Big 12 Notebook: Baylor displays offensive versatility

The secret Baylor manages to keep hush is that its prolific offense is not entirely built around the forward pass.

The Bears run the football. Quite effectively, in fact. Yet by executing a spread offense, the general conclusion is that Baylor wings it all over the field.

Not so much in the Big 12 opener. Quarterback Seth Russell attempted just 23 passes and did not even have a sore arm. Baylor was content giving the ball to running back Shock Linwood, and the Big 12’s leading rusher padded his season average with a career-high 221 yards as the Bears throttled Texas Tech 63-35 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“They come in thinking we’re pass happy and we come in and hit them in the mouth,” offensive tackle Spencer Drago told the Waco Tribune. “We know we can run it and we know teams are going to try to adjust and stop that. But if they do load up the box, we’ll throw it deep on them.”

Yes, Baylor still has that dimension. Russell threw for four touchdowns, while Linwood added two on the ground.

The Bears came in as the only team to rank in the top 10 nationally in both passing offense and rushing offense. They showed that balance to the Red Raiders, who had the misfortune of facing the Big 12’s two top offenses (and two co-favorites coming off a shared title in 2014) after falling to TCU in a 55-52 thrill ride on Sept. 26.

“We are OK throwing the football. We know we can throw the football, and we know we can be explosive throwing the ball,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “But if you can run a football, you can kind of hurt them in the heart. And that’s the thing you’ve got to be able to do. You’ve got to be able to rush the ball.”

Not only did Linwood generate a career-best rushing yards, he also logged his longest career gain, a 79-yard touchdown barely one minute into the game.

After establishing that phase, Russell wasted no time taking target practice. The Bears amassed 333 first quarter yards while establishing a 28-14 lead.

“Being able to run the ball strong, it definitely opens up the pass game,” said the Baylor QB.

BAYLOR (4-0, 1-0)

Game: Baylor 63, Texas Tech 35. QB Seth Russell passed for 286 yards and RB Shock Linwood rushed for a career-best 221 yards as the two combined for six touchdowns and led the Bears to an easy win in their Big 12 opener at Cowboys Stadium. Russell finished 15-of-23 passing and spotted WR Corey Coleman for three scores on throws of 24, 16 and 16 yards. Texas Tech managed 636 total yards (to 680 for Baylor) but could not narrow the gap after allowing the Bears to gain a 28-14 first quarter lead.

Takeaway: So, is it possible to say anything kind about Baylor’s defense?

Well, at times, the Bears get off the field without giving up an opposing score, and with the ball in their hands. In spite of the yardage Texas Tech gained, the Bears forced four turnovers.

One takeaway, a 46-yard return of an interception by CB Xavien Howard, put Baylor in position for a second quarter touchdown. NB Travon Blanchard added an interception in the third quarter, while S Orion Stewart and S Chance Waz each recovered fumbles.

“The coaches always preach that takeaways will kill momentum,” Blanchard told the Waco Tribune. “They preach to us to get the ball back into the offense’s hands and let them score points. We did that today.”

Baylor did not record a sack as Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes proved slippery while passing for 415 yards and three touchdowns. The Bears were missing DT Byron Bonds, who broke his hand in the Sept. 26 win against Rice.

“I thought our defense made the plays,” Briles said. “If you can get two or three stops, you can flip the game. And that’s what happened. We got two or three stops, and next thing you know you are up 28.”

Special teams also deserved credit. P Drew Galitz averaged 50.8 yards on four punts and dropped two inside the 20. Also, PK Spencer Evans recorded touchbacks on all but two of his 10 kickoffs.

Next: at Kansas, Oct. 10.

IOWA STATE (2-2, 1-0)

Game: Iowa State 38, Kansas 13. RB Mike Warren set an Iowa State freshman record with 175 yards and two touchdowns on 18 rushes as the Cyclones won their Big 12 opener for the first time in 13 years. QB Sam Richardson added 269 yards and two touchdowns passing. The win was the most lopsided for the Cyclones since beating Kansas in 2013. The win also avenged a loss to the Jayhawks a year ago that left Iowa State in the Big 12 cellar with a winless conference mark.

