Texas running back Joe Bergeron scored two touchdowns, including the game-winner, against Oklahoma State. (AP) |
Big 12 scoreboard
Texas 41, Oklahoma State 36: Facing fourth-and-6 with just over a minute left, David Ash kept the Longhorns' comeback chances alive by throwing a perfect bullet to D.J. Grant on a crossing pattern that went for 29 yards. Two plays later, Ash threw a jump ball to Mike Davis that went for 32 yards and set up Joe Bergeron's controversial 2-yard touchdown on which it appeared he fumbled as he crossed the goal line. The score stood, and Texas (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) and Ash won the biggest game in years for the program. Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1) nearly pulled off the upset, thanks to RB Joseph Randle, who ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog here)
West Virginia 70, Baylor 63: West Virginia (4-0, 3-1) and Baylor (3-1, 0-1) were two missed Bears' field goals from the highest-scoring game in NCAA history. Don't worry, plenty of other records fell. Geno Smith broke every single-game West Virginia school record. He completed 45 passes for 656 yards -- fifth all-time nationally -- and had more touchdowns (8) than incompletions (7). Stedman Bailey had a school-record 303 receiving yards and caught five TDs. Baylor QB Nick Florence also had a record day, throwing for a school-record 581 yards, including five touchdowns. (For more on the game, check out CBSSports.com's Eye on College Football blog here)
Texas Tech 24, Iowa State 13: On a day for the offenses, the best defense was played by the most unlikely candidate: Texas Tech. The Red Raiders (4-0, 1-0) forced four turnovers, held Iowa State (3-1, 0-1) to 189 yards and just one touchdown. (One of Iowa State's touchdowns was scored by its defense.) Seth Doege threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns, and his favorite target Eric Ward caught nine passes for 122 receiving yards and a TD.
TCU 24, SMU 16: TCU (4-0, 1-0) won its 12th straight game and avenged last season's loss to SMU (1-3), but it wasn't pretty. Rain made for a messy game, and the Horned Frogs won by picking off former Texas QB Garrett Gilbert five times. TCU QB Casey Pachall had a forgetful game -- completing 10 of 26 passes for 107 yards and two TDs -- but unlike Gilbert, he didn't make any costly mistakes.
Play of the day: It'd be easy to pick from any of Smith's beautiful eight touchdown tosses, but the play that wins is the one throw Smith tossed off-target. West Virginia WR J.D. Woods, who was running to his left, reached out the opposite direction and snagged Smith's pass with his right hand. "A sick play," Smith said. "I was ready to take off and tackle the guy."
He said what? Geno Smith on his performance: "Statistically, this was my best game ever, but I think I've had better games." Um, what?! Coach Dana Holgorsen disagreed: "Can you please tell me how you can improve on that?"
RapidReports defensive star of the day: DB Cornelius Douglas, Texas Tech. Douglas intercepted Iowa State QB Steele Jantz twice. He returned his second interception 40 yards to the ISU 9-yard line, setting up Texas Tech's fourth-quarter touchdown that stretched its lead from one to eight.
West Virginia and Geno Smith were celebrating a lot on Saturday. (AP) |
RapidReports offensive star of the day: QB Geno Smith, West Virginia. The stats alone are amazing. Smith was as good as those numbers look. And this wasn't just dink and dunk. He showed great accuracy on his downfield passes. He also had great presence in the pocket, buying time with his footwork. The Mountaineer linemen also deserve props for giving Smith as much time as he wanted a week after Maryland was able to put some hits on the star QB.
His seat is getting uncomfortable: Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Bennett. You don't give up 70 points and 807 yards without feeling a little uneasy about your job security. Maryland showed the best way to get some stops against West Virginia is to get to Smith, and Bennett didn't blitz enough to make that happen.
A possible spot on the bench for: Iowa State QB Steele Jantz. A year ago Jantz ended up on the bench because of health and performance during Big 12 play, replaced by Jared Barnett, who he beat for the job in camp. Jantz can't be feeling good after his performance against Texas Tech. He completed 10 of 20 passes for 73 yards, a touchdown, three interceptions and a fumble. Jantz does have one good excuse, his O-line struggled to give him time and Jantz was sacked five times.
Why you care about these three stat lines:
- Texas Tech held Iowa State to 117 rushing yards. A year ago the Red Raiders had the worst rush defense in the nation and allowed the Cyclones to run all over them for 368 yards in a 41-7 loss. The Red Raiders proved with this performance they've improved. A lot. They continue to lead the Big 12 in rush defense, allowing 85.75 yards on the ground per game.
- Baylor's defense was giving up 315 passing yards per game before Saturday. This was not a flash-in-the-pan performance. The Bears have issues defensively. Their offense is good enough to win some games this year, but finishing in the top-half of the Big 12 will be difficult with this defense. Hey, the games will at least be entertaining.
- Stedman Bailey (303 receiving yards) and Tavon Austin (215 receiving yards) became the first receiving duo since 2007 to go for 200-plus receiving yards in one game. Texas Tech's Danny Amendola and Michael Crabree were the last pair to pull this off. Austin also broke his own school record, set a week ago, by catching 14 passes. And it's worth mentioning, the Mountaineer duo was outdone by Baylor's Terrance Williams, who caught 17 passes for 314 yards.
Key number: Turnovers played a big part in the outcome of three of the four Big 12 game on Saturday. Big 12 teams that won the turnover battle went 3-0.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern).