Baylor, Bryce Petty Blast Oklahoma 48-14

Early on, it looked like the same old Baylor Bears showed up in Norman, Oklahoma. After the first quarter, the Sooners were up 14-3.

Oklahoma would not score again, and Baylor scored 45 more times en route to a 48-14 beatdown of the Sooners.

Over the final three quarters, the Bears put up 45 unanswered points, led by Bryce Petty’s 387 passing yards, and three different running backs combining for five rushing touchdowns.

Sophomore receiver Corey Coleman had a career day for Baylor, pulling in 15 catches for a whopping 224 yards, including a 33-yard TD pass early in the second quarter to pull Baylor within four points.

Sooner QB Trevor Knight just could not get anything going against the Bears’ secondary. Knight only managed to complete 12 passes on 27 attempts, resulting in a lowly 146 yards. He did get those two touchdowns early in the game, but also threw a pick on Oklahoma’s first drive of the second quarter, which was returned to the one-yard line by Bryce Hager. That interception set up a one-yard Devin Chafin touchdown, gave Baylor the lead, and essentially ended Oklahoma’s day.

From there, the destruction was on. Chafin, a sophomore, scored another touchdown in the second quarter, giving Baylor a 24-14 lead at halftime. Up until that interception, Oklahoma had already moved the ball a total of 135 yards on its four drives. Over the final seven drives, the Sooners were only able to move the ball 151 yards, resulting in a missed field goal, four punts, and two turnovers on downs.

Two more rushing touchdowns in the third sealed the game for the Bears. Coleman scored his first career touchdown on a five-yard carry to open the scoring in the third quarter, and then Shock Linwood scored the first of what would be two scores for the Big 12’s leading rusher on the day. Linwood finished the game with 87 yards on 23 carries to go with those two touchdowns.

Oklahoma actually won the rushing battle on Saturday, picking up 171 yards to Baylor’s 148. Of course, a 50 yard scamper from Alex Ross was a big part of that. Knight contributed 45 rushing yards on 13 attempts.

The dominating performance vaults Baylor right back into the conversation for the College Football Playoff, especially considering some of the teams in front of them that lost on Saturday. The Bears have three home games remaining on their schedule. First up is Oklahoma State, followed by Texas Tech. The biggest challenge standing in Baylor’s way is Kansas State, who visits Waco on December 6.

Baylor’s schedule certainly sets up well for them, and they were able to get over those road game blues this week against Oklahoma. The only thing standing between Baylor and a possible Playoff berth is really themselves. And maybe TCU; a team that Baylor beat earlier this year.

*Section Photo credit to Cooper Neill, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Kevin Jairaj, USA Today Sports

Longhorns, Johnathan Gray, Stifle West Virginia
Longhorns, Johnathan Gray, Stifle West Virginia