OU coach: We rate CFP spot with Big 12 win
Kyler Murray had another Heisman Trophy-worthy performance, Oklahoma’s much-maligned defense made some big key plays and the fifth-ranked Sooners won yet another conference title.
Now the 12-time Big 12 champions wait to find out if all that is good enough to get back into the College Football Playoff.
“There’s no doubt we have a playoff-worthy team, but I understand that there’s other factors there too that we can’t control,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “We’ve done all we can.”
Murray was 25 of 34 passing for 379 yards and three touchdowns as the Sooners beat No. 9 Texas 39-27 in the Big 12 championship game Saturday in Arlington, Texas, avenging their only loss and making their case for their third playoff appearance in four years.
Two of Murray’s TD throws were to Grant Calcaterra, who had an impressive one-handed grab for an 18-yard score on a thirdand-10 play with two minutes left.
“That catch will live on in Oklahoma history forever,” Riley said.
The Sooners (12-1, No. 5 CFP) won their seventh consecutive game — and became the first Power Five team to win four outright conference titles in a row since Florida in the SEC in the mid-1990s.
Sam Ehlinger was 23 of 36 passing for 349 yards with two touchdowns and also ran for two scores for Texas (9-4). But his final pass was picked off by Tre Norwood at the 1 in the final minute, and there was also a critical safety.
Asked if the Sooners’ defense is good enough to win a national title this season, Riley quickly answered yes.
“Based on we beat everybody on our schedule. You’ve got to win by one point, these games, the last time I checked,” Riley said. “We’ve had some of our best performances here the last couple of weeks, in huge, huge games, huge moments against dynamic offenses.”
AAC Championship Central Fla. 56, Memphis 41
In Orlando, Fla., Darriel Mack shrugged off two early turnovers to rush for three second-half touchdowns and rally No. 7 Central florida (12-0, No. 8 CFP) over Memphis (8-5) in the American Athletic Conference championship gam.
With the red-shirt freshman filling in for injured quarterback McKenzie Milton, the Knights won their second straight league title and extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 25 games.
Mack also threw for 348 yards and two TDs without an interceptions to keep UCF in the conversation about who’s deserving of consideration for berths in the playoff.
Greg McCrae rushed for 206 yards and one TD for the Knights, who trailed 38-21 at halftime before scoring touchdowns on five straight possessions in the second half.