Oklahoma State, Oklahoma Control Own Destiny In Big 12

Going into the Kansas State game on Saturday in Manhattan, two things had to happen for Oklahoma State to regain the passenger’s seat in the Big 12 title race.

1. OSU had to win.
2. Baylor had to lose.

Check, check and now Oklahoma State and Oklahoma are on a crash course for a de facto Big 12 championship in Norman on December 3. At 6-0, OU’s destiny is obvious — win out and they win the Big 12. They play Baylor at home, at WVU and finish with the Cowboys in Norman.

“Our first goal was to win a national championship, but we kind of fell short of that on the front end,” receiver Dede Westbrook told ESPN last week. “So, our next goal was to win a Big 12 championship. We’re pretty much on the right pace to achieve that.” It would be the Sooners’ 10th Big 12 title overall and ninth outright.

But now with West Virginia as the only other one-loss team besides OSU, the Cowboys can do the same.

Even if West Virginia beats OU and finishes 8-1, Oklahoma State can still topple theMountaineers by also beating OU and also finishing 8-1. In that scenario OSU and WVU would both have one loss and OSU would have beaten WVU. Big 12 champs. If OSU wins out it would have the head-to-head advantage over OU as well no matter what else OU does.

Only two teams control their own destiny for the Big 12 title. Both reside in Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/UleHmkivwy

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) November 6, 2016

There is actually also a scenario in which WVU could still win the conference. Let’s say the Fightin’ Holgys win out and finish 8-1 (they play at UT and ISU and home for Baylor and OU). They would have beaten OU.

Then let’s say OU beats Baylor and OSU, WVU would be the champs at 8-1 even with OU also at 8-1 because of their head-to-head matchup. But WVU can’t control what OSU does because it already lost in Stillwater. OSU has the head-to-head advantage there.

OU can afford a loss and still win the conference as long as that loss is to the right team (Baylor or whichever team loses another game between OSU and WVU). The margins are getting thin though.

It’s almost impossible for OSU or WVU to lose again and still be the champs.

But we’re getting wayyyyyyy ahead of ourselves here. First, Oklahoma State has to take care of one of the best offenses in the nation at home on Saturday as a 12-point favorite. Then it has to go to TCU in a game in which I would be surprised if it was more than a three-point favorite (if a favorite at all).

“The rest of the way these games are going to be this way because everybody in this league is so even,” Gundy told Go Pokes after barely sneaking by KSU on Saturday. “I do love watching these guys play. They never get down and never show defeat, they just keep playing. It is nerve wracking and can drive you crazy, but it is fun to watch these guys every Saturday.”

It sure is. And now the Big 12 race is back in the hands of Mike Gundy and Co. They control it. They can shape it. They can bend it towards themselves and salvage (more than salvage) what felt like a lost year after the Baylor game at the end of September.

Also something to keep in mind: Every Big 12 champ since the league went to 10 teams has finished 8-1. That is the goal. That will win it again this year.

There is much work to be done, but once again just 120 minutes stand between Oklahoma State playing Oklahoma for the Big 12 title in the final game of the season for the fourth (!) time in six years.

Not bad for a head coach with a mullet and two coordinators who should be fired every weekend.