue in practice. A freshman, Ryan Willis, had his redshirt shredded in the season opener, but played only two snaps while Cozart was tending to a brief ailment. After rushing for 94 yards in a season-opening loss to South Dakota State, Cozart was limited to 18 yards in the Memphis defeat.
Just as pressing for the Jayhawks is the need to ratchet up a young defense. Memphis QB Paxton Lynch completed 22-of-25 passes for 354 yards. The Tigers scored 31 points on five second half possessions before inserting subs.
“We’ve obviously got plenty we could work on to get better with,” Beaty said.
Next: at Rutgers, Sept. 26.
KANSAS STATE (2-0, 0-0)
Game: Kansas State 30, Texas-San Antonio 3. Junior Joe Hubener, a former walk-on making his first start, passed for 243 yards and added a team-high 58 yards rushing to lead the Wildcats. Kansas State led just 10-3 after allowing a field goal on UTSA’s first possession. The Roadrunners did not score again, gaining 28 yards on their first four carries before finishing with 37 yards on 25 attempts. Kansas State has not allowed a touchdown yet this season.
Takeaway: Defense needed to key Kansas State, at least early on, after the Wildcats lost a productive passer, Jake Waters, and two 1,000-yard receivers, Tyler Lockett and Curry Sexton. The defense has complied in the first two games, recording a successful goal-line stand in the first half at UTSA and allowing just 72 yards in the second half as the Wildcats pulled away.
“On the first drive we gave up a field goal and we’d like to get that back and have a zero on the board,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. “But collectively I thought we played well and we played hard. I thought we played smart.”
That’s a nice compliment from a coach who has long been a stickler to detail, especially when Kansas State played without its most acclaimed defender, SS Dante Barnett, who suffered a shoulder injury in the opener.
“They were going match speed that first series and like most teams, they had a set of plays that they knew what they were going to do,” DT Travis Britz said. “That first series we didn’t slow them down as much as we needed to, but from the second series on we understood what they were trying to do. We were able to respond faster and play faster.”
Backup PK Jack Cantele made all the field goals after starter Matthew McCrane was injured on the Wildcats’ first PAT attempt.
Next: vs. Louisiana Tech, Sept. 19.
OKLAHOMA (2-0, 0-0)
Game: Oklahoma 31, Tennessee 24 (2OT). Oklahoma allowed Tennessee to go up 17-0 in the first 18 minutes and looked out of it until QB Baker Mayfield went 11-of-14 passing for 103 yards, with three touchdowns and a touchdown run in the fourth quarter and overtime. The OT was forced after Mayfield threw a 5-yard TD pass to WR Sterling Shepard with 40 seconds left. The Volunteers struck first in overtime, but the Sooners responded with two TDs and a game-ending interception by CB Zack Sanchez.
Takeaway: The crowd of 102,455 was the largest to ever watch Oklahoma play football, yet few of them were in Neyland Stadium to root on the Sooners.
A comment earlier in the week by Oklahoma LB Eric Striker only served to incite the crowd, which was wild the entire game before the Sooners’ late rally, and overtime heroics, finally silenced the sellout.
Afterward, Striker demonstratively celebrated in front of a group of Oklahoma fans and said that Tennessee coach Butch Jones called him out for his pre-game remarks.
“Hey Eric, you’re a helluva player, but have some damn class,” Striker said Jones told him.
After beating an SEC opponent for the third time in as many years, beginning with an upset of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, the Sooners were in no mood to add to any hype for the SEC. In fact, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops had no problem with Striker’s comment about how too much “gas” is used to blow up what is generally regarded as the top conference in college football.
“I didn’t say one word to him,” Stoops said. “I don’t think anyone did. What he said was nothing out of the ordinary. Paul Finebaum slanders us every time he’s on radio. Does that make us a better team? No. It has nothing to do with it. How you play, how you take the field, how you prepare, that’s what wins. People that want to talk noise, that’s all it is. You’ve gotta go out and prove yourself on the field.”
As for the defense Stoops coordinates, Oklahoma allowed 157 yards when Tennessee mounted its 17-0 lead in the first 18 minutes, but then allowed 97 the remainder of the game.