Takeaway: The performance by Warren was his second straight 100-yard game and provides a bright outlook for the future. Warren showed his natural ability to cut past defenders on the scout team a year ago while redshirting and has begun to bring those facets into games.

Still, Iowa State coach Paul Rhoades has noticed some refinement, just in Warren’s last two performances.

“The cuts he made (against Kansas) and the timing of when he made them and why he was able to make them was because of where his vision was,” Rhoads said. “He didn’t do that before the Toledo game. That’s the process of the light turning on and burning a little brighter.

“Now, he’s seeing guys behind (front-line defenders) and reading off them … making the appropriate cut at the appropriate time and finding himself in open space.”

It helped, of course, playing against a Kansas defense that came in allowing 254 yards rushing on average. Backs were averaging 5.1 yards per carry against the Jayhawks, who allowed Warren a 9.7-yard clip.

Iowa State needed the pick-me-up, nonetheless, after falling against Iowa in the final minutes and then losing in overtime at Toledo. Warren became just the third Iowa State freshman to have multiple 100-yard games after gaining 126 against Toledo.

Richardson benefitted from Warren’s ground skills to go 27-of-37 passing, but had two interceptions to go with his two touchdowns. One misfire was returned for a pick-six.

Still, Richardson engineered the Cyclones to a win, snapping a streak of 14 consecutive defeats in Big 12 games as the Iowa State starting QB. That inglorious stat was not something, Richardson said, that he dwelled on.

“I play for the team and win some football games and go out my senior year with a legacy that I wanted to be remembered by,” he said, “and not something that I want to look back on my time and regret.”

Next: at Texas Tech, Oct. 10.

KANSAS (0-4, 0-1)

Game: Iowa State 38, Kansas 13. QB Montell Cozart completed 15-of-21 passes for 150 yards, but left with a sprained left shoulder. The severity of the junior’s injury was not immediately known after the Jayhawks lost to the only Big 12 rival they defeated last season. True freshman Ryan Willis replaced Cozart and went 8-of-16 passing for 100 yards. LB Marcquis Roberts turned in the biggest play for the Jayhawks, an 83-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter after the Cyclones mounted a 31-6 advantage.

Takeaway: Kansas is so outmanned defensively that opponents are content lining up and ramming the ball at the Jayhawks on the ground. Even when those opponents have been limited in the run game previously.

Iowa State was ranked 122nd nationally with a 3.2-yard average per carry, yet the Cyclones pounded for 243 yards rushing and a 6.6-yard average against Kansas. A redshirt freshman, Mike Warren, enjoyed the best rushing performance by a Cyclone since 2006 with 175 yards on 18 attempts.

This, after Rutgers was content to rush the ball on 19 of the first 20 second half snaps it executed in a Sept. 26 victory against Kansas.

“Everybody’s going to try to come in and run the ball on us,” Roberts said. “We’ve just got to stop it.”

Easier said than done considering the Jayhawks’ next opponent is Baylor, which ranks second nationally with a 376.8-yard rushing average. The Bears’ 7.6-yard average per carry is tops in the country.

Meanwhile, Kansas was unable to respond with a run game of its own against Iowa State. The Jayhawks were limited to 38 yards on 33 carries. Opponents have become intent on stopping RB Ke’aun Kinner, who had back-to-back 100-yard games but was given just 11 cracks at Iowa State. He gained 46 yards.

“It’s not just the O-line up front,” said first-year Kansas coach David Beaty. “It’s our guys on the perimeter blocking well, making sure they’re doing a good job, because it takes all 10 in addition to the 11th carrying it to get that done.”

Cozart was the second Kansas quarterback in as many weeks to leave a game with an injury. Junior Deondre Ford started at Rutgers but was removed after suffering a strained thumb. Willis, who had not played since the Jayhawks’ opener, was used as a replacement at Iowa State rather than Ford.

Next: vs. Baylor, Oct. 10.

KANSAS STATE (3-1, 0-1)

Game: Oklahoma State 36, Kansas State 34. The Wildcats were unable to contain Mason Rudolph and the Cowboys passing game, allowing the OSU sophomore a career-high 437 yards through the air while going 34-of-55, with three touchdowns and one interception. Kansas State got 122 yards passing and 87 rushing from WR Kody Cook after he subbed in for injured Joe Hubener at quarterback. Hubener returned and led the Wildcats on a go-ahead scoring drive before the Cowboys answered with a field goal with 32 seconds remaining.

