10 Thoughts: Bedlam

It may be the only time Oklahoma is able to celebrate a Big 12 Championship on Owen Field and the 38-20 victory gave Sooner head coach Bob Stoops his 10th conference crown since 1999.

Next stop is likely New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl against Auburn (possibly Florida).

Here are 10 takeaways from the Sooners' 86th Bedlam victory and the final hurdle to the only undefeated run through Big 12 round robin play.

Not a fan of that erect-a-set with sparklers that Oklahoma runs under before the game.

The Jordan Sterns hit on Dede Westbrook that knocked the Sooner Heisman contender out of the game, after already totaling 111 yards and a touchdown in one and a half quarters, is one of those plays that people are going to see what they want.

When two guys collide like that in a high-speed game, especially when Mayfield did put Westbrook in an awkward position with a high throw over the middle, I understand how disagreements about the hit can happen.

However, I think we all can agree that dancing on the sidelines while the player is still down is a bad look.

Obviously it's no fault to Westbrook's, but it's hard to imagine Oklahoma not pushing Mayfield as their top Heisman candidate after this game.

Baker Mayfield throwing a wet ball better than Mason Rudolph actually may have ultimately been one of the bigger differences in such a tight contest.

Mayfield completed 13 of 19 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns, while Rudolph completed just 44% of his passes for 186 yards - 108 of which came on two throws.

The OU quarterback's impressive outing keeps him on pace to break Russell Wilson's single-season passer efficiency record and will finish this season exceeding his 2015 numbers in every major statistical category.

Mayfield did a great job managing the Oklahoma offense after the departure of Westbrook and it was huge for Jeff Mead and Geno Lewis to step up on the touchdown drive to tie it up at 17-17 after Oklahoma State had stolen all of the momentum.

Lewis has been turned into an invaluable addition to this receiving corps. The Penn State transfer is one of those guys that you’ll remember for all the tough catches he made and not so much for the numbers he posted.

However, let me give you some stats to highlight just how clutch he has been for the Sooners of late.

In Oklahoma's last five games Lewis has been targeted seven times on third down. Baker Mayfield completed all seven passes for 110 yards and converted all seven.

In fact, in those five games, Mayfield is 16 of 17 for 180 yards and a touchdown when targeting Lewis, in general.

Oh, and his touchdown catch that was called back for penalty? Third down.

Speaking of receivers that need to step up, remember when Mark Andrews and A.D. Miller were key pieces in this offense? Combined for zero catches today.

Oklahoma junior linebacker Ogbo Okoronkwo is making himself one of the stars of the Big 12 heading into the 2017 season.

In a year when everyone was wondering how the Sooner defense could replace Eric Striker, Okoronkwo recorded more sacks (9.5) than Striker ever did in a single season - including two today.

Also, what this guy said. You think this is a different game if No. 31 is suited up for Oklahoma State, who had just one sack and no quarterback hurries as a team?

It’s hard to believe it has been 11 years since Oklahoma had made an undefeated run through the Big 12.

Before this game, it felt like if the Sooners lost, then perhaps their season would be lost without.

However, a nine-game winning streak, Bedlam victory, and 10th Big 12 Championship under their belt, along with a No. 3 ranked recruiting class, creates an environment fertile for optimism.

In the first half, Oklahoma State out-rushed Oklahoma 186-40, but couldn’t translate it to the scoreboard, as it was tied 17-17 at half.

In the second half, the Sooners out-rushed OSU 301-31 and was able to make the Cowboys pay on the scoreboard.

Credit Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line group for doing a much better job controlling the line of scrimmage coming out of the locker room and setting a more physical tone on the OU sideline.

Here's the shirt Baker Mayfield wore under his shoulder pads today.

Something tells me he would have fit in just fine in the Barry Switzer years...