HCS Roundtable: Biggest Winners and Losers In Week 10
Another week has come and gone, and now we’re heading into Week 11 of the 2023 college football season.
After Week 10, we’ve got a tie for first place in the Big 12 standings with five teams tied for third at 4-2 in Big 12 play. In short, have one heck of a race on our hands heading into the final month of the regular season.
There were several key outcomes this weekend with some big winners and losers in the conference.
With that being said, the Heartland College Sports staff will take each week to name the week’s biggest winner and loser. Here’s a look at their answers for Week 10.
Pete Mundo
Biggest Winner: Mike Gundy
We can say Oklahoma State, but this is about Mike Gundy. There were OSU fans ready to boot Gundy six weeks ago. Now, he’s got this team tied for first place in the Big 12 with three weeks left after one of the most epic wins in Oklahoma State football history. Mike Gundy is getting the last laugh after some of the haters came after him and he might just parlay this team and this season, which includes a loss to South Alabama, into a Big 12 title. It would be one of the most improbable turnarounds in Big 12 history.
Biggest Loser: Dave Aranda
Losing to Houston in overtime in front of your home fans (or whoever’s left)? Yikes. That’s a brutal loss for Aranda, who is now starring down a 3-9 season, as Baylor is likely to be an underdog in their final three games. Aranda is two years removed from winning the Big 12, but the last two seasons has seen this program underachieve dramatically. At some point, the seat has to start warming in Waco, right?
Bryan Clinton
Biggest Winner: Oklahoma State
Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys have managed to prove everyone wrong once again as the 18-year head coach has proven to be at his best when the expectations in Stillwater are the lowest. Coming into the 2023 season, Gundy’s group was expected to be somewhere in the middle of the pack in the Big 12, and after a 33-7 loss to South Alabama in Game 3, the Pokes were written off. Now, heading into the second weekend in October, OSU has won five straight games, is 7-2 on the year, and is tied for first place in the Big 12 standings after taking down No. 9 Oklahoma in the final edition of the Bedlam series. All that stands between Oklahoma State and a trip to Arlington is wins over UCF, Houston, and BYU, who are 3-14 against Big 12 competition this year. It’s a good time to be a Cowboy.
Biggest Loser: Oklahoma
Just a few weeks ago, Oklahoma was the toast of college football. Coming off a win over No. 3 Texas, the Sooners were being talked about as a legitimate national title contender and as one of the biggest turnaround stories in the sport. Now, after three consecutive stinkers, two of which ended in losses, Oklahoma sits at 7-2 and on the outside looking in on the Big 12 race. It’s been incredibly difficult to pinpoint the Sooners’ issues over the last month of play, but a lack of continuity in the offense and no signs of complimentary football have been their downfall in each of the last two weeks. There isn’t a ton of confidence in offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, and fair or not, the fan base is blaming him for the sudden dip in success. Can they turn it around and win out to get to 10-2, or is OU destined for another disappointing season under Brent Venables?
Joe Tillery
Biggest Winner: Steve Sarkisian
Steve Sarkisian has to be absolutely thrilled with his team heading into Week 11 after handling BYU and Kansas State with backup quarterback Maalik Murphy under center. Murphy wasn’t spectacular in either contest but was good enough to keep CFP hopes alive for the Longhorns. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Ewers is expected to return in Week 11 against TCU, and with a clear path to Arlington in the works, Texas should be over the moon with the current scenario.
Biggest Loser: Collin Klein
Despite Kansas State having an opportunity to win the football game late, K-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein takes the cake for the biggest loser of Week 10. The Wildcats play caller continued to try to establish the run and amounted less than two yards per carry in the rushing attack. K-State eventually went on to open up the playbook and found their way back into the game, but unfortunately for Klein, he learned an expensive lesson on Saturday.
Derek Duke
Biggest Winner: Oklahoma State
This may be the easiest winner of the year in my book. This was a huge game for many reasons. First off, it’s a rivalry game which is always big. But then you add the fact that this is the last Bedlam game and there is conference title hopes on the line just makes it that much more important. This wasn’t just any win for Oklahoma State. This was a historic one and one that will be talked about for a very long time in Stillwater.
Biggest Loser: Oklahoma
As big as the win was for Oklahoma State, the loss was equally as devastating for Oklahoma. The Sooners played sloppy football when it mattered most between the turnovers and miscues offensively. Not only did they lose to their rival in the final Bedlam game, but this loss also may be the end of their conference title hopes. It’s been over 20 years since Oklahoma went without a conference championship for three years in a row.
Matthew Postins
Biggest Winner: Oklahoma State
Well since I got in this file first I get to pick the obvious choice — Oklahoma State. Not only did they take the last Bedlam game, not only are they in a tie for first place in the Big 12, not only did the other one-loss teams lose but have you seen the Cowboys’ remaining schedule? It’s the remaining three new Big 12 teams (Houston, UCF and BYU), which have a combined five conference wins. I mean, the Cowboys set up to get to Arlington. All they have to do is win out.
Biggest Loser: Cincinnati
The Bearcats are the only remaining Big 12 team without a league win. I watched that game and it was quite winnable for Cincinnati. The Bearcats aren’t going bowling this year and this is a great opportunity for head coach Scott Satterfield to start looking ahead to 2024. There’s no need to fire him (though I really didn’t like the hire to begin with). But with three games left and no extra practices ahead, he needs to start getting his head wrapped around what his team will look like for next season. It’s not like Cincinnati hasn’t been competitive in Big 12 play. They actually aren’t far away from having at least two league wins. But right now it feels like a chasm.
