Big 12 notebook: Title could come down to last QB standing
Thanksgiving weekend could well be the decisive weekend for the Big 12.
Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State all remain alive for the conference title and, to varying degrees it can be argued, for a College Football Playoff berth. What all three also have in common, to varying degrees, are ailing quarterbacks.
"Last Man Standing" could be the rallying cry for all when Baylor (9-1, 6-1) plays at TCU (9-2, 7-2) on Friday, and Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1) meets Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1) at Stillwater on Saturday.
The Bears are getting third-string QB Chris Johnson prepared to start against the Horned Frogs, who might or might not have senior QB Trevone Boykin available. He wasn't able to play in TCU's 30-29 loss at Oklahoma last week, effectively ending TCU's Big 12 and playoff chances.
Johnson was the hero of last week's take down of Oklahoma State, throwing two deep passes for touchdowns and running in another. He finished the game 5-for-10 passing, and while he looked good in the short-term, relying on Johnson, who switched back to QB from wide receiver after Seth Russell's season-ending injury, for an entire game could be a riskier proposition.
Baylor coach Art Briles listed Jarrett Stidham, the true freshman who took over for Russell three weeks ago, as "highly questionable" for the TCU game with an ankle and back issues.
Baylor needs to win to stay alive and get help from Oklahoma State, which it dismantled last week, against Bedlam rival Oklahoma.
Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has moved ahead of Boykin in Heisman Trophy contention, was forced out of the TCU game after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit and sustaining a concussion. Mayfield must pass a battery of tests before being allowed to return to the field.
On Monday, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and head athletic trainer Scott Anderson told reporters that Mayfield is on track to play Saturday, according to the Daily Oklahoman.
Even Oklahoma State enters its final regular-season game with a dinged QB. Mason Rudolph, who saw his 12-game winning streak as Oklahoma State's starting quarterback come to an end last week against Baylor, is dealing with a bit of a tweaked ankle.
Comparatively speaking, the Cowboys will take it.
What will the committee say?
The Big 12 no longer has an undefeated team to dangle in front of the College Football Playoff committee. So what does that mean for Tuesday's latest batch of rankings?
Who knows?
The Big 12 obviously feels as though the committee has it out for it after last year's exclusion and this season's so-far consistent arm's length distancing from the top four. After Baylor handed Oklahoma State its first loss last week, things became even murkier for the Big 12.
Arguably, the Bears or Sooners should move up to the CFP doorstep at No. 5 afer last Saturday's gaggle of gagging performances by teams ranked in the top 10, and then let the chips fall as they may. Undefeated and current No. 5 Iowa must still play in the Big Ten championship game and current No. 4 Notre Dame still has to get past Stanford.
A lot can still happen. But there's little doubt the Big 12, without the benefit of a championship game to stamp home a final impression in the minds of committee members, needs a definitive champ, and a little help from the team's in front of them.
What's next at Iowa State?
Could things have gone more haywire for the Cyclones last week at Kansas State? The final 90-second meltdown that included two unfathomable fumbles and allowed K-State to steal the victory first provoked Mark Mangino, Iowa State's offensive coordinator who was fired midseason, to fire off a rub-your-nose-in-it tweet, and later coach Paul Rhoads was fired with one game still remaining in his seventh season.
Rhoads, who will coach the finale, seemingly was always on the brink of a breakthrough at Iowa State with three bowl appearances in his first four seasons, but he's struggled since and leaves with a 32-54 record.
Whoever takes over the program, Rhoads believes Cyclones fans are in for a treat because of the talent his coaching staff is leaving behind.
Rhoads told The Des Moines Register that Iowa State will play in a bowl game next season: "The 2016 Iowa State football team will be bowling because we leave behind a great nucleus of talent, leadership, and commitment to what takes place on the football field. I’m sorry we won’t get an opportunity to see that through. I wish the team and the fans nothing but the absolute very best.”
Quick hits: TCU is seeking revenge after losing at Baylor, 61-58, last season. It would give TCU back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins in just four seasons in the Big 12, and at least 10 wins in six of the last eight seasons ... TCU coach Gary Patterson said he doesn't regret the failed two-point conversion attempt at the end of the 30-29 loss at Oklahoma last week, however, he does regret going for 2 (that also failed) after a touchdown in the third quarter ... Texas coach Charlie Strong delivered his strongest statements yet regarding rumors he is interested in the Miami job. Strong said he told his players he isn't going anywhere and that he's in for the duration. Texas is 10-13 during his tenure and must beat Texas Tech on Thursday and Baylor next week to qualify for a bowl berth.
