Big 12 sees upsets and surprise victories

By Clark Goble

Monday, October 26, 2009

Information compiled from Associated Press reports.

Iowa State 9, Nebraska 7

Nebraska committed eight turnovers, tying a school record, in a 9-7 loss to Iowa State.

The victory ended the Cyclones’ 15-game Big 12 losing streak in games played away from Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State was able to hold on despite losing starting quarterback Austen Arnaud to an injury to his throwing hand. Jerome Tiller rushed for 65 yards on 19 carries.

The Cyclones didn’t have Big 12 leading rusher Alexander Robinson either. He sat out with a groin injury, and freshman running back Jeremiah Schwartz picked up 50 yards in his place.

It was Nebraska’s second straight loss at home, which drops it to 1-2 in conference play.

Oklahoma State 34, Baylor 7

Still playing without injured running back Kendall Hunter or suspended wide receiver Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State cruised to a victory against Baylor.

Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson completed 23 of 27 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns. He is now just 217 passing yards shy of the school record, held by coach Mike Gundy.

The Cowboys have scored at least 34 points in six consecutive games.

Baylor has lost 20 straight games to ranked opponents, and it won’t get any easier to find a win. The team takes on Nebraska, Missouri and Texas in the next three weeks.

Kansas State 20, Colorado 6

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder isn’t trying to be tricky with his offense.

Once again, he rode running back Daniel Thomas for 20 carries and 145 yards to pull away from Colorado.

But though the running game has been crucial for the Wildcats, the defense’s improvement has been the biggest key for Kansas State’s success. After getting just six turnovers in the first six games, the Wildcats have forced 10 turnovers in the last two weeks.

Colorado took a 6-3 lead in the first quarter, but the Wildcats’ running game wore down the Buffaloes’ defense.

The last time Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen faced Kansas State, he improvised all over the field and led his team to a 14-13 victory. The Wildcats were prepared for Hansen this time, holding the quarterback to just 81 total yards. He was replaced by Cody Hawkins in the second half.

Texas 41, Missouri 7

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy completed his first 11 passes and led his team to three touchdowns on the first three drives to cruise by Missouri on homecoming in Columbia, Mo.

The Longhorns took a 35-7 lead into halftime and didn’t look back.

Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw for just 84 yards before being relegated to the bench late in the third quarter. His team falls to 0-3 in Big 12 play.

Texas wide receiver Jordan Shipley caught seven passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

The Longhorns have never lost the week immediately after the Red River Rivalry game under coach Mack Brown.

Texas A&M 52, Texas Tech 30

Make sense of this.

Kansas State lost big to Texas Tech two weeks ago. Last week, Kansas State won huge over Texas A&M.

And Saturday, the Aggies beat the Red Raiders by 22.

Go figure.

It was the Aggies’ first victory against a ranked team under coach Mike Sherman. It was also Texas A&M’s first victory in Lubbock, Texas, since 1993.

Running back Cyrus Gray scored four touchdowns and rushed for 131 yards. Backfield partner Christine Michael picked up 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Texas Tech junior quarterback Taylor Potts returned from an injury to start for coach Mike Leach, but turned the ball over three times and “No More Potts” chants rained from the student section. Backup quarterback junior Steven Sheffield, who had been starting for a couple of weeks, was on the sideline in street clothes.

— Edited by Amanda Thompson

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