Old Big 12 foes Oklahoma and Nebraska in anniversary renewal
Some things to watch in Week 3 of the Big 12 Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 3 Oklahoma vs. Nebraska. On the 50th anniversary of their “Game of the Century” 1 vs. 2 matchup, the Sooners and Cornhuskers renew the rivalry that has been dormant since Nebraska left the Big 12 a decade ago. Longtime conference rivals in the Big Eight and then the Big 12, they haven’t played since Oklahoma’s 23-20 win in the 2010 Big 12 championship game. Nebraska moved to the Big Ten the next season. Only five FBS programs have more all-time wins than the Sooners (919) and Cornhuskers (907). They have 96 conference titles among them, though the last of Nebraska’s 46 was the Big 12 crown in 1999. That was a year before Oklahoma won its last national championship and the first of its 14 Big 12 titles, including the past six. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Sooners are a three-TD favorite over the Cornhuskers, who have had four consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1956-61.
BEST MATCHUP
Oklahoma State secondary vs. Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier on the blue turf. Senior safety Kolby Harvell-Peel and the Cowboys have allowed 229 yards passing a game, and only one touchdown through the air. Bachmeier has completed 42 of 63 passes for 602 yards with four TDs and one interception.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Texas Tech junior Erik Ezukanma leads the Big 12 with 13 receptions and 322 yards. His 161 yards per game are more than twice as many as the league’s second-leading receiver. He is also averaging 24.8 yards per catch. … Preseason AP All-American running back Breece Hall has set an Iowa State record with rushing touchdowns in 14 consecutive games. That is the longest active streak in the nation, and one shy of the Big 12 record (Corby Jones of Missouri from 1997-98). … Jason Bean is the first Kansas QB since 2002 with a 100-yard rushing game. He had 102 yards and two TDs on 13 carries at Coastal Carolina. … West Virginia RB Leddie Brown is the league’s top scorer at 15 points a game, with five total touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving). Oklahoma kicker Gabe Brkic is second at 12.5 points a game (five field goals, 10 extra points).
LONGSHOTS
Texas is still an overwhelming favorite over Rice (0-2), which already this season has lost to other former Southwest Conference rivals by 21 and 37 points. The Longhorns (1-1) have won 42 of the last 43 games in the series, including the last 14 by an average margin of nearly 28 points. The Longhorns are coming of a 40-21 loss at former SWC and future SEC foe Arkansas, which knocked them out of the AP Top 25 from 15th.
IMPACT PLAYER
Senior safety JT Woods had defensive TDs in both games this season for Baylor, which plays Kansas on Saturday in the Big 12’s conference opener. Woods had a school-record 97-yard fumble recovery return against Texas Southern last week, after his 20-yard interception return in the opener at Texas State for Baylor’s first TD of the season. It had been eight years since the Bears had defensive TDs in consecutive games.
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