Next: vs. Tulsa, Sept. 19.
OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0, 0-0)
Game: Oklahoma State 32, Central Arkansas 8. QB Mason Rudolph passed for a career-best 401 yards as the Cowboys overcame a slow start to amass 576 yards against the FCS Bears. WR David Glidden scored two touchdowns off four receptions and added 145 yards receiving, another career-best. Oklahoma State led just 10-0 at halftime following a scoreless second quarter. Rudolph became the first OSU quarterback to pass for 400 yards since 2012.
Takeaway: Rudolph spoke in glowing terms of his receivers, even though the way he said it came off as kind of funny.
“It was good to be able to distribute the ball to a bunch of freaks out there,” Rudolph told The Oklahoman. “There are a bunch of guys that make plays for us, and it was just a great team win.”
Oklahoma State also played some strong defense, allowing just 220 yards, and Central Arkansas converted just 3-of-15 third downs and punted 10 times.
The Bears crossed into OSU territory just twice. Central Arkansas used a reverse flea-flicker to score its only touchdown, then tacked on a two-point conversion.
DE Jimmy Bean was among the defensive leaders. The senior had one sack among his 2.5 tackles for loss and noted that the Cowboys’ units were working in sync, with little concern about what the other is doing.
“We never have to worry about what the offense is doing,” Bean said. “We’re going to do our job. We’re going to make something happen and try to put our offense in the best position they can be.”
Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer raised the best point after looking at the stat sheet.
“We’d be pretty good if we could do that every game, wouldn’t we?” Spencer commented.
Indeed, better opponents are on tap, although Oklahoma State gets one potentially light tune-up before the start of Big 12 play. Texas-San Antonio, which fell 30-3 at home to Kansas State, visits on Sept. 19.
Next: vs. Texas-San Antonio, Sept. 19.
TCU (2-0, 0-0)
Game: TCU 70, Stephen F. Austin 7. QB Trevone Boykin passed for 285 yards and four touchdowns and WR Kolby Listenbee had six receptions for 142 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown that was part of the Horned Frogs’ early onslaught. Boykin finished 18-of-27, with one interception, before leaving in the third quarter. His nation-best string of games with a TD strike was extended to 17.
Takeaway: Defense has long been the TCU staple coach Gary Patterson has taken the most pride in, ever since he joined the Horned Frogs as defensive coordinator under Dennis Franchione.
This season, that side of the ball figured to undergo some early challenges because of new starters. A rash of injuries has also taken its toll.
S Kenny Iloka suffered a knee injury that looked serious against the Lumberjacks. TCU was already missing LB Sammy Douglas, DE James McFarland and DT Davion Pierson. In addition, LB Mike Freeze was allowed a leave of absence after starting the opener.
“Some years you try to be yardage-wise the best defense in the nation,” Patterson said. “Some years you just try to win by one point and try to hold the other team to one less, and that’s probably, with the numbers we have, that’s going to be our job this year.”
Next: vs. SMU, Sept. 19.
TEXAS (1-1, 0-0)
Game: Texas 42, Rice 28. QB Jerrod Heard responded to his first start by passing for two touchdowns and adding 96 yards on the ground but the Longhorns still struggled to put away their former Southwest Conference rival Rice. The Texas defense forced five turnovers, including a fumble recovery LB Malik Jefferson returned 26 yards for a touchdown.
Takeaway: If nothing else, Heard, who replaced Tyrone Swoopes at QB, put a little fun back into Texas football. At one moment in the Rice win, he paused to do push-ups to celebrate a long gain.
“What everyone wanted to see was something different, some change,” Strong said. “He’s one of those guys who’s going to jump out there with a lot of juice.”
The juice proved to be plentiful. The Longhorns registered seven gains of 25 or more yards to offset a Rice attack that actually outgained Texas, 462 to 277.
Heard passed just seven times but completed four for 120 yards and two touchdowns, including a 69-yard strike to John Burt in the third quarter. In addition to the defensive TD, Texas also scored on special teams with an 85-yard punt return by Daje Johnson.
Next: vs. California, Sept. 19.
