For the latest edition of ConferenceChatterTV, featuring my reaction to the 2009 Border War, plus other games from around the Big 12, see the video below:
To take part in a discussion on how Kansas University coach Mark Mangino will be remembered, if in fact he’s coached his last game for the Jayhawks, check out my blog from earlier today.
Let’s get to some awards from week 13 for the Big 12 players who went above and beyond this weekend:
Player of the week: Colt McCoy, Texas
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Well, so much for McCoy giving up the rushing component to his game. McCoy passed for 304 yards and four touchdowns in Texas’ 49-39 triumph over Texas A&M. Nice line. It’s simply insane to think he also rushed for 175 yards and a separate score, bringing his yardage total to 479. If McCoy has another stellar effort against Nebraska in next weekend’s Big 12 Championship, he could make a serious run at the Heisman Trophy because no one’s exactly running away with the award.
Mark Ingram, the Alabama running back who many thought was the front-runner, only amassed 30 yards on 16 carries in the Crimson Tide’s 26-21 survival of Auburn.
Surprise of the week: Oklahoma State’s ineffectiveness on offense
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Oklahoma State running back Keith Toston (5) tries to break free of OU’s Quinton Carter on Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma beating No. 11 OSU at home? Not a surprise. OU improved to a ridiculous 66-2 in home games under Bob Stoops. That’s why I picked the Sooners to beat the Cowboys.
But the way the Oklahoma defense manhandled the OSU offense was surprising. The Cowboys can move the ball, as evidenced by the 30.17 points per game they put up. And that’s even after OU shut them out, 27-0.
But the Cowboys managed only 109 total yards on Saturday in Norman, Okla. Zac Robinson had a Jamarcus Russell-like 9-of-21 passing performance for 44 yards and an interception. Yikes. He was sacked twice.
The Cowboys put the ball on the ground four times and lost one.
Oklahoma State punted 14 times. It didn’t convert a single first down in the second half.
The closest OSU got to the end zone was the Oklahoma 45 yard-line.
Imagine if Sam Bradford, Jermaine Gresham and healthy offensive linemen were present for OU this year. With that defense, I’m guessing the Sooners don’t finish the regular season at 7-5.
Sleeper alert: Rex Burkhead, Nebraska
No, not just because the freshman is from my hometown of Plano, Texas. Burkhead returned to action on Friday and rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in Nebraska’s 28-20 victory over Colorado.
If Burkhead, who missed the majority of the season with a foot injury, runs like he did against Colorado, that would be huge for Roy Helu Jr. Helu has been banged up for part of the season and would benefit from roughly 10 touches per game from Burkhead. Nebraska has two games left, including next weekend’s Big 12 Championship game against Texas. With unproven quarterback Zac Lee struggling in the passing game, Burkhead could provide a serious lift to the NU offense.
Here’s the latest edition of the Sorrentino Scale. The number in parentheses is what the team was ranked last week:
That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.
