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Baylor vs. Oklahoma State -- THE MORNING AFTER -- Highlights, Links, Notes, Tweets

Baylor returned to action in extremely rainy conditions last night to knock off Oklahoma State 49-28 and lead by 14 for all but the first few minutes of the game. Will it be enough?

By Mark C. Moore
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

28
OKLAHOMA ST.
(5-6, 3-5) NR/NR/NR
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH F
7 7 0 14 28
21 7 7 14 49

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes |  Baylor Photos |  USATI Photos

Waco, Texas • Attendance: 47,179

49
BAYLOR
(9-1, 6-1) 6/6/7

Players of the Game:

RB Shock Linwood -- 21 carries for 113 yards an 1 TD
RB Devin Chafin -- 21 carries for 106 yards and 3 TDs
WR Corey Coleman -- 3 catches for 75 yards and 1 TD, 3 carries for 24 yards

DT Andrew Billings -- 5 tackles, 3 TFL, not sure how he wasn't credited for a sack
DE Shawn Oakman -- 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
S Orion Stewart -- 7 tackles, 1 INT

I thought about including Bryce Petty (18/29 for 262 yards and 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 5 carries for 24 yards and 1 TD), and I can buy the argument that he should be represented despite the INTs.

Injury News:

No major injuries to report for either side as far as I am aware.  That might be the best news of all aside from simply getting the win itself.

Quick Thoughts:

Because we got in so late last night, I haven't yet had an opportunity to actually watch the game in full on television (we're just starting it now).  I understand there were a few issues late in the game that might make that an adventure in frustration, anyway.  I'll have to save most of my specific thoughts for the podcast tonight or later in the week, but we'll do the best we can here right now.

First of all, my wife and I decided before going to the game yesterday to eschew our Amazon-purchased polos in favor of full rain suits.  That might be one of the best decisions I've ever made.  It didn't just rain in the stadium last night; it poured.  And by the end of the game, it was actually really cold.  Despite all that, I was impressed with the size of the crowd that showed up and their devotion to the #EveryoneInBlack.  It was a good showing.

As far as the game itself goes, I'm happy with the overall outcome.  I have a few questions like why we didn't keep our foot on the gas after scoring so easily so early or why we seemingly refused to blitz Rudolph for most of the second half while he got into a bit of a groove, as well as what in the world was going on for the procedure penalties.  Having been a center for most of my football-playing career, I could understand if one particular ref took exception to something Kyle Fuller does regularly in setting up with the ball for a play, but good gosh, once you figure that out-- like around the third snap infraction or so-- stop.

Speaking of Mason Rudolph-- I was extremely impressed with his performance last night in tough conditions against what I obviously think is a really good Baylor defense.  He kept his composure despite getting down big and throwing that interception to Collin Brence, worked through his reads capably when OSU started opening up the playbook to try to come back in the second half, and looked quite polished in the majority of his throws.  The biggest compliment I can give an opposing player in that situation is saying that playing him down the road is going to be a problem.  Playing Mason Rudolph down the road is going to be a big problem.  He's legitimately talented.

Otherwise, I don't have a lot for you right now.  I was surprised that OSU's offensive line held up so well in pass protection, but again, we barely blitzed.  I was less surprised that their DL performed as it did than I was that we basically shut down our passing offense for most of the second half, seemingly content to try to pound them into dust.  There, I thought we got far too predictable and it cost us, giving OSU the chance to mount a comeback and keeping our defense on the field longer than it needed to be. On defense, we basically did what we've done a million times before in the last couple of years: play everyone close to the line in zero coverage and challenge the opposing QB to beat us.  We've talked repeatedly about what this scheme does-- invite big plays if you can get them-- and they got them.  It's not all that difficult to figure out, really.

Still, despite some of the ugliness of the fourth quarter, it's necessary to point out that at no time was Baylor in danger of losing this game.  After Chafin scored with :19 to go in the first quarter, Baylor led by at least 14 points for the entire rest of the game.  Remember that when anyone tries to tell you that we "struggled" with OSU or didn't take care of our business.

Mark Seymour's Rankings

Like last week, I'm going to do this a couple of different ways.  First, the Seymour Selection Committee as of right now:

Seymour's Top 4:

1. Oregon Ducks
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Baylor Bears
4. TCU Horned Frogs

5. Mississippi State Bulldogs
6. Ohio State Buckeyes

At some point, almost losing to bad teams isn't a viable strategy, Florida State.  It is a demonstration of weakness.  And if your QB had been ejected from the game yesterday as he should have been, you might have lost the only thing keeping you in the playoff conversation: an unblemished record that I think any of the teams listed above would share in your situation.

The Committee's Top 4 (I'm guessing):

1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Florida State
4. Mississippi State

5. TCU
6. Ohio State
7. Baylor

I read an interesting theory last week that the Committee jumped tOSU over Baylor so they could keep TCU and Baylor from being ranked one right after the other (TCU first) and avoid the "But Baylor beat TCU" arguments that would necessarily spawn.  I don't know if it's true or not, but it's plausible.

I don't see anything changing this week unless the Committee actually watched Ohio State's game, which they probably didn't.

LINKS LINKS LINKS LINKS LINKS LINKS

New College Football Playoff and bowl projections: The battle for No. 4 - SBNation.com
The top three remain on course, although the No. 1 seed could still involve a little drama. The last spot is the hard one. Picks for all 38 games.

College Football Playoff threat watch: Don't forget about Mississippi State - SBNation.com
An instantaneous survey of the teams in the best position for the Playoff at this moment.

The awesome, unexpected, and meaningful of college football's week 13 - SBNation.com
Let's figure out the most important things of a fun and crazy Week 13.

Bears back up early uppercut, deliver OSU knockout, 49-28 - WacoTrib.com: Baylor Bears Football
With thunderstorms and lightning plowing through Texas all day, No. 6 Baylor opened Saturday night’s game like it was racing against the weather to score.

Baylor notebook: Petty TD run heals old wound, Coleman extends streak, Wright stuff - WacoTrib.com: Baylor Bears Football
Some touchdown runs feel differently than others. Bryce Petty said his 21-yard fourth-quarter TD jaunt felt like sweet redemption.

Brice Cherry: Style points not end-all metric — winning matters, too - WacoTrib.com: Baylor Bears Football
The expansive (and expensive) scoreboard at Baylor’s new McLane Stadium features lots of bright lights and nifty bells and whistles. But it does not include a spot for style points.

Four in, four out: Oregon hitting stride at perfect time | NCAA Football | Sporting News
The question now becomes: what do we make of Florida State?

There will be more in the tweets below.

TWEETS TWEETS TWEETS TWEETS TWEETS TWEETS

I would laugh and laugh.

Joel Klatt is good people. And finally...

Ball out today, Josh!

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