The Oklahoma Sooners quickly found a rhythm on the offensive side of the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in Norman. Making a case for the most explosive offense in the country, OU scored 38 first half points for the second consecutive week. Clinging to the margin built in the first thirty minutes of play, Rodney Anderson led the program to a 38-20 victory.
Claiming sole possession of first place in the Big 12 Conference, the Sooners now stand 9-1 overall. On a team with numerous budding stars and the Heisman frontrunner, it was Anderson stealing the show early. Putting together a string of impressive rushing performances, the redshirt sophomore eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fourth consecutive outing. Racking up four total touchdowns, Anderson rushed for 151 yards and caught five passes for 139 yards.
The number marks the first time in Big 12 history that a player has recorded 130+ yards receiving and rushing in a single game.
Of course, Baker Mayfield continues his pursuit of becoming the most recent player to join the elusive Heisman club. Throwing 18-for-27, the quarterback connecting for 333 total yards. While the string of games with a touchdown pass continues, Mayfield completed three passes for touchdowns all in the first half.
The cause for concern is the lack of scoring in the second half. Failing to score a point, Mike Stoops defense went to work. Finding ways to shed blockers, Du’Vonta Lampkin and the defensive line played a consistent game. The effort forced Kenny Hill into old habits as accuracy went out the window. That’s not to say Oklahoma did not have their hiccups throughout the course of the evening.
Holding the quarterback to under 50% in terms of completion rate, the Sooner defense can thank true freshmen for rising to the challenge. Tre Norwood appears to be a piece to the puzzle moving forward. But, can he truly replace a struggling Jordan Thomas in the College Football Playoff? Experience goes a long way but I believe one must play the players who give the best chance for success.
At this current juncture in time, the Horned Frogs and Sooners are on a collision course once more. With two programs set to play in the first Big 12 Championship game since 2010, it will pair two programs who have already played head-to-head. Who will take home the trophy? Only time will tell.