WACO, Lone-Star State -- A Sooners spoiler on the banks of the Brazos modified the outlook within the massive twelve Conference -- and also the national contest race.

With Baker Mayfield and Sterling Shepard golf stroke up typically, No. twelve Oklahoma beat Baylor (No. 6 CFP, No. four AP) 44-34 on Sabbatum night to finish the Bears' FBS-best 20-game home run -- and certain their contest probabilities.





"Go into their curtilage on an evening like tonight and play this manner, you know, we're one in every of those groups that includes a likelihood," Stoops aforesaid. "Again, you acquire Associate in Nursing victorious team hierarchic that prime, waiting on you, and win by ten. It's have to be compelled to be a positive."

These Sooners (9-1, 6-1 massive 12) have won 5 during a row since a loss to Lone-Star State, and currently management their destiny within the massive twelve. And coach Bob Stoops thinks they might be a contest contestant if they keep winning.

Shepard had fourteen catches for 177 yards and 2 of the 3 touchdowns thrown by Mayfield, World Health Organization finished twenty four of thirty four and conjointly ran for a score.

Baylor (8-1, 5-1), the primary team neglected of the initial four-team contest last season, was sixth within the latest faculty soccer Playoffs as Associate in Nursing victorious team with the toughest a part of its schedule left.

"Life is not over, our season is not over," aforesaid nickel back Travon Blanchard, World Health Organization had Associate in Nursing interception however conjointly had an important penalty early in Oklahoma's final touchdown drive.

Asked if his team was mentally ready to maneuver forward, Baylor coach Art Briles responded, "We're getting to see."

Shepard's tiebreaking 7-yard TD catch with 9:52 left within the third quarter place the Sooners ahead to remain, and that they became the primary opposing team to win within the eleven home games Baylor has vie since moving last season into its field bowl on the banks of the Brazos.

The cheat defensive massive twelve champion Bears will definitely drop by the contest rankings before taking part in at victorious Oklahoma State (No. 8 CFP, No. five AP) next Sabbatum. The Sooners are in Stillwater the subsequent week for his or her regular-season finale.

Less than a second later, when Baylor went three-and-out, Samaje Perine had a 55-yard touchdown run to form it 34-20. Perine finished with 166 yards and 2 touchdowns.

"We vie assured," Mayfield aforesaid. "We'll remember on the film. we must always have had plenty additional points. The interception that become a touchdown, that is simply a momentum killer. we tend to may have place the dagger in them right then."

That decide was before suspension, once Blanchard jumped a route for Associate in Nursing interception that LED the second of Devin Chafin's 3 touchdown runs.

Still, the Bears trailed at suspension for the primary time this season when Mayfield created a pleasant play faux, and rolled round the left facet unhurt for a 2-yard TD run on the following drive to form it 20-13 with twenty eight seconds left within the 0.5.

If the Sooners win next week reception against TCU so in Bedlam against the Cowboys, they might clinch their ninth massive twelve title. it'd be Oklahoma's initial since sharing a title with Kansas State in 2012, and finish its longest league championship drought in coach Bob Stoops' seventeen seasons.

The Bears were making an attempt to be the primary team to beat Stoops thrice during a row, and also the last 2 were by lopsided margins. Baylor desires facilitate to affix Oklahoma because the solely groups to win 3 consecutive massive twelve titles -- and even additional facilitate to induce back within the contest hunt.

Jarrett Stidham, actuality freshman creating his second begin and initial reception since Seth Russell's season-ending neck surgery, threw for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns. however he conjointly had his initial 2 interceptions.

Oklahoma was up solely 37-34 Associate in Nursingd apparently facing third-and-15 from this seventeen when Mayfield threw an incompletion whereas fraught. however Blanchard was punished from a horse-collar grab whereas pursing the quarterback, giving the Sooners Associate in Nursing automatic initial down.

"That's huge as a result of we tend to had momentum," Briles aforesaid. "We're obtaining the ball hopefully around heart there with an opportunity to travel down and take the lead."

Instead, Mayfield ran for seventeen yards on future play, and complete the drive with a 7-yard TD pass to Dimitri Flowers.

Shock Linwood had 103 yards on twenty one carries for Baylor, whereas Devin Chafin ran for 3 touchdowns. FBS receiving leader Corey Coleman was command to 3 catches for fifty one yards and no scores when seven consecutive games with multiple touchdowns.

Baylor hadn't lost reception since 49-21 to TCU on October. 13, 2012. The Bears had won their initial ten games at their new bowl by a median margin or thirty two points, with fifty seven points and 666 total yards a game.

The Bears, command to 416 yards by Oklahoma, had conjointly won their last eight home games against prime twenty five games. They beat the Sooners double in this span when losing their initial twenty games against the Sooners