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Four Oklahoma players have been suspended indefinitely for violations of team rules, which could leave the Sooners with just one receiver on the roster for the season opener who has caught a pass.

Coach Bob Stoops announced the suspensions late Wednesday night.

Receivers Jaz Reynolds, Trey Franks and Kameel Jackson and reserve safety Quentin Hayes are the players involved.

No details of the suspensions were made public, but the most troubling aspect? Two of the suspended players have been disciplined before.

This isn't the first time Reynolds has run into trouble with Stoops. Reynolds was suspended twice in 2010, including once after he made insensitive comments on Twitter following a campus shooting at the University of Texas.

This isn't the first time Stoops has punished Franks, either. After starting OU's first two games last season, Franks was suspended two games for what Stoops termed multiple violations of team rules. Franks ended the season with 22 catches for 196 yards.

Jackson, a true freshman last season who started for the Sooners in the Insight Bowl, tweeted earlier in the week that he was transferring from OU.

That's got to be frustrating for Stoops, but there's no doubt it's just as frustrating for quarterback Landry Jones, who's about to embark on an important season for his own career.

He's not getting much help from his teammates.

This story should be interesting to watch, and will have a big impact on the Sooners' Big 12 and national title hopes. Oklahoma was already a narrow favorite in the Big 12, but will the suspensions make way for another contender -- West Virginia, Kansas State, TCU, Texas perhaps? -- to grab the role of favorite come fall?

We're continuing our look at the postseason rankings for each position in the Big 12. Here's a look back at where the receivers ranked in the preseason.

In this position, unlike quarterback, depth is a major, major factor in these rankings.

More postseason position rankings:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs

1. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys boasted two-time Biletnikoff winner Justin Blackmon, but he wasn't the only weapon. The Cowboys had nine (!) receivers with at least 19 catches and 200 yards receiving this season. Insane. Life is good with Brandon Weeden at quarterback.

2. Baylor: Kendall Wright actually outperformed Blackmon and Ryan Broyles on the stat sheet, catching 108 balls for 1,663 yards. The Bears didn't have the insane depth of OSU, but the trio of Wright, Terrance Williams (59 rec, 957 yards, 11 TDs) and Tevin Reese (51 rec, 877 yards, 7 TDs) were all in the Big 12's top seven receivers.

3. Texas A&M: Ryan Swope emerged to become one of just four Big 12 receivers to notch 1,000-yard seasons. Jeff Fuller's season was disappointing, but he still finished eighth in the league in receiving, and Uzoma Nwachukwu was in the league's top 15 in receiving.

4. Oklahoma: The Sooners weren't quite as solid as they thought to begin the season. Broyles was as advertised, though his Biletnikoff-contending season was cut short by a torn ACL. The unit was productive, but came down with the drops late in the season. Broyles and Kenny Stills were both in the league's top seven in receiving, and Jaz Reynolds caught 41 passes for 715 yards to crack the top 10.

5. Texas Tech: Tech's top target, Darrin Moore, battled injuries all year, but Eric Ward emerged as the team's most consistent target, catching 84 passes for 800 yards and 11 scores. Alex Torres missed two games, but added 616 more yards.

6. Missouri: The Tigers' receivers had their production dip with a dual-threat passer in James Franklin who ran the ball more than his predecessor, but they were still pretty good, despite lacking a true big-time threat. T.J. Moe caught 54 passes for 649 yards and four scores. Tight end Michael Egnew added 50 grabs for 523 yards and three scores. L'Damian Washington, Marcus Lucas and Wes Kemp had unremarkable individual seasons, but their production added up to a good year for Mizzou's receivers.

7. Kansas State: Kansas State was better than most thought to begin the season, but the ground-based offense limited their receivers' ability to finish with big production. Chris Harper (40 rec, 547 yards, 5 TDs) led the group. Tramaine Thompson and Tyler Lockett showed some good promise, too.

8. Texas: The Longhorns could get really good, really fast at this spot. The uncertainty/struggles at quarterback limited this group, but Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis could both mature into absolute stars. For now, though, they didn't quite crack the top 15 in the Big 12 in receiving. Both topped 40 catches and 600 receiving yards.

9. Iowa State: Darius Reynolds' size downfield will be missed, but Aaron Horne and Josh Lenz are tough covers working the middle of the field. Reynolds caught seven touchdowns, and Horne and Lenz both topped 38 catches.

10. Kansas: Yikes. The Jayhawks didn't have a receiver in the league's top 20, but D.J. Beshears led the team with 40 grabs for 437 yards and three touchdowns. He was the only Jayhawk in the Big 12's top 32 in receiving.

Signing day is coming fast. Next Wednesday, the next round of players will sign up for their respective programs and start what could be storied careers.

Here's what each team across the Big 12 needs. You'll find Texas A&M and Mizzou on the SEC blog and West Virginia on the Big East Blog.

BAYLOR

Quarterback: This one's pretty simple. Robert Griffin III is taking his talents to the NFL early. Nick Florence is waiting to take over, and the Bears have Bryce Petty behind him, but more reinforcements at quarterback are needed. Dual-threat quarterbacks, ideally.

Defensive tackle: Baylor already was one of the nation's worst teams (102nd nationally) at stopping the run. Now it'll need to replace both its interior linemen, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste and Tracy Robertson.

