Dumpster Fires of the Week: Big 12 defenses
More Big 12 defensive disasters, with a side of burnt bacon.
Dumpster Fires of the Week: Week Eight
1. Oklahoma and Texas Tech
The entire concept of defense went out the window here:
- 1,648 yards
- 125 Points
- Four total punts
- One punt in the second half
- Every fourth quarter drive resulted in a touchdown
2. Pig Roast on the Plains
Somehow the Razorbacks showed up to face War Eagle still ranked and got completely destroyed by Auburn. Defensively, Auburn has been pretty solid all season long, but it's the 543 rushing yards and 56 points allowed by the Hogs that put them on this list.
3. Missouri
More SEC horribleness from an ex-Big 12 member in a Big 12-type shootout. Is it really SEC football when you give up 45 points to MIddle Tennessee State?
4. Texas' game management
UT’s defense actually played a better game against a quality opponent while the offense floundered. Some very un-Kansas State miscues in the fourth quarter gave the Longhorns a window.
UT may be struggling talent-wise. Somehow, the 'Horns may be “very young” for the sixth year in a row. Even so, the in-game management by UT was just baffling at times.
Down two scores with the clock running and no timeouts, Texas called running plays that didn't pick up first downs. Add in a missed field goal that could have led to overtime, and the mistake-filled fourth quarter showcased every gripe that UT fans have voiced about game management during the Charlie Strong era.
5. Houston
Is Tom Herman already coaching Texas or LSU or USC? In the last three weeks, Houston's hot start vanished.
First was the loss to Navy where Houston got worked by the triple option. Second was a near loss to Tulsa. On Saturday, all hopes of a big time bowl went up in the smoke of a trash fire when SMU rolled the Cougars, 38-14. The same SMU that lost 33-3 to TCU dominated UH on both sides
of the ball.
The matchup with Louisiville has lost most of its luster, and Houston may not even make the AAC title game.
-Atlantasooner