Texas upsets Baylor, Oklahoma awaiting results
The Big 12 is the only conference of the major five not to have a conference champiosnhip game in college football. It seems like an easy way to grab some extra money, but the Big 12 is holding out and doing the admirable thing, allowing the best team throughout the grueling regular season to take the crown.
This year, it was the Oklahoma Sooners, who only lost one game en route to being the No. 3 team in the country. Led by the coaching of Bob Stoops and the masterful play of both quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Sterling Shepard, Oklahoam finds itself vying for the national title.
Without another game on the schedule, the Sooners are guaranteed to be part of the second-ever College Football Playoff, which takes the top four teams in the country and pits them against each other over the course of two weekends. The only question for Oklahoma is where it ends up in the seedings. At the moment, the Sooners would be taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide, certainly underdogs against what many believe in the best team in the land.
However, there is potential for a shakeup. If Alabama somehow loses to the Florida Gators, the Crimson Tide would likely be bounced from the College Football Playoff. Then there is the matter of the ACC title game. The No. 1 Clemson Tigers are undefeated and are taking on the No. 10 North Carolina Tar Heels, who are 10-1 and rolling. If North Carolina wins the game, it will have a chance to move into the top four teams. Should that result happen, the Tat Heels or the Ohio State Buckeyes will join the fray, perhaps affecting where Oklahoma fits in the seedings.
Texas wins its finale over No. 12 Baylor
Baylor was supposed to be in the College Football Playoff, but injuries and poor defense down the stretch derailed those dreams for head coach Art Briles and company.
Texas was able to go into Waco and knock off the Bears on Saturday afternoon, leaving with a 23-17 victory. The win was keyed by a massive first quarter, which saw the Longhorns roll up 17 points while shutting Baylor out.
Chris Warren III was the bellcow for the Longhorns, taking 28 carries for 106 yards, including a nice 26-yard scamper. Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes was nothign special but avoided making the big mistakes that have haunted Texas all season, hitting on 12-of-19 throws for 151 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
Meanwhile, Baylor did not get the kind of quarterback play that leads to a win. Lynx Hawthrone hit on just 10-0f-22 throws including two interceptions, perhaps the difference in the one-score game. Johnny Jefferson did rush for 158 yards and a score, but it wa snot enough for Baylor to beat the 5-7 Longhorns. Baylor finished the season 9-3.
