Big 12 Football

Quarterback Spencer Rattler announced Monday that he will enter the transfer portal:

pic.twitter.com/KGMIovUSis

— Spencer Rattler (@SpencerRattler) November 29, 2021

The news comes after head coach Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma to take the same job at USC on Sunday.

Rattler entered 2021 as a Heisman Trophy contender but struggled with consistency, finishing the year with 1,483 passing yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions in nine appearances. He was benched in favor of true freshman Caleb Williams in October.

The quarterback was much better in his first season as a starter, leading the Big 12 with 3,031 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns and a 172.6 passer efficiency rating. 

With a 70.1 career completion percentage, Rattler has displayed plenty of upside at the college level.

The Arizona native entered Oklahoma as a 5-star recruit, and he was the No. 1 pro-style quarterback prospect in the 2019 class in 247Sports' composite rankings. There will likely be a heavy bidding war for him, especially since he has up to three years of eligibility remaining.

The latest news also creates further problems for Oklahoma as it tries to move past Riley's departure.

Though Rattler's potential transfer could have been expected after he lost his starting job, the Sooners have also lost multiple top commitments in the past two days, per Tom VanHaaren of ESPN. 

It could create a significant challenge for the next coach as the Sooners try to remain a top contender.    

Five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson announced his decommitment from Oklahoma on Sunday following the news that Lincoln Riley has taken the head coaching job at USC.

Nelson, a 6'3", 180-pound quarterback out of Los Alamitos, California, said in his announcement that he's not opening up his recruitment and just wants "to see how everything transpires."

Nelson committed to Oklahoma in July. He said one of the things that impacted his decision to join the Sooners was the coaching staff and "their ability to develop the QB position." 

Oklahoma has become a hot spot for 5-star quarterbacks over the last few years. Spencer Rattler entered in 2019, followed by Caleb Williams in 2021, and Nelson was the next in line for 2023. It's unclear what the future holds for the Sooners at the position.

The quarterback is the second overall recruit in the class of 2023 and the top recruit out of California, per 247Sports' composite rating. He is also the second-ranked quarterback behind Isidore Newman's Arch Manning.

In addition to Oklahoma, Nelson considered USC, Alabama, Arizona and Arizona State. It's reasonable to believe he'll reconsider joining the Trojans given Riley's hiring. 

The news of Riley's shocking decision to become the next head coach at USC broke Sunday afternoon. He had been head coach of the Sooners since 2017 and compiled a 55-10 record in his five seasons at the helm. Oklahoma won the Big 12 in his first four seasons as head coach, and he also led the team to three College Football Playoff appearances.

In addition to Nelson, Oklahoma lost commitments from 2023 5-star wide receiver Brandon Inniss (No. 9 in 247Sports' composite rating) and 2023 4-star running back Treyaun Webb (No. 96 in 247Sports' composite rating) on Sunday. Inniss said he was reopening his recruitment, while Webb said his decision to decommit from Oklahoma was "due to the recent changes." 

As well, 2022 5-star running back Raleek Brown told ESPN on Sunday, before Riley was announced as head coach of the Trojans, that the coach's decision would impact his recruitment.

"That changes everything," he said. "I had a good relationship with all [the Oklahoma coaches], so that will really change everything."

Like Nelson, USC was also of interest to Brown before he committed to Oklahoma, ESPN noted.

With several decommitments and other recruits likely weighing their options, Oklahoma is in for one of its biggest head coaching searches in school history, and a lot will ride on who the program selects to replace Riley.

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley will reportedly be the next head coach of the USC Trojans and will not coach the Sooners' upcoming bowl game, according to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman. 

Former Sooners head coach Bob Stoops is reportedly expected to be named interim head coach. 

According to Feldman, talks between Riley and USC "really escalated" Saturday night into Sunday morning.

"For Riley, it was the appeal of Los Angeles, the local recruiting talent and the opportunity of trying to rebuild a brand," Feldman wrote. "That was all very enticing to him. He was also impressed with the alignment of the administration."

Riley informed the team and his coaching staff of his decision on Sunday, per Feldman. Stoops was in attendance for that meeting. 

The news of Riley's decision comes after he vehemently denied rumors that he would be the next head coach at LSU following Oklahoma's 37-33 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday. 

The Sooners' loss to the Cowboys eliminated them from Big 12 title contention. They finished with a 10-2 record and third in the conference after losing the head-to-head tiebreaker with Baylor. 

Riley had been head coach of the Sooners since 2017 and compiled a 55-10 record. The Sooners won the Big 12 in his first four seasons at the helm, and he also led the team to three College Football Playoff appearances.

Riley will replace Clay Helton at USC. Helton, who was fired in September, was in his seventh full season with the Trojans (he was the interim head coach for one game in 2013) before being canned just two games into the 2021 campaign. 

