Oklahoma crushes Oklahoma State to clinch Big 12 in Stillwater

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was cooking, baking, and deep-frying Oklahoma State's defense all night long, as No. 3 Oklahoma pounded the No. 11 Cowboys 58-23 on Saturday night to clinch the Big 12 title.

Here's what you need to know:

• Oklahoma took the fight to the Pokes almost immediately. After missing a field goal on their first possession, the Sooners scored a touchdown on five of their next six series and took a commanding lead into halftime.
• Oklahoma's 44 points in the first half marked the third time in history that the Sooners put up 40 or more on their state rivals in one half. The Sooners went for 45 points in the first half of their 1970 matchup, and 42 points in the second half of their 1946 battle.
• Oklahoma State started backup quarterback J.W. Walsh instead of Mason Rudolph, as the latter was dealing with a foot injury sustained a week ago versus Baylor. Rudolph came in for one series in the first half, but it ended in a pick-six and that was all she wrote for the Pokes' top gunslinger.
• The Sooners exposed Oklahoma State's poor tackling early and often, as Mayfield and running back Samaje Perine ran through, and around, Cowboy defenders again and again, especially in the first half.
• Perine was a beast on the ground, as he rushed the ball 17 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore had an injury scare in the second half when it looked like he tweaked his knee, but he returned to the game shortly afterwards.
• Oklahoma arguably looks like the best team in the country at the moment, but it's worth noting that the Sooners have had the fortune of playing against a backup quarterback in three straight games, which came against TCU, Baylor, and Oklahoma State, respectively.
• Oklahoma State's lone bright spot was wideout James Washington, who made seven catches for 169 yards and found the end zone once.

Play of the Game

In the second quarter, when the game was still undecided, Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon used a spin and a block from his quarterback to break off a 66-yard touchdown run that put the Sooners ahead for good.

Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are idle next week, but the Big 12 champs will likely hear their names called when the final College Football Playoff committee unveils its final rankings in two weeks.