COVID cancels a pair of contests
Some things to watch in the Big 12 on Saturday, when now only one of the three scheduled conference makeup games will be played. The Big 12 on Thursday canceled the second attempts for No. 13 Oklahoma to play at West Virginia, and the planned Texas makeup at Kansas. No. 19 Iowa State had completed its regular season with a spot in the Big 12 title game against the Sooners, who now also have an open date before their Dec. 19 matchup.
Game of the week
Oklahoma State at Baylor. This now is the only Big 12 regular-season conference game left on the schedule. With the Cowboys out of contention for the Big 12 title, they are still a slight favorite going to play in Waco, Texas. The game previously scheduled Oct. 17 is now the season finale for first-year Bears coach Dave Aranda. Baylor has won five of six in the series and in a 27-14 loss last week played a tighter game against Oklahoma than the Cowboys did in Bedlam. The Cowboys lost 41-13 in Bedlam and have dropped three of their last five games.
Inside the numbers
TCU, which hosts Louisiana Tech in a game added just last week, is 5-0 this season and 100-8 in coach Gary Patterson’s 20 seasons when rushing for 200 yards in a game. … Oklahoma earned its title game slot by winning six games in a row since its first 0-2 start in league play since 1998. … Without a chance to play another game, Kansas (0-9) finished winless for the second time in six seasons. The Jayhawks are 9-60 in that span that began with an 0-12 record in 2015.
SATURDAY’S GAMES Oklahoma State at Baylor
When: 7 p.m. on Saturday
Where: McLane Stadium, Waco, TX
TV: ESPNU
Notes: Oklahoma State is limping to the regular season finish line with three losses in its last five contests. The two wins were a two-point victory over Kansas State and a six-point victory over Texas Tech. Baylor’s only two wins this season came against Kansas and Kansas State. This game feels more important for offseason momentum than anything else.
Louisiana Tech at TCU
When: 7p.m. on Saturday
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
TV: Fox Sports 1
Notes: TCU is among the hottest teams in the Big 12, winning four of its last five games. The Horned Frogs possess wins over Texas and Oklahoma State in 2020. Gary Patterson’s program hopes to reach the six-win mark with a win over Conference USA opponent Louisiana Tech in the regular season finale. The young recruits on offense are beginning to impress for TCU.
It was a long shot
The Big 12 tried to get in all 90 conference matchups in this pandemic-affected season, and came close. If the Oklahoma State-Baylor game does get played, that would be a 97.8% completion rate with 88 of 90 scheduled league games played. With TCU’s added game against Louisiana Tech, Baylor will be the only team without a non-conference game.