Stakes rise in Big XII race

By John Hillman  |   Sunday, October 26, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

College Football
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Like a high-stakes poker challenge, each week of college football brings new excitement to the Big XII. Top-ranked Texas played just well enough to win and kept its national championship hopes intact with a 28-24 victory over ninth-ranked Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Colt McCoy, who completed 38 of 45 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns, made two crucial second-half mistakes against the Cowboys. Leading 28-21, the junior quarterback threw an interception, his first in 101 attempts, that led to an Oklahoma State field goal. McCoy also fumbled late in fourth quarter at the OSU 10, but the Horn defense stopped the Cowboys cold.

Despite trailing the entire game, Oklahoma State never quit. The Cowboys held Texas on fourth-and-goal at the 1 with only seconds remaining. OSU moved to midfield as time expired, but Zac Robinson’s Hail Mary pass fell harmlessly to the turf on the game’s final play.

The Longhorns now hit their fourth straight must-win game against a top 10 opponent. Texas travels to Lubbock and faces No. 6 Texas Tech, a team it has dominated during the Mike Leach era.

The undefeated Red Raiders warmed for their high-profile encounter by trouncing formerly 19th-ranked Kansas 63-21, breaking a 13-game Jayhawk home winning streak. Tied 14-14 after the first quarter, Texas Tech scored 49 straight points.

Graham Harrell, the nation’s top passer, threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns in a 34-for-42 performance. Walk-on kicker Matt Williams, making his first appearance in collegiate game, connected on all nine extra point attempts. In September, Williams caught the attention of Tech coaches by converting a 30-yard field goal attempt during a halftime promotion.

If the Red Raiders upset the Longhorns this Saturday, the celebration can’t last long. Texas represents just the first in a series of tough matchups as Texas Tech follows the Horns with No. 9 Oklahoma State and fourth-ranked Oklahoma.

The Sooners, who now sit on the Big XII South’s outside looking in, took out their frustrations against Kansas State, outscoring the Wildcats 58-35. Oklahoma took a 28-7 lead in the first quarter, but the Wildcats rallied to tie midway through the second. OU then reeled off four more touchdowns before halftime and took a 55-28 margin into the locker room.

Sam Bradford struggled with his passing, connecting on only 13 of 32 attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns. But OU’s ground game took up the slack as Chris Brown rushed for 142 yards, and DeMarco Murray gained another 104. KSU’s Josh Freeman threw for a career-high 478 yards with three touchdown passes.

Embarrassed by its back-to-back losses, No. 14 Missouri roared back to shut out Colorado 58-0. Chase Daniel tied his school record with five touchdown passes as the Tigers handed the Buffaloes their first blanking since 1988.

With Kansas falling to Texas Tech, Missouri moved into a first-place tie in the Big XII North standings along with the Jayhawks and Nebraska. If the Tigers run the table the rest of way against Baylor, Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas, they will earn their second straight Big XII title game appearance.


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About John Hillman

John Hillman graduated from Baylor University in 1974 with a BBA in accounting and earned an MBA from Baylor in 1987. He worked for accounting firms until 1982 when he became the chief financial officer for an independent insurance claims adjusting service, a position he still holds today. ...
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