Big 12 Football Power Rankings 2017: Week 2 edition
By Phil Poling
What can you say about the Sooners’ season-opener? Things went as planned? They picked up right where they left off? They could’ve scored 100? That last one might be a stretch, but Oklahoma was the most impressive Big 12 team over the weekend. While defeating UTEP 56-7, eight different Sooners scored touchdowns, including four in both the air and on the ground.
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Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield orchestrated a beautiful game plan, completing 19-of-20 passes — including 16 straight to start the game — for 329 yards and three scores. His go-to target, 6-foot-5 tight end Mark Andrews, caught a game-high seven catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. Andrews is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses to contain, putting his abilities on full display in the opener.
The Sooner reserves got significant playing time on both sides of the ball too, both stopping the Miners from scoring while manufacturing a few scores of their own in the second half.
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The Oklahoma defense is what sets them apart from the rest of the Big 12. If the offense continues to score more touchdowns than the defense surrenders points, the Sooners will steam roll their most of their opponents. Next up on the schedule, though? A top-10 showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes — the last team to beat Sooners.