Big XII Roundup: Week 9

The Big XII race is getting tight, and we've got a brief rundown of the action.

It's as tight as it gets at the top of the Big XII after the results this weekend, as five teams now have a 4-1 record with two more sitting at 3-2. The league parity is something to behold and with each passing week, more and more games will hold significant importance with all of the top six teams playing each other next weekend. But that’s the future and we’ll have more on it all week. Today, we examine yesterday’s results and if you missed any of the action throughout the league, we’ve got you covered below.

The Texas Longhorns blasted BYU 35-6 in Austin, setting up a colossal matchup next weekend against Kansas State. Texas got the game rolling with a 74 yard punt return for a touchdown from Xavier Worthy and they never looked back. Backup QB Maalik Murphy threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns against the overmatched Cougars. Jonathan Brooks had another nice game on the ground for the Longhorns, racking up 98 yards and a TD. Next up for BYU is a date in Morgantown to face West Virginia.

Meanwhile, in Manhattan, K-State hammered Houston 41-0. Wildcat quarterback Will Howard threw for two touchdowns early and backup Avery Johnson finished off the scoring with a TD in the rout. Running back DJ Giddens tacked on two touchdowns on the ground and ran for 96 yards in total in the dominating win over Houston. The Cougars travel to Baylor next weekend while K-State has that big game against Texas.

West Virginia went on the road and impressively beat UCF 41-28. It was a three point game going into the fourth quarter, but from there on, the Mountaineers dominated, scoring two touchdowns on the ground and adding a field goal to get the win going away. Although outgained through the air by UCF’s John Ryhs Plumlee, the Mountaineers accumulated 286 yards on the ground, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. UCF will try to right the ship against last place Cincinnati next weekend while WVU will play BYU.

Alan Bowman is coming to his own as quarterback of Oklahoma State (286 yards and two scores) as the combination of his passing and the elite running of Ollie Gordon really have the Cowboys playing at a high level. Gordon, who has been shredding opposing defenses, did it again against Cincinnati, totaling 271 yards and two touchdowns in the dominating 45-13 win. Oklahoma State looks to keep their winning ways going next weekend in Bedlam when they host a wounded Oklahoma team.

Iowa State got off to quick start, leading Baylor 17-0 early in the game and finishing off the Bears 30-18 in Waco. Cartervious Norton scored twice for the Cyclones while Rocco Becht went 19 of 31 for 238 yards in a balanced Cyclones attack. The win puts ISU right up near the top of the league standings with a home date against Kansas awaiting. Baylor hosts Houston.

Big XII Standings:

1. Oklahoma 7-1, 4-1
2. Texas, 7-1, 4-1
3. Oklahoma State 6-2, 4-1
4. K-State, 6-2, 4-1
5. Iowa State 5-3, 4-1
6. Kansas 6-2, 3-2
7. West Virginia 5-3, 3-2
8. TCU, 4-4, 2-3
9. BYU 5-3, 2-3
10. Texas Tech 3-5, 2-3
11. Baylor 3-5, 2-3
12. Houston 3-5, 1-4
13. UCF 3-5, 0-5
14. Cincinnati 2-6, 0-5

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