Takeaway: Although the depth chart Kansas State releases is not that extensive, Cook was essentially the fifth-string quarterback for the Wildcats since he entered the OSU game as their leading receiver.

The senior, a former walk-on who quarterbacked Hutchinson Community College to a bowl win in his last game as a juco player, stepped in after Hubener went out following a helmet-to-helmet collision on the Wildcats’ first series. Cook engineered Kansas State to a halftime lead before leaving with a shoulder injury he suffered on a 32-yard keeper on the Wildcats’ first snap of the fourth quarter.

Injuries have dogged Kansas State all season, particularly at QB. Jesse Ertz was named the starter coming out of fall camp, but suffered a season-ending injury on the first snap of the opener. Another backup, freshman Alex Delton, suffered a knee injury in mop-up time on Sept. 12 at Texas-San Antonio. Junior Jonathan Banks did not make the trip to Oklahoma State because of an illness.

That left Cook to step in, which he did admirably before leaving with the blow to his shoulder, which figures to thin the Wildcats’ receiving corps. Kansas State was already playing without SS Dante Barnett (shoulder), and his absence in the secondary contributed to the big day by Rudolph.

With all the injuries, it almost appears as if the Wildcats have little chance, though coach Bill Snyder bristled at that suggestion following the loss at Oklahoma State.

“Why not?” Snyder asked. “You’ve always got a chance. We wouldn’t even get on the plane if we didn’t have a chance. We have to coach well. We didn’t do that. We have to play well. We didn’t always do that. If you do those things, you’re in all of them. You have a chance. Anytime.”

That remains to be seen. Hubener, who, according to Snyder, passed the concussion protocol administered on the Kansas State sideline, figures to be the starter when the Wildcats face Big 12 preseason favorite TCU in their next game.

Making adjustments defensively in preparation for the Horned Frogs’ passing game, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Trevone Boykin, figures to be just as important as anything the Wildcats can muster with their patchwork offense.

Next: vs. TCU, Oct. 10.

OKLAHOMA (4-0, 1-0)

Game: Oklahoma 44, West Virginia 24. The Sooners recorded seven sacks and forced five turnovers while hounding the previously unbeaten Mountaineers. LB Eric Striker was dominant, recording 13 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble that was returned 41 yard for a fourth quarter touchdown by LB Jordan Evans. QB Baker Mayfield passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns, including a 71-yard scoring strike to WR Durron Neal after WVU crawled within three late in the third quarter.

Takeaway: Oklahoma allowed 603 yards to Tulsa in its previous outing. That was two weeks before West Virginia came in with a touted defense that was receiving much praise for the 3-0 record the Mountaineers achieved against a weak nonconference schedule.

The Sooners took notice. Even engaged in a little verbal sparring before kickoff with their feisty opponents.

“The hype about (West Virginia), they took it personal. They took it as a challenge,” Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said of his unit. “That’s promising to see.”

Even more promising were the results. Striker and Evans combined for five of the Sooners’ 13 tackles for loss. CB Jordan Thomas, who was suspended for the Tulsa game just 24 hours before kickoff, returned and snagged two interceptions.

“That’s big for Jordan and he can only get better,” Striker told the Tulsa World. “He can only grow as a person. I think he needed that. It was good.”

With the OU offense limited to 19 yards on its first three possessions of the second half, DT Matt Dimon forced West Virginia QB Skyler Howard to fumble and the DE D.J. Ward took the recovery to the Mountaineers 7-yard line. The Sooners managed just a field goal out of that turnover, but it was big enough to blunt West Virginia’s momentum and add to what at that point was a thin lead for OU.

“We really wanted to do good, and everybody wanted a piece of (the Mountaineers),” Striker said. “Not much talking to do. We were really ready to go from the jump.”

Next: vs. Texas (at Dallas), Oct. 10.

