For those of you looking for some kind of BCS clarity, we got it Saturday, in what can only be described as the craziest weekend in recent college football history. Clemson eliminated themselves from the National Championship hunt with a loss to NC State. Oregon did the same losing to USC at home. Oklahoma State saw their title dreams go up in smoke in Ames, IA Friday.
But none of those games compared to the sheer drama, excitement and anxiety that was found in Waco, TX Saturday night. That’s where Baylor blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead and seemed content to play for overtime, before a Bob Stoops blunder and last minute rally ended up costing Oklahoma a win, and potentially a shot at the tile. The No. 5 team fell to Baylor on the road by a final of 45-38.
As has been custom in Waco the last few seasons, the upset began and finished with the play of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin. The junior once again proved that there is no more terrifying, electric and dangerous player in college football, as he finished the evening with a season-high 479 yards and four touchdowns in the victory.
The most important touchdown pass was clearly on the final drive, and almost didn’t happen. Not until a tactical mistake from the Oklahoma coaching staff anyway.
After Oklahoma drove the length of the field for a touchdown to tie things up at 38 with just over a minute to play, it appeared as though Baylor was content to run out the clock and go to overtime. Without any timeouts and with the fear of a turnover on downs looming, Baylor’s first play from scrimmage was a Terrance Ganaway run up the middle for four yards with 51 seconds to go. Had nothing happened from there the clock would’ve eventually run out, and the two teams would’ve decided things in an extra period.
Except something did happen. Bob Stoops and his staff elected to use one of their three remaining timeouts after Ganaway’s run, hoping to force a three-and-out and get the ball back for one final shot at a regulation win. With the timeout, Baylor was left with no choice but to try and get a first down to ensure that Oklahoma didn’t get the ball back and instead, ended up with much more. Baylor got one of biggest wins in program history.
Following the stop in play, Griffin dropped back in the pocket didn’t see anything downfield, and used his track speed picked up a 22-yard gainer to the Baylor 46 for a first down. The much-needed first down had been accrued, but the Bears didn’t stop there. On the next play Griffin scrambled again, picking up eight yards and crossing midfield, before Griffin hit Kendall Wright for a quick 12-yard gainer deep into Oklahoma territory.
Then, the dagger.
With a fresh set of downs, Griffin dropped back in the pocket, rolled out, set his feet and chucked the ball deep into the right corner of the end zone. There waiting was Terrence Williams, who made a falling catch in between two Sooners defenders, for what was the final score of the game. A fumbled kickoff later and kneel down later, Baylor officially had their 45-38 win.
And Oklahoma officially had their National title hopes eliminated.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way for the Sooners, who somehow had played themselves back into the BCS title race, even after the most inexplicable loss for any team in college football this season (at least until Friday night anyway). It came at home, and came to Texas Tech, a team which has subsequently gone 0-4 since beating the Sooners that night in Norman.
But that was then, and this was supposed to be now. And after two straight dominating wins and a bye, the Sooners controlled their own destiny in the Big XII title race, and also had an outside shot at a National Championship berth as well. Had they won out with victories over Baylor, Iowa State and Oklahoma State, it seemed feasible that Oklahoma could’ve been in New Orleans playing for a title. It was possible that it would’ve been a rematch of the same game eight years ago against LSU.
That title shot will be no more however, as one of the highest-touted Sooners clubs in recent memory can now- at best- hope to finish their 2011 season where their 2010 one ended as well, as the Big XII champ at the Fiesta Bowl. That would happen with wins over Iowa State and Oklahoma State in the coming two weeks, but would be a far cry from where Oklahoma started the year: As BCS title favorites.
After Oklahoma State’s Friday night loss we said, “BCS, Meet Chaos.”
But after a Saturday in college football that saw three more Top 10 teams fall, we say, “BCS, Meet Sheer Insanity.”
Just another weekend in college football, huh?
For all insights, opinions and articles on college football Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.