USC finished the 2021 season 4-7 and fourth in the Pac-12 South behind Utah, Arizona State and UCLA. 

Stoops, meanwhile, coached the Sooners from 1999-2016, compiling a 190-48 record in that span and a 9-9 record in bowl games. He hired Riley as his offensive coordinator in 2015 and pushed for him to be named the team's next head coach in 2017. 

Stoops has been working as a panelist for Fox Sports's college football team. According to 247Sports, he had been linked to USC and Florida's head coaching vacancies but expressed interest in remaining with Fox.  

The Oklahoma Sooners apparently already have a candidate in mind to replace Lincoln Riley, who is reportedly set to be named head coach at USC.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Oklahoma has targeted Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as one of the potential replacements. Schefter noted that Kingsbury has one year left on his contract after this season.

Kingsbury is in his third year coaching Arizona, which has the best record in the NFL at 9-2. He led the Cardinals to a 5-10-1 record in his first year in 2019 and the team improved to 8-8 last season.

When he accepted the head coaching position at Arizona, Kingsbury was tasked with developing quarterback Kyler Murray, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft.

In his third year, Murray has blossomed into one of the most dynamic players in the league and was considered an MVP candidate prior to missing three games with an ankle injury. He's thrown 17 touchdowns and rushed for three more scores in eight games.

Prior to joining the Cardinals, the 42-year-old made a name for himself as one of the best offensive minds in college football. Kingsbury was the head coach of Texas Tech from 2013-18, where he coached quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes. 

Kingsbury was a fast-riser in the coaching ranks. He got his start on the offensive staff at the University of Houston in 2008. He was then named offensive coordinator for Texas A&M in 2012, the same year Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman Trophy.

Kingsbury and the Cardinals were on a bye in Week 12 and will return to action on Dec. 5 against the Chicago Bears.

The Oklahoma Sooners suffered a disappointing 37-33 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, and despite some of the team's struggles this season, head coach Lincoln Riley isn't considering leaving for the vacant head coaching position at LSU. 

“Let me stop you right there. I’m not going to be the next coach at LSU. Next question,” Riley told reporters after the loss. 

Riley's comments come after long-time LSU head coach Ed Orgeron announced he would not coach the team's bowl game following an upset win over Texas A&M on Saturday. Orgeron and the Tigers agreed to part ways on Oct. 17 following a disappointing 4-3 start to the 2021 season.

The Tigers have fallen short of expectations since winning the national championship in 2019. They are 11-11 over the past two seasons, so it's no surprise Orgeron is on his way out, even if he is the fourth-winningest coach in LSU history at 51-20. 

Riley has been linked as a target for LSU athletic director Scott Woodward since it was announced Orgeron was out as head coach after the 2021 season. However, Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher is reportedly Woodward’s top target. Fisher has adamantly denied interest in the LSU job, though. 

Riley has been at Oklahoma for five seasons, compiling a 55-10 record. The Sooners won the Big 12 in his first four seasons and he also has three College Football Playoff appearances to his name. 

However, Oklahoma finished the 2021 season 10-2 with Saturday's loss to Oklahoma State and missed out on a chance to play in the Big 12 title game. The team also likely doesn't have chance to make the CFP this year. 

In addition to Riley, LSU has also been linked to Louisiana's Billy Napier and Iowa State's Matt Campbell for their vacant head coaching job.  

The No. 7 Oklahoma State Cowboys defeated the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners 37-33 on Saturday to improve to 11-1 on the season. It was the team's first win over Oklahoma since December 2014.

Oklahoma State had already punched its ticket to the Big 12 title game before Saturday's win, which was head coach Mike Gundy's third win over Oklahoma since taking over as head coach in 2005.

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Notable Stats

Caleb Williams, QB, OU: 20/39 for 252 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT and 19 CAR for 36 YDS

Spencer Sanders, QB, OSU: 19/30 for 214 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT and 16 CAR for 93 YDS, 1 TD

Kennedy Brooks, RB, OU: 22 CAR for 139 YDS; 1 REC for 25 YDS

Tay Martin, WR, OSU: 7 REC for 89 YDS, 1 TD

Brennan Presley, WR, OSU: 3 REC for 40 YDS; 2 kick returns for 142 YDS, 1 TD

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Oklahoma State Overcomes Turnovers 

Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders tossed a late first half interception to allow Oklahoma to tie the game entering halftime, and it was the Sooners who came out of the locker room for the third quarter with all the momentum thanks to multiple miscues by the Cowboys. 

While Oklahoma was forced to punt on its first possession of the second half, the team forced a safety to go up 26-24 early in the third quarter. Oklahoma State's Dominic Richardson fumbled and it was recovered in the end zone for the safety. 