OKLAHOMA STATE (5-0, 2-0)

Game: Oklahoma State 36, Kansas State 34. PK Ben Grogan drilled his second game-winning field goal in as many weeks, connecting from 37 yards with 32 seconds remaining. QB Mason Rudolph completed 34-of-55 passes for a career-best 437 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception, after injuries limited Oklahoma State’s effectiveness on the ground (49 yards rushing). Two receivers, Marcell Ateman and James Washington, had 100-yard games, while David Glidden led the Cowboys with eight catches.

Takeaway: After hitting two field goals a week earlier in the final 93 seconds at Texas, including a 40-yarder as time expired for a 30-27 win, Grogan was settled in as he entered for the game-winning boot at home against the Wildcats.

“Especially with last week being so recent, I kind of had the same mindset,” Grogan said. “My team was down, and I had to do it again, so it was kind of like a no-big-deal attitude that I have to have.”

The circumstances were a big deal, however. Rudolph, playing in just his eighth game for Oklahoma State after his redshirt was shredded late in his freshman year, needed to complete pinpoint throws, though the Kansas State defense often played loose single-man coverage. A 19-yard strike to Ateman converted a critical fourth-and-8 call on the OSU 37-yard line on the final scoring drive.

Ateman credited his coach, Mike Gundy, for having faith in the passing game.

“Gundy likes throwing it up,” Ateman said. “He’s a big throw-it-up kind of guy, and he thinks our players have a better chance than (defenders), so we’re capable of going up and making plays.”

Rudolph also made the necessary throws after he was pulled in the fourth quarter of the Texas win after his own fumble and an interception were returned for touchdowns by the Longhorns.

“He’s showing some toughness, some grit and the willingness to fight and win,” Gundy said.

Especially with a short-handed backfield that prompted Gundy to use receivers on end-arounds for the longest of the Oklahoma State rushes. Both Chris Carson and Rennie Childs were out after alternating at running back in previous games. RB Raymond Taylor led the Cowboys in rushing with 35 yards on nine attempts.

Next: at West Virginia, Oct. 10.

TCU (5-0, 2-0)

Game: TCU 50, Texas 7. QB Trevone Boykin passed for 332 yards and five touchdowns, boosting his career total to 74 TD strikes and passing Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton as TCU’s career leader. With two TD receptions, WR Josh Doctson also broke the TCU career record for receiving touchdowns by boosting his total to 23. Doctson had seven catches for 129 yards, while freshman WR KaVontae Turpin added six catches for 138 yards and four touchdowns for the Horned Frogs.

Takeaway: Whether it was a comment on TCU’s strength or Texas’ decline, there was little celebration to the lopsided win among the Horned Frogs.

Sure, they were happy to beat Texas in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1958-59. And, to get their first home win against the Longhorns since 1992.

But the balance of power has shifted dramatically since the days Texas ruled the Southwest Conference. TCU is now a national power and the preseason pick to claim the Big 12 title after sharing the crown last year with Baylor. The Frogs’ back-to-back wins against the Longhorns were achieved with by a convincing total of 98-17.

Asked if that was a big deal, Doctson essentially shrugged.

“I didn’t know until you said that, so I guess it doesn’t really mean anything,” said TCU’s star receiver. “Just playing football — TCU football — each game.”

With that, and all the injuries that have mounted, comes a new star virtually every week. In the Texas win, that breakthrough belonged to Turpin. His contribution was welcome after junior WR Ty Slanina was lost for the season a week earlier when he suffered a broken collarbone. In addition, senior WR Kolby Listenbee (hip) and sophomore WR Emanuel Porter (undetermined) were out.

“(Turpin) was one of the last guys we took in the class,” said TCU coach Gary Patterson, “and he’s turned out to be one of the most exciting guys we’ve ever had here.”

Turpin showed off both his precision running routes, and his speed, with TD receptions of 13, 49, 50 and 12 yards.

Not all was bad on the injury front for TCU. DT Davion Pierson played his second straight game after returning from a concussion. And against Texas, DE Mike Tuaua returned after charges were of assault and robbery the senior faced were dropped.

Next: at Kansas State, Oct. 10.

