Oklahoma claims Big 12 title and probable CFP spot with win against Oklahoma State

Oklahoma is the Big 12 champion and perhaps the first team to lock up a spot in this year’s College Football Playoff.

Oklahoma defeated rival Oklahoma State 58-23 in what ultimately became the de facto Big 12 title game in the final regular season contest for both teams.

However, Oklahoma had the most to lose since it had climbed to No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings and a loss to the Cowboys would not only have eliminated the Sooners from playoff contention, but probably eliminated the Big 12 as whole.

But Oklahoma left no doubt with a dominating performance against an Oklahoma State team that was undefeated up until a week ago. After falling behind 10-7, the Sooners scored on back-to-back runs of 68 and 66 yards by backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon to open up the game early in the second quarter and finished the first half with a 44-20 lead.

While Oklahoma State came out of the halftime fired up, all it was able to muster was field goal. Quarterback J.W. Walsh, who played in place of Mason Rudolph, was under pressure all night by the Oklahoma defense. He completed just 25 of 42 passes for 325 yards and two scores, but all of his damage was done early while the Sooners were adjusting to facing him instead of Rudolph, who sat out with an injury.

Once the Sooners started to understand the type of offense they were facing, Walsh became ineffective. Most of his passing yards came on underthrown passes that were misjudged by Oklahoma defenders. The Oklahoma State running game mustered just 132 yards against the Sooners stingy front four.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield continued his quest for a spot at the Heisman ceremony in New York by completing 17 of 25 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 77 yards and a score.

With rainy and slick weather, Oklahoma did most of its offensive damage on the ground against a tired Oklahoma State defense. Mixon had 136 yards and two scores and Perine added 131 yards and two scores.

The only thing left for Oklahoma to now do is wait. It seems implausible — especially with several key teams losing on Saturday — that the Sooners would fall out of the College Football Playoff. Next week’s championship games, however, will determine where the Sooners are ultimately seeded.

For more Oklahoma news, visit SoonerScoop.com.

For more Oklahoma State news, visit OStateIllustrated.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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