The Big 12 Championship Game won't return until 2017, but Bedlam on Saturday between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will serve as the 2016 title game. Oklahoma can win the Big 12 title outright with a victory as 11-point favorites, while the Cowboys can split the title with the Sooners with a road upset.

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Dec. 3
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
TV: Fox
Stream: Fox Sports Go

Storylines

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys have one of the nation's best passing offenses (6th at 335.2 yards per game) and will be going up against the nation's 122nd ranked pass defense in yards allowed (287.5) and 118th in touchdowns allowed (28) -- although those numbers are certainly skewed by the 734 yards put up by Texas Tech. Still, there figure to be be plenty of opportunities for Mason Rudolph to put up points on Oklahoma and this game will come down to which team can get stops.

Oklahoma's passing offense has been great in its own right, especially recently as Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook have become a dynamic combo. In a game where a shootout is expected, the propensity of Oklahoma State's secondary to create turnovers -- 29th nationally with 13 interceptions -- could be a difference maker.

No team with more than 150 pass attempts this season averages more yards per attempt than Oklahoma (10.5), and Mayfield has been very good at limiting turnovers with only eight interceptions. That said, putting the ball up on deep passes that often can offer some opportunities for the Cowboys to force turnovers. For Oklahoma State to pull off the road upset, the defense will have to step up and creating turnovers would go a long way to getting a big win.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma's pass defense isn't as bad as its rankings indicate, but the Sooners have been victimized at times by quality passing attacks. Oklahoma State is a very good passing offense and attacks opponents in a variety of ways.

James Washington is the biggest threat for the Cowboys, as he's their answer to Dede Westbrook, with tremendous big play ability of his own. He will test the Oklahoma secondary vertically, but the Cowboys apply pressure at all levels -- short, intermediate and over the top. If Oklahoma is to win, and especially if the Sooners are going to cover an 11-point spread, the Sooners' secondary will need to keep up the quality of play of the last four weeks.

Oklahoma has allowed an average of 191 yards per game and a 50 percent completion percentage against in the last four games since the Texas Tech game. Those have not been against the kind of quality passing attack that Oklahoma State is, but it's still been an encouraging improvement. The Pokes will be the stiffest test of that improvement, but if Oklahoma passes that test as a pass defense, the Sooners should win the Big 12 title.

Players to watch

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, LB, Oklahoma: The Sooners don't have an especially fearsome pass rush with only 23 sacks this season (77th nationally), but Okoronkwo accounts for seven of those. Against a team that passes as well as Oklahoma State, the Sooners will want to get Mason Rudolph as uncomfortable as possible to disrupt his timing and make it difficult to connect on long pass plays. For Oklahoma, the best bet for a player to be disruptive in the pass rush is Okoronkwo.

James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State: Washington is such a difference maker on offense for Oklahoma State that if he is able to get separation on the Oklahoma secondary, he can swing this outcome in favor of the Cowboys. Against Pittsburgh, Washington had nearly 300 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Against Iowa State, he had nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns. Against West Virginia and Kansas State, he had 117 yards in each game. Washington is a big play waiting to happen and against Oklahoma, the Cowboys will need a few of those to pull off the upset.

Matchup to watch

Baker Mayfield vs. Oklahoma State secondary: Baker Mayfield has thrown two interceptions in only two games this season. One was the 45-24 loss to Ohio State and the other was the narrow 45-40 win over Texas. Oklahoma is a far more balanced team, with the ability to throw and run effectively, while the Cowboys are more one-dimensional with the passing game. When Mayfield is efficient and not turning the ball over, the Sooners are extremely difficult to stop, but when he gets loose with the ball, opponents tend to hang around and make things close if not win. If the Cowboys, which have forced two or more interceptions four times this year, can turn him over, that's the recipe for a road upset.