Nov 11, 2017; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes the ball as offensive lineman Orlando Brown (78) blocks TCU Horned Frogs defensive end Michael Epley (40) during the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
NORMAN, Okla. — Baker Mayfield continued making his Heisman Trophy case, Rodney Anderson kept up his string of big games and No. 5 Oklahoma kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive with a 38-20 win over No. 6 TCU on Saturday night at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Mayfield threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
Anderson ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns and had five catches for 139 yards and two more scores for Oklahoma (9-1, 6-1 Big 12).
The Horned Frogs (8-2, 5-2) entered the game allowing less than 70 yards rushing per game but the Sooners ran for 200 yards. No team had rushed for more than 142 yards against TCU this season coming into the game.
In his last four games, Anderson has 590 yards rushing.
Oklahoma took control early, building a 38-14 halftime lead behind four Anderson scores — three in the second quarter.
It was only the second time in conference play that the Sooners had a game decided by more than eight points.
It might not be the last time the teams meet this season.
The Sooners are a game ahead of second-place Oklahoma State and TCU with two games to play. Oklahoma has beaten each of those teams this season. The Horned Frogs have the head-to-head win over the Cowboys.
The top two teams in the league meet in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 2 in Arlington, Texas.
Late in the second quarter and trailing by 17, TCU faced a fourth-and-3 from the Oklahoma 39.
Instead of going for it, Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson elected to punt it after TCU took a delay-of-game penalty.
The decision gave the Sooners the ball back with 1:16 remaining in the half and 87 yards to go.
The Sooners promptly moved the ball down the field on a 51-yard pass from Mayfield to Marquis Brown and then scored two plays later.
While TCU linebacker Travin Howard jumped on Anderson’s back just inside the 10 but the Sooners’ running back dragged Howard to the end zone to finish off the 33-yard touchdown catch for his fourth score of the first half.
NOTES: TCU DE Mat Boesen was ejected early in the second quarter for kicking at a pair of Oklahoma linemen. The Horned Frogs have had a player ejected against Oklahoma in three consecutive seasons. … Oklahoma started three freshmen in the secondary, with each starting for the first time. Robert Barnes started at safety and Tre Brown and Tre Norwood started at cornerback. … TCU K Jonathan Song missed the game with a groin injury. Cole Bunce served in his place and missed a field goal late in the first quarter. … Sooners DL Neville Gallimore returned after missing the last two games due to injury.
