Big 12 Football: Top 5 teams after Week 1

FBS Week 1 – Big 12 Summary

W-L record: 8-2
Highest points scored: 59 (Texas Tech vs. Sam Houston State)
Lowest points scored: 3 (Texas vs. Notre Dame)
Largest margin of victory: 44 (WVU vs. GA Southern)
Smallest margin of victory: 6 (TCU vs. Minnesota)

5. Texas Tech (W 59-45 vs. Sam Houston State)

Some Big 12 teams are simply not notorious for their defenses, and in week one, Texas Tech, who surrendered 41 points per game last year, confirmed that.

Against Sam Houston State, the Red Raiders defense allowed the Bearkats to tally 637 total yards (317 rushing) and 34 first downs, but managed to cough up the ball four times.

One highlight from the Southland Conference vs. the Big 12 was Texas Tech’s Jakeem Grant and his 94-yard dance to the endzone following kickoff.

4. Kansas State (W 34-0 vs. South Dakota)

One of two shutouts in the Big 12 in week one, Bill Snyder’s Wildcats were helped by 10 points from kicker Matthew McCrane and by Morgan Burns, who recorded a special teams touchdown.

Despite allowing zero points to the Coyotes, it was a fairly even match-up, statistically. Both squads had 16 first downs and nearly aligned on total yards (KSU – 332, South Dakota – 266) and third-down efficiency (KSU – 5-for-12, South Dakota – 8-for-18).

It wouldn’t be all good news, since the Wildcats will be without Jesse Ertz, their starting quarterback, for ‘some time,’ according to Snyder. While the first offense took the field, Ertz allegedly suffered a knee injury on the opening play.

Ertz would be replaced by junior Josh Hubener, whose day consisted of nine completions for 147 yards and a touchdown.

3. Oklahoma (W 41-3 vs. Akron)

Although posting a first half score of 17-3 over Akron, Oklahoma struggled on the ground, rushing for only 22 yards and converted only two of their eight chances on third-down opportunities.

The third quarter provided an optimal boost for the Sooners offense after a mediocre first two quarters. There, Red Raiders transfer at quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Sooners to three scoring drives, capped off by his two-yard scamper into the endzone.

At the final whistle, the Sooners offense amassed only 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns (Perine, Mayfield) as Trevor Knight got in some repetitions at QB, completing five-of-nine passes.

Game Leaders – OU vs. Akron

Sooners QB Baker Mayfield: 23-33, 388 yards, 4 TD (1 rush)
Sooners RB Joe Mixon: 3 receptions, 115 yards, rec TD
Akron RB Tra’von Chapman: 14 rushes, 48 yards

2. TCU (W 23-17 vs. Minnesota)

Featuring one of college football’s opening weekend scares came from the TCU/Minnesota matchup as the Gophers charged their batteries during halftime, rebooted and led a second-half comeback against TCU, which didn’t include Minnesota’s game of hot potato in the endzone.

https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB/status/639623894412980224

While for most of the game the Horned Frogs relied on the arms and legs of Heisman hopeful Trevone Boykin, the defensive unit could use a few more rehearsals (allowed 341 yards against Minnesota) heading into week two, where they’ll face Stephen F. Austin in a mid-day match-up.

https://vine.co/v/eTgzqEKFqFH

1. Baylor (W 56-21 vs. Southern Methodist)

Probably establishing itself as one of the Big 12’s weirdest first-half outcomes with a score of 28-21 against Southern Methodist heading into the locker rooms, Baylor’s fast paced offense wasn’t on the same page as the Bears’ delicate defense.

https://vine.co/v/eTTEhPMp6al

After a rendezvous off-the-field during intermission, Baylor redefined both sides of the ball, shutting out SMU in the second half, 28-0. And while the delayed fuse of Baylor’s efforts were questionable, quarterback Seth Russel – responsible for 376 yards of the team’s 723 total yards – linked up with Jay Lee for three touchdowns to compensate.

With a snippet over eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Russell was given time to rest and recover as he was relieved by freshman Jarrett Stidham, who passed for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Other Big 12 Scores of Week 1

3 Texas – 38 Notre Dame
44 West Virginia – 0 Georgia Southern
24 OKSU – 13 Central Michigan
38 Kansas – 41 South Dakota State
31 ISU – 7 Northern Iowa

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports

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