TEXAS TECH (2-0, 0-0)
Game: Texas Tech 69, UTEP 20. QB Patrick Mahomes completed 18-of-33 passes for 361 yards and four touchdowns, and added two rushing touchdowns to lead the Red Raiders. Each of Mahomes’ TD strikes were long plays spread to four different targets — Jakeem Grant (60 yards), Justin Stockman (46), Reginald Davis (35) and Devin Lauderdale (34). RB DeAndre Washington added 138 yards rushing on just 12 carries, including a 51-yard TD burst. A year ago, the Red Raiders rallied to edge UTEP 30-26 on the road.
Takeaway: Texas Tech wasted no time moving the football. On its first nine possessions, the Red Raiders scored seven touchdowns and connected on one field goal. They eventually totaled 674 yards and gained confidence going into a rugged portion of the schedule that features a demanding three-game stretch against Arkansas, TCU and Baylor.
“It’s our first real test to kind of see what a lot of our guys are made of,” Washington told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal of the Sept. 19 game against the Hogs. “We got them on the road this year. I think it will be fun going to SEC country.”
For Mahomes, the game was his fifth straight out of six career starts that he threw at least four touchdowns. Grant caught seven passes for 141 yards as Tech’s leading receiver.
Next: at Arkansas, Sept. 19.
WEST VIRGINIA (2-0, 0-0)
Game: West Virginia 41, Liberty 17. QB Skyler Howard connected on 21-of-26 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns as the Mountaineers cruised. The performance for Howard was his most accurate through the air since taking over for injured Clint Trickett late last season. Howard rushed for 68 yards while RB Wendell Smallwood added two touchdowns on the ground.
Takeaway: The late charge by Liberty, an FCS opponent that had been shut out until late in the third quarter, kept West Virginia from being giddy over its performance. In fact, the Mountaineers made it out to sound as if they were downright disappointed.
“We didn’t have any energy,” defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said. “I don’t know. It wasn’t West Virginia defense, at least the way I want it to be.”
The only defender whose effort Gibson endorsed was sophomore LB Al-Rasheed Benton, who was filling in for injured starter Jared Barber. Benton shared West Virginia tackling honors with seven stops, including two for loss.
Next: vs. Maryland, Sept. 26.
NOTES, QUOTES
–Baylor continued a difficult month of off-field problems by suspending two coaches, offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and wide receivers coach Tate Wallis, for the Sept. 12 game against Lamar. Each committed a recruiting violation during the spring evaluation period, Baylor announced.
Briles, the son of head coach Art Briles, was in his first year as coordinator. He was promoted after Phillip Montgomery was named Tulsa’s head coach. Both coaches will resume their duties this week as Baylor is idle before playing a Sept. 26 game against Rice.
“We want to stay within the NCAA’s guidelines and are taking this action in accordance with the NCAA’s new penalty structure,” Art Briles said.
After the 66-31 win over Lamar, Briles said, “It all worked out well enough,” when asked about being short-handed. Running backs coach Jeff Lebby called plays in Baylor’s win, which found the Bears needing to overcome four turnovers.
“Coach Lebby did an amazing job of stepping in at the last minute,” QB Seth Russell told the Waco Tribune. “It was a little different because Coach KB (Kendal Briles) has his own way. But we did a good job of facing adversity.”
The impermissible contact reportedly happened at spring football games and a track meet.
The suspension of the two assistants comes in the wake of a sexual assault case involving DE Sam Ukwuachu, who was convicted to a six-month jail sentence last month. The handling of Ukwuachu’s transfer from Boise State, where he was dismissed from that program for disciplinary reasons, sparked criticism of Briles and the Baylor administration.
–Kansas State had to alter its plans at quarterback after just one play. Jesse Ertz, who advanced from a four-man competition in fall camp, was lost for the season on the very first snap after injuring his knee on a keeper.
That left junior Joe Hubener to take his turn after it appeared as if he would be the primary backup for a second straight season. The former walk-on has an interesting past, considering he played sparingly as a quarterback for his small-town high school in Cheney, Kan.
Throughout his time at Kansas State, Hubener showed a strong arm and a strong will to compete. Presented his opportunity against Texas-San Antonio, Hubener averaged 20.2 yards per completion, going 12-of-23 for 243 yards. He also rushed for a team-high 58 yards on 17 carries as Kansas State outlasted UTSA 30-3.
