With a fair amount of static that this could be the Legend’s final season, I felt it appropriate to take a look at what I feel are the ten biggest wins between both of his tenures. I tried to choose the best games that both had a significant impact on the program and in Bill’s coaching career. Starting on August 23rd, I’ll be adding the next game in the countdown every day until kickoff. Enjoy.

Previously in the countdown:
Number 10

#9

September 22nd 2012 – #15 KSU 24, #6 Oklahoma 19

[media-credit name=”The Oklahoman” align=”alignnone” width=”960″][/media-credit]

Snyder and company made the trip to Norman, OK as 14 point underdogs despite their respectable AP ranking and just two weeks removed from thrashing the Miami Hurricanes 52-13 in Manhattan. Many believed it would be a fairly competitive game but the Sooners would inevitably prevail, citing Bob Stoops’ career undefeated home record against ranked opponents and OU’s 58-17 win the prior year as the central evidence.

The game began innocently enough, with KSU punting on their first three possessions. However, the Sooners (averaging 46.5 points per game and nearly 500 yards of offense) managed just one field goal on their first two trips before the game turned completely on their third possession. Needing to make a play on third and long from deep in his own end, quarterback Landry Jones tried to scramble out of the pocket but was stripped of the football by quarterback-turned-defensive end Justin Tuggle. Former running back-turned-linebacker Jerell Childs scooped it up in the end zone and in the blink of an eye, the visitors had their first lead of the ballgame. It was a sign of things to come.

OU would immediately march all the way down to the KSU 1 yard line but on 2nd-and-goal, red zone specialist Blake Bell fumbled the snap through legs before safety Ty Zimmerman pounced on it. The teams would trade field goals before the break.

After the Sooners took the lead midway through the 3rd with a 3 yard rushing TD from Bell, the purple needed a spark. It again came via Zimmerman, who picked off a wild throw from Jones and returned it inside the OU 40 yard line. Collin Klein and the offense would cash in seven plays later on a QB keeper to the left side. After the defense forced a quick punt, the Cats again pushed the ball back down the field and running back John Hubert punched it in on a memorable 9 yard run.

Jones would throw a TD on the ensuing OU possession but had the two point conversion attempt knocked down. KSU would then ice the game after a pair of 1st downs to secure their first win in Norman since 1997 and snap the former Snyder protégé’s unblemished home record against ranked squads.

Klein finished with a rather modest stat accumulation by his standards (13-21 for 149 yards with 79 more on the ground and a TD), but he made big play after big play – including the defining 3rd and long conversion to Tramaine Thompson on the final drive – and announced himself as a member of the Heisman race.

The win also re-established KSU as a force both in conference and nationally, and re-affirmed Coach Snyder’s ability to completely overhaul a rudderless program (again).

***Full game below***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIkr5blbUJE

Jake is also a writer at www.big12country.com. Find his other stuff plus much more by clicking the link.