Sometime after this 2021 season, the Sooners are leaving for the Southeastern Conference and the Big XII Conference (as we know it) is disappearing like Marty McFly in that crinkled 4×6 picture he carried in front pocket (Back To The Future RULES). Each week of the conference season, YAY DUDE is going to look at some of the best and most exciting Big XII games for OU and OSU. Plus, we’ll try to take a peek into the future, too.
OKLAHOMA STATE
This week’s opponent: Baylor
THE PAST
November 24, 2013
Oklahoma State’s history versus Baylor, like the other Big 12 schools featured a lot of wins based on Baylor’s lack of success prior to the Art Briles era. The Bears ran into buzzsaw on this day back in 2013 when they traveled to Stillwater. Some may call Clint Chelf one of the more underappreciated, overachieving QBs in Cowboy memory. I tend to agree. On this day, he went was 12 of 13 in the first half against the Bears. He didn’t have his first incompletion until the first half was nearly over. He finished the day going 19 of 25 for 333 yards breaking his own personal high. Tracy Moore had 5 catches for 126 yards while Jeremy Smith carried the ball for 71 yards.
Photo: CBS Sports
THE FUTURE
The Pokes offense, and more specifically QB Spencer Sanders, awakened last week. Sanders completed 22 of 34 passes for 344 yards en route to a 31-20 win against a ranked Wildcat team. So what will the future hold? Hopefully what has eluded Sanders most of his Cowboy career – consistency. Go out and do it again. Throw for 300+ yards. Easy on the turnovers. More often than not…with this current Cowboy defense…that’s a recipe for a win.
Photo: The Oklahoman
OKLAHOMA
This week’s opponent: Kansas State
THE PAST
October 21, 2017
When talking Big XII series between the Wildcats and the Sooners there are plenty of the games that come to mind. Plenty of blowouts by the Sooners. Some upsets by the Wildcats. One upset by a Darren Sproles led Wildcats team in the Big XII Championship game that still makes me shake my head, but who wants to talk about a Sooner “L”….not me. Instead, let’s think back to 2017. A game where Sooner RB, Rodney Anderson, scampered for a 22 yard touchdown run with just 7 seconds left. The Sooners won that day 42-35. Baker Mayfield threw for 410 yards and accounted for 4 touchdowns. Rodney Anderson accounted 147 rushing on the day. The Sooners extended their nation leading road victory streak to 14.
Photo: USA Today
THE FUTURE
So, what does the future hold? Consensus says if the offense doesn’t improve, the future won’t hold an 8th Sooner National Championship. Not just Spencer Rattler. Not just the O-Line. The whole offense. It’s just that simple. The defense has improved greatly under Alex Grinch. It’s not a stretch to say if Baker or Kyler had this 2021 OU defense, the 8thNatty may already be in Norman. Everyone loves the chase for that National Championship Trophy, but it’s been too long since they actually held one up, Sooner Fans.
Photo: USA Today