TEXAS (1-4, 0-2)

Game: TCU 50, Texas 7. The Longhorns fell behind by 30 points after one quarter and scored their lone touchdown with 5:14 remaining while suffering their first loss at TCU since 1992. The No. 4 Horned Frogs mounted 604 total yards in the mismatch. QB Tyrone Swoopes accounted for Texas’ only score with a touchdown pass he threw after replacing starter Jerrod Heard. The two combined to go 13-of-28 passing for 122 yards. RB D’Onta Foreman led the Longhorns with 112 yards rushing on 18 carries.

Takeaway: Things have gotten so bad for Texas that a member of the Texas Rangers social media department sent out a tweet on the Rangers account requesting that Charlie Strong be fired as the Longhorns coach.

That employee was fired by the Rangers, but the message regarding Strong was read loud and clear and seconded on Twitter by a number of Longhorns followers.

The blowout caused Texas to suffer back-to-back defeats to TCU, a former Southwest Conference rival the Big 12 did not initially invite into the league during its 1996 inception, for the first time since 1958-59.

Strong expressed disappointment and frustration, while noting the youthfulness of the Longhorns and their freshman quarterback, Heard.

“When you’re a young team, like the team that we have right now, and you don’t have any leaders to step up with your older guys, then you’re going to have issues,” Strong said. “What’s happening now is most of the playmakers are the young guys. When you don’t have (a leader) yet, you have to continue to develop. We’ve just got to coach better. We just have to continue to coach.”

No doubt, everyone seems to concur with that last statement about coaching. Strong dipped to 7-11 in his second season as the Longhorns coach. Up next is the annual Red River Rivalry in the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma, which improved to 4-0 by winning its Big 12 opener against previously unbeaten West Virginia.

“We can’t get down,” said Heard, who was limited to 71 yards on 20 pass attempts and 12 rushes, and has been contained since setting a Texas record with 527 total yards in a Sept. 19 loss to Cal.

“We have a big game next week, and we’re not a team that can’t battle. We’ve shown it before, but today was one of those games that — it took the best of us and we lost.”

Next: vs. Oklahoma (at Dallas), Oct. 10.

TEXAS TECH (4-1, 0-2)

Game: Baylor 63, Texas Tech 35. QB Patrick Mahomes passed for 415 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions while going 32-of-50. He was eventually replaced late in the game by Davis Webb as the Red Raiders dug a 14-point hole after one quarter and never rallied while allowing 680 yards to the explosive, and balanced, Bears. RB DeAndre Washington entered the game as the Big 12’s second-leading rusher behind Baylor’s Shock Linwood, but was limited to 39 yards and shared team-high rushing honors with Mahomes.

Takeaway: The injury Mahomes suffered to his left knee during a 55-52 loss to TCU on Sept. 26 continued to hamper the gutsy Tech quarterback.

Even when limited, Mahomes is a factor. He converted a fourth-and-6 call into a 37-yard touchdown pass and also scrambled for a 25-yard touchdown, but his productivity was not enough to offset Baylor.

“(He was hampered) more than you’d like,” admitted Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury. “He’s really snapping that ball off and putting pressure on that leg. You can tell he is not comfortable with it yet, but (the injured knee) was dramatically better than it was last weekend.”

If so, that’s good for the Red Raiders since it would indicate Mahomes should bounce back over the long haul. The remainder of the season is what Texas Tech needs to reconcile with, too, after back-to-back defeats dropped the Red Raiders into the Big 12 cellar at 0-2. Remember, though, Baylor and TCU were picked as co-favorites to win the league after sharing the Big 12 title last season.

“You can’t let this be a landslide,” C Jared Kaster said. “You can’t just take it all downhill from here. You have to bounce back. You have to have a great week of practice. You know, we still have a really good opportunity to finish the season off really good. That’s something that we’re going to have to push as older guys.”

Coming off a 4-8 finish a year ago, that attitude is imperative. The loss dropped Kingsbury back to .500 (15-15) in his third season as the Red Raiders coach.

Next: vs. Iowa State, Oct. 10.

WEST VIRGINIA (3-1, 0-1)

Game: Oklahoma 44, West Virginia 24. QB Skyler Howard threw three interceptions and also lost a fumble deep in his own territory as the Mountaineers could not escape a big first-half hole and faltered in their Big 12 opener against the Sooners. Howard finished 17-of-32 passing for 173 yards, far short of his 305-yard average. RB Wendell Smallwood added 111 yards rushing on 22 carries. West Virginia pulled within 27-24 in the third quarter, but quickly gave up a 71-yard scoring strike and allowed Oklahoma the last 17 points.

