Oklahoma vs. Baylor: Score, Highlights and Twitter Reaction

No. 6 Baylor (8-1) entered Saturday night needing a statement win to bolster its College Football Playoff resume, but No. 12 Oklahoma (9-1) turned the tables and scored a 44-34 upset at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. 

Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield displayed tremendous poise on the road, completing 24 of 34 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns, including a seven-yard scoring strike to Dimitri Flowers following a mad scramble to help put Oklahoma up 10 with just under five minutes to play.

Mayfield also rushed for a score, marking the seventh time this season he's accounted for four touchdowns, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Oklahoma's signal-caller was particularly locked onto receiver Sterling Shepard, who finished with 14 catches for 177 yards and two scores.  

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler noted Mayfield's long journey has helped mold him into a steady presence under center: 

Baylor freshman Jarrett Stidham made his second career start in place of the injured Seth Russell, and his performance was predictably up-and-down against a strong Oklahoma defense. Stidham completed 16 of 27 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns, but two interceptions hurt Baylor's offense at inopportune moments. 

A 55-yard run from Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine (166 rushing yards, two touchdowns) in the third quarter helped put the Sooners up 14, as shown by the Big 12 Conference on Twitter, but the Bears didn't back down. 

Baylor proceeded to march down the field later in the quarter and cut the deficit to seven with the assistance of LaQuan McGowan's second score of the season. At that point, momentum appeared to be trending firmly in the Bears' direction.  

However, the second-half surge wasn't without hiccups. Between Stidham's third-quarter interception, costly penalties and several uncharacteristic three-and-outs, Baylor left plenty of points and opportunities on the field. 

Oklahoma's defense also deserved credit as it stood tall in crucial spots and squashed stereotypes, per Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel:

And as the first half indicated, neither team was afraid of physicality. 

Baylor ran power time and again on its opening drive, and the results were positive. Shock Linwood (21 carries, 103 yards) bulldozed through Sooners defenders as the Bears' offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and the statement was punctuated by the first of Devin Chafin's three rushing touchdowns. 

Since Stidham was making just his second career start against such a stout opponent, Bleacher Report's Michael Felder indicated Baylor's early strategy was based around balance: 

But the Sooners weren't fazed and responded with an 11-play, 65-yard drive capped off by Perine's short-range score. 

Oklahoma was able to break through again in the second quarter via a beautiful 39-yard bomb from Mayfield to Sterling Shepard, as the Big 12 documented: 

Mayfield's fiery demeanor in the pocket appeared to revitalize the Sooners, who entered halftime with a 20-13 lead and a slim edge in total yardage. 

Oklahoma never relinquished its cushion in the second half, and as a result, the Sooners' stock is trending up in advance of next week's CFP rankings release.

That said, Oklahoma has the toughest remaining schedule in the nation, per ESPN Stats & Info, with showdowns against TCU and Oklahoma State on the horizon. 

Baylor, meanwhile, is set to watch its stock tumble in the coming days. And with TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas all left on the Bears' slate, there's a chance Stidham and Co. could experience some more struggles down the stretch with their title hopes fading. 

Postgame Reaction

According to ESPN.com's Max Olson, head coach Art Briles disclosed Stidham played banged-up: 

"He's in pain right now," Briles added, per Olson. I don't know what the extent is, quite honestly." 

However, the true freshman downplayed the injury in a postgame meeting with reporters, according to Olson:

And while Stidham left the stadium a bit sore, Mayfield's departure was surrounded by some buzz.

When asked if Mayfield should receive Heisman Trophy consideration, Stoops didn't mince words: "Well, I don't know how he wouldn't," he said, per 247Sports.com's Joey Helmer.