For those of you looking for some kind of BCS clarity, we got it Saturday, in what can only be described as the craziest weekend in recent college football history. Clemson eliminated themselves from the National Championship hunt with a loss to NC State. Oregon did the same losing to USC at home. Oklahoma State saw their title dreams go up in smoke in Ames, IA Friday.
But none of those games compared to the sheer drama, excitement and anxiety that was found in Waco, TX Saturday night. That’s where Baylor blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead and seemed content to play for overtime, before a Bob Stoops blunder and last minute rally ended up costing Oklahoma a win, and potentially a shot at the tile. The No. 5 team fell to Baylor on the road by a final of 45-38.
As has been custom in Waco the last few seasons, the upset began and finished with the play of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin. The junior once again proved that there is no more terrifying, electric and dangerous player in college football, as he finished the evening with a season-high 479 yards and four touchdowns in the victory.
The most important touchdown pass was clearly on the final drive, and almost didn’t happen. Not until a tactical mistake from the Oklahoma coaching staff anyway.
After Oklahoma drove the length of the field for a touchdown to tie things up at 38 with just over a minute to play, it appeared as though Baylor was content to run out the clock and go to overtime. Without any timeouts and with the fear of a turnover on downs looming, Baylor’s first play from scrimmage was a Terrance Ganaway run up the middle for four yards with 51 seconds to go. Had nothing happened from there, the clock would’ve eventually run out, and the two teams would’ve decided things in an extra period.
Except something did happen. Bob Stoops and his staff elected to use one of their three remaining timeouts after Ganaway’s run, hoping to force a three-and-out and get the ball back for one final shot at a regulation win. With the timeout, Baylor was left with no choice but to try and get a first down to ensure that Oklahoma didn’t get the ball back and instead, ended up with much more. Baylor got one of biggest wins in program history.
Following the stop in play, Griffin dropped back in the pocket didn’t see anything downfield, and used his track speed picked up a 22-yard gainer to the Baylor 46 for a first down. The much-needed first down had been accrued, but the Bears didn’t stop there. On the next play Griffin scrambled again, picking up eight yards and crossing midfield, before Griffin hit Kendall Wright for a quick 12-yard gainer deep into Oklahoma territory.
Then, the dagger.
With a fresh set of downs, Griffin dropped back in the pocket, rolled out, set his feet and chucked the ball deep into the right corner of the end zone. There waiting was Terrence Williams, who made a falling catch in between two Sooners defenders, for what was the final score of the game. A fumbled kickoff later and kneel down later, Baylor officially had their 45-38 win.
And Oklahoma officially had their National title hopes eliminated.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way for the Sooners, who somehow, incredibly had played themselves back into the BCS title race, even after the most inexplicable loss for any team in college football this season (at least until Friday night anyway). It came at home, and came to Texas Tech, a team which is subsequently 0-4 since beating the Sooners that night in Norman.
But that was then, and this was supposed to be now. And after two straight dominating wins and a bye, the Sooners controlled their own destiny in the Big XII title race, and also had an outside shot at a National Championship berth as well. Had they won out with victories over Baylor, Iowa State and Oklahoma State, it seemed feasible that Oklahoma could’ve been in New Orleans playing for a title. It was possible that it would’ve been a rematch of the same game eight years ago against LSU.
That title shot will be no more however, as one of the highest-touted Sooners clubs in recent memory can now at best hope to finish their 2011 season where their 2010 one ended as well, at the Fiesta Bowl, as the Big XII champ. That would happen with wins over Iowa State and Oklahoma State in the coming two weeks, but would be a far cry from where Oklahoma started the year: As BCS title favorites.
After Oklahoma State’s Friday night loss we said, “BCS, Meet Chaos.”
But after a Saturday in college football that saw three more Top 10 teams fall, we say, “BCS, Meet Sheer Insanity.”
Just another weekend in college football, huh?
For all insights, opinions and articles on college football Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.