The team came up big again on special teams by forcing Oklahoma State's Brennan Presley to fumble on a punt. Sooners star Justin Broiles recovered the ball for a touchdown to help put Oklahoma up 33-24. 

https://twitter.com/jasonkersey/status/1464790805185323015

Oklahoma State is falling apart. In every phase.

— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) November 28, 2021

𝗝𝗕 𝗧𝗗‼️ @JustinbroilesJ | 📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/2vuUBOHa0L

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 28, 2021

Oklahoma State's struggles only continued when Tanner Brown missed a 44-yard field goal with 7:43 remaining in the third quarter. He entered Saturday's game having made 10-of-12 field goals on the season, with his longest being 49 yards. 

And while Oklahoma State forced an Oklahoma fumble after missing the field goal, quarterback Spencer Sanders tossed his second interception of the night on the following drive. 

Despite all the turnovers, the Cowboys cashed in when it mattered most, capitalizing off a muffed punt by Oklahoma's Eric Gray with 9:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma State's Demarco Jones recovered before Jaylen Warren rushed in for a touchdown to give the Cowboys a 37-33 lead. 

Put the team on his back. Literally.

📺 ABC#LetsRide I @Nunless2 pic.twitter.com/rGx0TgqCrK

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) November 28, 2021

Regardless of the win, the amount of turnovers from Oklahoma State on Saturday was absurd. They'll have to clean that up before facing Baylor in the Big 12 title game. 

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Oklahoma's Offensive Performance Disappointing

Oklahoma's rushing performance in Saturday's loss to Oklahoma State was disappointing. While Kennedy Brooks led the way with 22 carries for 139 yards, the rest of the team combined for just 14 yards on the ground and quarterback Caleb Williams recorded 19 carries for 36 yards. 

This is in comparison to an Oklahoma State rushing offense that combined for 140 yards and three touchdowns and was more effective on the ground. 

While it was a disappointing night for Oklahoma, the team's performance on the ground doesn't necessarily come as a surprise. The Sooners entered their regular-season finale averaging just 174.9 yards per game on the ground, fifth in the Big 12, compared to 266.5 passing yards per game, second in the conference. 

In addition to the team's rushing performance, the receiving performance wasn't all that great either. Jeremiah Hall led the team with four catches for 76 yards, while Austin Stogner had three catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. 

However, the Sooners finished with two turnovers compared to the Cowboys' three and also led with 441 yards to Oklahoma State's 354. So while the offense could have been better, it's clear that turnovers played a massive role in this game.

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What's Next?

Oklahoma State will face the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 title game, while Oklahoma will watch from the couch.

Iowa State running back Breece Hall set the NCAA record with a rushing touchdown in his 24th straight game in Friday's 48-14 win over TCU at Jack Trice Stadium, according to The Athletic. 

Hall finished the game with 18 carries for 242 yards and three touchdowns in addition to two catches for 39 yards and a score. 

Former Arkansas running back Bill Burnett previously held the record with a rushing touchdown in 23 straight games. Burnett played for the Razorbacks from 1968 to '70. 

Hall set the new record with a 39-yard score in the second quarter. The touchdown gave Iowa State a 17-0 lead over TCU. 

BREECE UNLEASHED 🔥@CycloneFB RB @BreeceH sets the FBS record for most consecutive games with a rushing TD pic.twitter.com/oihI8FzWyH

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 26, 2021

Hall's streak began in Week 1 of the 2020 season when he scored a rushing touchdown against Louisiana-Lafayette. He finished his sophomore campaign with 279 carries for 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns in addition to 23 catches for 180 yards and two scores. 

The last time he failed to score a touchdown was December 2019, when the Cyclones lost to Notre Dame in the Camping World Bowl.

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell was asked about Hall's efficiency earlier in the week and lauded him for his consistency, per 247Sports: 

To me the word is consistency for Breece. What you've seen from Breece really from that West Virginia game his freshman year to every game he's played, there's a real sense of professionalism and consistency that he brings to how he attacks the sport. And that part has allowed our football team to really be able to use him in the most critical moments. You talk scoring, scoring, those are critical moments. And Breece has always been ready for the moment and has done a great job of continuing to grow his craft and what he's about. But man, there's a lot of consistency about Breece Hall, in terms of winning moments, and he's done a great job of that.

Hall finished last season in the top 10 in the FBS in rushing yards per game and is top-10 this campaign. In June, Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus ranked him as the top prospect at the position for the 2022 NFL draft.  

TCU has reportedly found its next head football coach in SMU's Sonny Dykes.