Although he indicated afterward that he treated the game like any other, Hubener eventually came clean.
“I was just antsy. I was nervous all day,” he conceded. “There were a lot of throws I rushed. I was trying to stay calm and treat it like any other game, but it still got me nervous.”
He was, however, able to control the clock throughout the second half as the Wildcats slowed the pace, moved the chains and capitalized on their stingy defense. Hubener showed considerable poise, especially when you consider he arrived as a walk-on, a tag he will always embrace, even now that he is on scholarship.
“That’s perfectly fine for me,” he said. “Being a walk-on, you’ve got a chip on your shoulder. You’ve got something to prove, so that’s totally fine that I’m always going to be a walk-on.”
–Texas made sudden changes to its offensive structure following its season-opening loss at Notre Dame Those changes either signaled the Longhorns had panicked, or that they were in desperate need of a quick fix. Maybe a little bit of both.
Wide receivers coach Jay Norvell, who arrived at UT this season following seven years on the Oklahoma staff, called plays in a 42-28 victory over Rice. He replaced quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson. In addition, Jerrod Heard unseated Tyrone Swoopes as the starting quarterback. Ironically, after the season-opening loss at Notre Dame, Watson insisted Heard was not ready to supplant Swoopes.
“Something had to be done,” second second-year Texas coach Charlie Strong said of the moves. “We have to be balanced, make sure the playmakers touch the ball.”
RB Johnathan Gray, who led the Longhorns with 40 yards rushing on eight attempts at Notre Dame, concurred with his head coach about the urgency needed to get Texas righted.
“We have to get back on track, get this thing going,” Gray said.
Keep in mind, the victory was against Rice, an overmatched opponent Texas would have been better off playing the first week of the season.
Instead, Texas was hammered by Notre Dame and critics howled regarding the ineffectiveness of Strong, who still carries a losing overall record (7-8) with the Longhorns. Even former coach Mack Brown chimed in, telling the San Antonio Express-News that he assumed no blame in Texas’ situation.
“I really don’t. I think if that were the case, our first year, we would have had to give all the credit to John Mackovic,” Brown said. “So to me, that happens when you change. Change is very unique. Sometimes it works immediately. Sometimes it takes a while. Last year it didn’t work. There were suspensions, changes, injuries and transfers.”
Among those on the roster Brown inherited was Ricky Williams, a running back who went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 1998.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Tempo on our side, offensively, will put you to sleep. And that’s normally what we tend to do. We can go faster if we choose to, but very seldom do we do that. In a couple of games, (opponents are) going to come at the speed of lightning and we’ve got to improve and be able to adjust (defensively) if the tempo gets faster.” — Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FIVE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM WEEK 2 IN THE BIG 12:
1. Oklahoma looked dead at Tennessee before scoring two late touchdowns in regulation and two more in overtime to steal a stirring road victory. The Sooners looked far different in the comeback than they did last season when they wilted down the stretch. Look for Oklahoma to contend in the Big 12.
2. Texas changed its play-caller and its quarterback. The moves did not enable the Longhorns to outgain Rice, but they made enough big plays in all three phases to secure a victory and bounce back from a humiliating defeat in Week 1. Freshman Jerrod Heard provided a definite spark as the new QB.
3. Baylor suspended two assistants for its game against Lamar, including offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, the son of Bears head coach Art Briles. Apparent recruiting violations were the reason for the suspensions. Baylor was troubled by turnovers, raising early concerns about QB Seth Russell.
4. Iowa State was tied with in-state rival Iowa late in the fourth quarter, but the Cyclones’ inability to move the ball effectively resulted in a defeat. Additional playmakers were expected to boost the Cyclones this season, but they were limited to 66 second-half yards and could not identify a lead rusher.
5. Kansas State faced weak opponents in its first two games, but the Wildcats allowed just three points, which is still impressive. The Wildcats accomplished that feat with their top defender, SS Dante Barnett, out with a shoulder injury. QB Joe Hubener played solid in his starting debut at UTSA and proved that he can throw deep.