Showdown in Big 12 matches No. 8 Sooners, No. 11 Cowboys
No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 11 Oklahoma State share the Big 12 lead, and the winner of Saturday’s showdown at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, will be in great position to reach the conference’s championship game. While the loser still could play for the conference title, its national title hopes will take a major hit.
There’s an extra layer to the story this year — the quarterbacks.
For Oklahoma (7-1, 4-1 Big 12 and fifth in the College Football Playoff rankings), Baker Mayfield was fourth in the Heisman race in 2015 and third last season.
For Oklahoma State (7-1, 4-1,
No. 11 CFP), Mason Rudolph is the school’s leader in career passing yards and is also considered a top contender for the Heisman.
“Should be a great game,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. “I know it’s an important game to this state, to this conference race right now, important game on the national scene. That’s how Bedlam should be.”
Mayfield ranks second in the nation in passing efficiency and leads the Big 12 after setting the FBS record for passing efficiency last season.
“He’ll make you miss,” Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said. “He’s a tremendous ballplayer. He’s hard to tackle, can throw on the run, makes great reads, he’s tough, doesn’t back down from a challenge. If you’re down the street in the park picking sides on Saturday, he’s your first pick.”
Rudolph has a chance to leave as one of the rare Oklahoma State quarterbacks to beat Oklahoma twice — Josh Fields was the most recent to do it, in 2001 and 2002.
“Great player,” Mayfield said of Rudolph. “I think the biggest thing for both of us — we have great supporting casts and teams that are playing hard for us. Those guys make our jobs easy.”