Takeaway: Looks can be deceiving.

“We came in excited for the game and we were excited all week,” said LB Nick Kwiatkoski, the Mountaineers’ leading tackler on the season and in the game (11), told the Charleston Gazette. “Even in the morning I was impressed how everyone got up and got ready and looked like they were ready to play. The first half obviously wasn’t us.”

Remaining games will determine the truth in that statement. The Mountaineers feasted on a weak nonconference schedule to build a defense that looked formidable going into their Big 12 opener. Oklahoma, however, struck for 427 yards, including big plays through the air and on the ground for touchdowns.

The backbreaker was the touchdown pass caught by the Sooners’ Durron Neal late in the third quarter when he slipped behind the West Virginia secondary and blunted the Mountaineers’ momentum. The Mountaineers indicated afterward that one player in the secondary did not get the proper signal.

“You can’t point fingers,” said S Karl Joseph, who watched the play unfold from the other side of the field. “If one person didn’t get the call, it’s every other guy on the field’s fault for not doing a better job communicating.”

Just before that breakdown, Howard scored on a 50-yard keeper to narrow the margin to three points. Just when West Virginia was looking to beat Oklahoma for the first time since joining the Big 12, the Sooners got righted to boost that series edge to 4-0 in conference play. The 20-point margin was the most decisive for OU during that stretch.

“We successfully got it into the fourth quarter for the fourth time in four years with them,” West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. “We got it to 27-24, and we’re right there in the game. But I didn’t think we played very good in the first half. That’s on me for not having the guys ready to go.”

Next: vs. Oklahoma State, Oct. 10.

NOTES, QUOTES

–Oklahoma CB Jordan Thomas would not divulge what he did that led to a one-game suspension for the Sept. 26 game against Tulsa, or what triggered his absence in the first quarter of an earlier win against Akron.

Maybe that is an indication the sophomore is maturing. What he did acknowledge is the time he spent by himself watching the Sooners get burned through the air by Tulsa was, well, “devastating.”

“It was probably one of the hardest things I had done in my life,” Thomas told the Tulsa World. “I wanted to be out there with my brothers.”

His punishment stemmed from an undisclosed violation of team policy. Thomas’ suspension was announced just 24 hours prior to kickoff for the Tulsa game, then he had an off week to stew over the situation, but instead chose to rebound nicely with two interceptions in a 44-24 win over West Virginia. He also deflected a ball at the OU 10-yard line to deny a potential TD throw by the Mountaineers. His first interception was snagged at the OU 15.

“Even without the interceptions he covered really well,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said.

The West Virginia receiver Thomas covered most of the game was Shelton Gibson, who came in averaging 27 yards per catch with four touchdowns. Gibson grabbed just three receptions for 35 yards against the Sooners, who limited West Virginia QB Skyler Howard to 173 yards, with three picks.

“Missing the entire game (against Tulsa), it’s a lot different than sitting there knowing that you’re going to get in the game eventually,” Thomas added. “Not even being at the game, that’s eye-opening. It was tough, but we’ve corrected it. I apologized to my team and my coaches. We’ve moved on.”

–Oklahoma State was on the verge of losing to a Kansas State team so depleted at quarterback that it inserted a wide receiver, Kody Cook, to play the position following a helmet-to-helmet hit SS Tre Flowers leveled on the Wildcats’ starter, Joe Hubener, in the first quarter.

Flowers was not penalized for the contact, but the Wildcats were clearly motivated.

Cook looked like a veteran as the Oklahoma State defense struggled and Kansas State mounted a 28-20 halftime lead. The Cowboys still trailed after the Wildcats used a 94-yard drive to tack on their last touchdown and made it 34-33 with 3:01 remaining.

“It’s not what we wanted at all,” CB Kevin Peterson said. “We kept our offense off the field a lot of times, and we kept ourselves on the field a lot of the time. At the end of the day, we just have to bow up and do what we’re supposed to do, and I feel like we did that.”

