BIG 12 GAMES
Texas Tech at Oklahoma: All eyes will be on OU starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, the one-time starter for Texas Tech. Mayfield gets his old team in Norman. He’s coming off a five-touchdown passing effort in a 55-0 victory against Kansas State. That’s his best day as a Sooner. Cornerback Zack Sanchez had a pick-six against the Wildcats, the third of his career, which tied a school record. Tech counters with Patrick Mahomes, who statistically is the top passer among Power 5 quarterbacks. The Red Raiders’ last road win over an AP top 25 team was against Oklahoma in 2011.
Kansas State at Texas: The Longhorns were off last Saturday. They’re hoping to maintain the magic from their 24-17 victory over Oklahoma. Tailback D’Onta Foreman rushed for 117 yards, his second straight game of at least 100 yards. The Wildcats have lost three straight, including close contests to Oklahoma State and TCU, then a blowout to the Sooners. But Texas always has struggled against K-State, with the Longhorns winning only six times in 15 games.
Iowa State at Baylor: The Cyclones threw a scare into TCU last Saturday in Ames, scoring 21 points in the first quarter against the Horned Frogs. But second-ranked Baylor carries the longest home winning streak in the country. Bears quarterback Seth Russell is coming off a career game, rushing for 160 yards to go along with his 380 passing and his six total TDs. Consider that Baylor’s worst offensive game was in the opener, when the Bears scored only 56 points. Iowa State will try and batter Baylor with its running game. Freshman tailback Mike Warren is third in the league in rushing, averaging 107 yards per game.
Kansas at Oklahoma State: The Cowboys were off last week. Undefeated, they remain the darkhorse candidate for the Big 12 crown. They’ve won their last three games by a total of 11 points. Kansas is desperate for a victory under new coach David Beaty. So far, the Jayhawks’ best effort was against Tech last week. But in this league, it’s difficult to win games averaging 19 points each Saturday.