ESPN's Ian Fitzsimmons broke the news and offered some insight on compensation:

SMU Head Coach, Sonny Dykes will be the next head football coach at TCU. I am told SMU offered a package up to $4 million but TCU’s was “significantly more.”

— Ian Fitzsimmons (@Ianfitzespn) November 26, 2021

Dykes is headed to Fort Worth after four years in charge of SMU. The 52-year-old has gone 30-17 (18-12 American Athletic Conference) during his tenure.

SMU has received two straight bowl bids and is slated to get a third after its 8-3 mark this season.

Dykes also had head coaching stops at Louisiana Tech (2010-2012) and Cal (2013-2016). he went 22-15 for the Bulldogs, but the Golden Bears went just 19-30 (10-26 in Pac-12) under Dykes' watch.

The former Texas Tech football and baseball player served as an offensive analyst for TCU during the 2017 season in between his Cal and SMU stops.

Dykes' resume also includes stints as Texas Tech's co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach (2005-2006) and Arizona's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2007-2009).

He will take over for Gary Patterson, who was fired on Oct. 31 after 21 seasons running the TCU program. Dykes has big shoes to fill in Fort Worth, as Patterson went 181-79 and led the Horned Frogs to 11 Top 25 poll finishes.

That includes a No. 2 ranking in 2010 for an undefeated TCU team that beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl and a No. 3 squad in 2014 that earned a Peach Bowl win over Ole Miss.

TCU hasn't fared well of late: After an 11-3 2017 season that ended with a No. 9 ranking and an Alamo Bowl win, the Horned Frogs went just 21-22 over Patterson's next three-plus seasons.

Now Dykes will look to bring the program back to being a perennial Big 12 and national power. As for SMU, ESPN's Dave Wilson reported that Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee "is the front-runner" to take over the job.

Kansas walk-on Jared Casey has signed multiple name, image and likeness (NIL) contracts since his game-winning catch on a two-point conversation in the Jayhawks' 57-56 upset of Texas on Saturday.

Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star reported Thursday that Casey inked a deal with a local Applebee's, which included an $800 cash payout and $1,000 in gift cards for the restaurant.

"My go-to is just a regular bacon cheeseburger. My friends always make fun of me because wherever we go, I'm like, 'Yeah, I'll take a cheeseburger,'" Casey joked.

The freshman fullback/tight end told Newell he'll use a portion of the endorsement money to treat some of his teammates to a meal.

Here is KU football walk-on Jared Casey's acting debut for @Applebees: "Hey, you always gotta go for two." pic.twitter.com/xL5dX3ijHy

— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) November 18, 2021

Casey is also working with the Lewis Automotive Group, which owns two car dealerships in Kansas. His brother, Justin, told ESPN's Chris Low any type of NIL deal that includes getting to use a new car would be a major help.

"He's put a lot of miles on that little Kia of his going back and forth from Plainville to Lawrence," Justin said.

KANSAS WENT FOR TWO AND GOT IT.

THE JAYHAWKS STUN TEXAS. pic.twitter.com/h6VlqqWiQA

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 14, 2021

In addition, Casey has been contacted about a potential shirt deal, per Low.

His sudden surge into the spotlight will include feature stories on both Fox's Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN's College GameDay before Saturday's college football slate kicks off, according to Newell.

Casey and the Jayhawks (2-8) visit TCU (4-6) for a 4 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday afternoon.

Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby issued a public reprimand of Texas Tech football's radio play-by-play announcer Brian Jensen and color analyst John Harris and suspended them for Saturday's game against Oklahoma State for their critical comments about the officiating in last week's loss to Iowa State.

"I understand the roles of the play-by-play and color analyst," Bowlsby said in a statement Wednesday. "However as university representatives they also have an obligation to adhere to conference policy regarding comments about game officials. The comments by the Red Raider Radio Network booth announcers were contrary to expected levels of respect and professionalism. Questioning the integrity of conference officials and specifically calling out members of the officiating crew is well beyond appropriate and permissible behavior."

Jensen and Harris ripped Big 12 officials on several occasions late in the Red Raiders' 41-38 loss to Iowa State, accusing them of "slanted" officiating. Jensen also called out Bowlsby by name.

 "Yeah, Bob Bowlsby, you need to answer to this. This is ridiculous. ... Unbelievable. The inconsistency of this referee crew in favor of Iowa State today, unbelievable," Jensen said.

Regional play-by-play announcers and color commentators regularly call their games with an obvious bias toward their side. Texas Tech fans don't listen to their school's radio hoping for someone to call it right down the middle. It's why local radio calls tend to go viral, because play-by-play announcers can give off unbridled joy or disappointment.

Even some mild criticism of officiating is to be expected. That said, Jensen and Harris seem to have crossed a line with their commentary when it came to accusations of game-fixing on the conference level.