BIG 12 TITLE GAME
Inside the Oklahoma vs. TCU matchup in Arlington.
Records: No. 11 TCU, 10-2, 7-2 Big 12; No. 3 Oklahoma 11-1, 8-1. Series history: Oklahoma leads 11-5.
Key players: TCU — QB Kenny Hill, RB Sewo Olonilua, DE Mat Boesen; Oklahoma — QB Baker Mayfield, RB Rodney Anderson, LB Emmanuel Beal
Who has the edge
Offense — Oklahoma. The Sooners finished the regular season with the top-ranked total offense (594). They’re fourth in scoring (45.3) and second in passing (377.8). They generated 533 yards against TCU on Nov. 11, with Mayfield throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns. The nation’s No. 2 QB missed the first two plays and sat in the fourth with a big lead last week against West Virginia, and he still finished with 218 yards and three TDs on 14-of-17 passing.
Defense — TCU. The Horned Frogs allow 10 fewer points per game than Oklahoma. They’re also slightly better on takeaways and opponent third-down percentage (29.1). They held Texas Tech to three points and Baylor to 393 yards and 22 points in the two games after facing Oklahoma. The Horned Frogs are No. 2 in run defense but gave up 200 yards on 41 rushes (4.9 yards per carry) the first time around against Oklahoma. Special teams — TCU. The two teams are pretty even in field goals and punting, and they both have weapons in the return game, but the Horned Frogs’ KaVontae Turpin is the most dangerous kick returner in the matchup. He has a punt return and a kick return for TDs. He’s averaging 14.1 yards on 14 punt returns and 34 yards on 12 kick returns. The Sooners have not scored on special teams, but CeeDee Lamb is averaging 6.2 yards per punt return.
Notable: TCU S Nick Orr was suspended for the first half of this game for his role in a benchclearing skirmish during the Frogs’ 45-22 win over Baylor. The Horned Frogs also are without injured RB Darius Anderson, who rushed for 42 yards and one score against Oklahoma, and possibly without LB Travin Howard, who missed the last two games. He was the Frogs’ leading tackler against OU with 13.
About TCU: The 11th-ranked Horned Frogs only lost to Iowa State (14-7) and Oklahoma (3820) this season. The Sooners’ only loss is to Iowa State (38-31). But the upstart Cyclones couldn’t keep them or the Frogs out of the Big 12 championship game. Olonilua, from Kingwood, was TCU’s leading rusher last week, finishing with 71 yards and one TD in a 45-22 win over Baylor.
About Oklahoma: The No. 3 Sooners have won seven straight since their setback with Iowa State, putting them in prime position to make the College Football Playoff, provided they take care of business against TCU. The Sooners racked up 646 yards in last week’s 59-31 win over West Virginia, averaging 8.9 yards per carry behind RB Rodney Anderson, from Katy, who rushed for 118 yards and four scores, and QB Kyler Murray, who had 80 yards on three carries with one TD pass while filling in for Mayfield.