While the Wildcats managed 351 total yards, a pedestrian total by Big 12 standards, they controlled the football for 34:33 and were almost successful in playing keep-away. After generating nine turnovers in the first four games, Oklahoma State got one against Kansas State. It came on a desperation pass by the Wildcats in the final seconds.

“You realize how fragile this is from being a good defense to just poor,” said defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer, after also watching the Cowboys commit numerous penalties that kept Kansas State drives alive. “That’s how quick it can happen, so it was a blessing (the Cowboys) got that lesson because you can’t talk to them about it. They have to live it, and then come out with a win, because of it or in spite of it.”

Credit goes to hanging with it. By winning, Oklahoma State ended a string of 49 straight games Kansas State had won when leading at the half, the longest such streak in the Bowl Subdivision.

–TCU coach Gary Patterson told one network prior to kickoff against Texas that “we’ve beaten better with less.” After the Horned Frogs trounced the Longhorns 50-7, Patterson attempted to deflect attention from that comment and mentioned the motivation he provided his team by saying the media does not believe his team is good enough defensively to play winning football.

“My job is to motivate (players), not motivate you guys,” Patterson told the media afterward.

Whatever works. TCU is obviously short-handed on defense because of injuries that have affected seven starters. Yet against the Longhorns, a shutout was nearly recorded as Texas scored its lone touchdown with 5:14 remaining.

“I’m getting tired of watching shows that say we can’t play football, defense or offense,” Patterson said.

No telling what show may have asserted the Frogs cannot click offensively. QB Trevone Boykin remains firmly entrenched in the Heisman Trophy discussion after passing for 332 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 52 yards on the ground. The home field win for the Frogs was the first against Texas since 1992, the year before Boykin was born.

That victory, 23 years ago, prompted students to storm the field and tear down goal posts. This time, with TCU grabbing a 37-0 halftime lead as Texas stumbled to 1-4, the celebration was much more tame. Both among fans, and in the Frogs locker room.

“If you act like this is a big deal,” Patterson told his squad, “then you couldn’t have beaten them anyway.”

Then, Patterson went on to motivate his team by spinning media accounts to fit his needs.

“They’re saying you can’t be a playoff team because you can’t play defense,” Patterson added. “I’m not trying to be a playoff team yet. I’m trying to win the next game.”

At 5-0, TCU has managed to achieve that goal as the season approaches the halfway point with an Oct. 10 trip to Kansas State.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s an insane game. I mean, it’s just kind of the way it has been the last four or five years. You can’t breathe for a half second. The pedal is all the way down. If you had any hair, it’s blowing backwards. And you are just screaming the whole time. That’s just the way it is.” — Baylor coach Art Briles.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

FIVE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM WEEK 5 IN THE BIG 12:

1. Baylor continues to carve opponents with a balanced attack that features the Big 12’s top rusher, Shock Linwood. He busted a 79-yard touchdown in the opening minutes against Texas Tech. The Bears had no trouble mounting anything offensively while getting key stops and turnovers defensively.

2. TCU shelled Texas 50-7, holding the Longhorns scoreless until late in the fourth quarter. The back-to-back wins over Texas were the first for the Horned Frogs since 1958-59, before coach Gary Patterson was even born. Still, TCU treated the victory as routine while proving their top-five ranking is legitimate.

3. Oklahoma struggled defensively in its previous win, allowing 600-plus yards against Tulsa. Yet it was the Sooners defense that looked salty against West Virginia, which had thrived off stops and turnovers during a 3-0 nonconference run. Oklahoma used five takeaways and seven sacks to dismantle WVU.

4. Iowa State had never won a Big 12 game in 14 league starts made by Sam Richardson. The Cyclones quarterback got over that hump, while RB Mike Warren set an ISU freshman rushing record in a romp over Kansas. The coordinator orchestrating ISU’s offense was Mark Mangino, the former KU coach.

5. Oklahoma State needed PK Ben Grogan to deliver in the clutch again. For the second straight week, he provided a game-winning field goal. The OSU defense looked vulnerable, failing to shut down the Wildcats, who are riddled with quarterback injuries and used a wide receiver, Kody Cook, at that spot.