NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma put its hopes at making the College Football Playoff at risk with a shocking late October loss at Kansas State and on life support with two poor halves of play in its most recent contests, but Lincoln Riley's team is back in charge of its own destiny in the Big 12. Following their historic comeback last weekend to knock off undefeated Baylor, the seventh-ranked Sooners look to move one step closer to another regular-season conference title Saturday when they host TCU.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Oklahoma -18
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Following a 48-41 setback to the Wildcats late last month, Oklahoma held on to beat Iowa State 42-41 after surrendering a 21-point fourth-quarter advantage on Nov. 9 before setting a school record by overcoming a 25-point deficit in last weekend's thrilling 34-31 road victory over the Bears. “We kind of found ourselves a little bit, that’s the best way I can describe it. I think we saw in that second half what we can be," Riley said afterward. The Horned Frogs moved one step closer toward becoming bowl-eligible for a sixth straight season following last weekend's 33-31 win at Texas Tech, taking advantage of Jonathan Song's fourth and final field goal of the day with 5:38 remaining to end a two-game skid. TCU was unable to hold an early 21-point lead against the Red Raiders, but the defense forced two three-and-outs and a fumble on Texas Tech's final two possessions to survive.
ABOUT TCU (5-5, 3-4 Big 12)
Freshman quarterback Max Duggan set season highs virtually across the board as a passer last weekend, finishing 25-of-43 for 323 yards and two touchdowns, and added 75 yards and another score as a runner. “Max has always been a Drew Brees-type guy. He’s a guy that leads. He’s tough, hard-nosed. He’s always been that since he’s come in. He leads the offense and makes plays,” senior safety Vernon Scott told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Sophomore wideout Taye Barber tallied eight catches for 137 yards for his first career 100-yard game, while Jalen Reagor (team-high marks of 36 receptions and 545 yards) hauled in a 55-yard score to boost his career receiving touchdown total to 22 - tied for second most in school history.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA (9-1, 6-1)
Making the Sooners’ comeback all the more impressive was that it occurred without CeeDee Lamb, who is tied for second in the country with 13 receiving touchdowns but was held out against Baylor due to a “medical decision,” according to Riley; Lamb’s status for Saturday is unclear. Lee Morris picked up the slack by posting a career-high seven receptions for a season-best 86 yards, while sophomore running back Kennedy Brooks added 93 yards rushing to increase his total to 225 over the last two contests. Despite fumbling three times (and losing one), Jalen Hurts was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after accounting for 411 yards of total offense against Baylor, including a school-record 305 in the second half.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Oklahoma's comeback from a 21-point halftime against Baylor was the largest deficit overcome to beat an FBS team that entered the game 9-0 or better since NCAA classification began in 1937.
2. The Horned Frogs amassed 549 yards of total offense against Texas Tech - their second-best mark of the season - and held a 43:26 to 16:34 advantage in time of possession.
3. The Sooners have won 19 consecutive games in November and scored at least 34 points in 20 straight contests overall.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma 41, TCU 24