Offensive linemen: Baylor's offensive line, meanwhile, has been solid. It loses junior college transfer and two-year starter Robert T. Griffin, as well as All-Big 12 center Philip Blake. John Jones, a reserve guard, also has exhausted his eligibility.

IOWA STATE

Receiver: This has been a weak spot for the team for several years, and its top overall talent, Darius Reynolds, is gone. Darius Darks is, too. Aaron Horne and Josh Lenz will be the team's best weapons in 2012, but the pair of shifty slot guys will be seniors. This position needs reinforcements.

Defensive back: The DBs have been a quiet strength for ISU, especially in 2011. Cornerback Leonard Johnson and safety Ter'Ran Benton both have exhausted their eligibility, though, and defensive backs coach Bobby Elliott left for Notre Dame. You'll see plenty of new faces in the Cyclones' secondary next year.

Defensive line: Experienced starters Stephen Ruempolhamer and Jacob Lattimer are both gone, and Iowa State has struggled to stop the run consistently the past few seasons.

KANSAS

Quarterback: Kansas landed high-profile transfers Dayne Crist (Notre Dame) and Jake Heaps (BYU), but this is still a huge position of need. Last year's starter, Jordan Webb, left the team. Quinn Mecham is out of eligibility. Heaps is sitting out his NCAA-mandated year after transferring. Crist is the starter, but he badly needs a backup, especially if Brock Berglund's transfer appeal allows him to leave.

Wide receiver: Kansas lacks a big threat at this position. It needs a talent upgrade in a big way. Oklahoma transfer Justin McCay is joining the team, but he's no guarantee to a) be granted immediate eligibility or b) become an impact player.

Defensive tackle: Kansas is thin here, too. Richard Johnson, Patrick Dorsey and Michael Martinovich are gone, and Kansas couldn't stop much of anything on defense. Some push up front could help make everything look better. A late addition to the 2012 class from a junior college seems like a no-brainer. The Jayhawks need physically mature players to contribute immediately.

KANSAS STATE

Offensive line: K-State's offensive line was much better in 2011 and could be again in 2012. It needs help replacing All-Big 12 lineman Clyde Aufner, though. Starter Colten Freeze is also gone.

Defensive line: Kansas State is bringing back about as many starters as anyone in the Big 12, but the biggest losses are along the defensive line. Kick-blocking specialist (five in 2011) Ralph Guidry is gone, along with tackle Ray Kibble. Juco transfer Jordan Voelker exploded onto the scene this year, but he's gone, too.

Defensive backs: Cornerback David Garrett leaves a huge hole behind. Tysyn Hartman may not be as talented as teammate Ty Zimmerman, but his experience leaves a big hole. Zimmerman will have to mentor a younger safety in the near future.

OKLAHOMA

Receiver: The Sooners are thin here in a big way. That was obvious late in the season when Ryan Broyles' storied college career ended a few weeks early with a knee injury. The team also lost Justin McCay (transfer) to Kansas. Jaz Reynolds and Kenny Stills are the likely top two targets, but they need help.

Tight end: This position inspired a bit of panic at the end of the season. Seniors James Hanna and Trent Ratterree are gone. Austin Haywood wasn't allowed back on the team, and two more tight ends left the team for various reasons. That left the Sooners suddenly without a scholarship player at the position returning in 2012.

Offensive line: Starting tackle Donald Stephenson must be replaced, as will guard Stephen Good, who moved in and out of the starting lineup throughout his career. The Sooners bring back a lot of talent and aren't dying for depth there, but those two will leave holes. Three more offensive line starters will be seniors in 2012.

OKLAHOMA STATE

Offensive line: The Cowboys need a whole lot of help here to fill in behind young players stepping into the starting lineup. Starters Levy Adcock, Nick Martinez and Grant Garner are gone. Backup center Casey LaBrue is gone, too. Those are two All-Big 12 linemen who leave big shoes to be filled.

Receiver: Justin Blackmon surprised no one by leaving a year early, and Josh Cooper leaves with perhaps the most underrated career of any receiver in school history. In OSU's offense, there's always room for depth here. Nine receivers had at least 19 catches in 2011. Blackmon and Cooper combined for 192, though.

Defensive ends: The pass rush was solid for Oklahoma State this year, but both starters, Jamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones, are gone. Replacing both is a necessity.

TEXAS

Receiver: Texas lacks a true game-changer at the position, though Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis may develop into that role in 2012. Former blue-chip recruit Darius White left for Missouri, too.

Quarterback: David Ash and Case McCoy didn't show a ton of potential at quarterback this year, though Ash may grow with an offseason to prepare as starter. Garrett Gilbert got a big chunk of the work in the spring, summer 7-on-7 and fall preseason camp. Even if Ash does grow, the Longhorns need reinforcements at the position.

Linebacker: Two senior impact players are gone. Texas is left trying to replace Emmanuel Acho and Keenan Robinson, though Jordan Hicks may mature into a star in 2012.

TCU

Offensive line: TCU's offensive line is headed for some major turnover. OT Robert Deck, OG Kyle Dooley and OG Spencer Thompson are gone. Two more starters, OG Blaize Foltz and C James Fry, will be seniors in 2012.

Defensive linemen: TCU isn't losing a lot at this spot, but Ross Forrest and D.J. Yendrey will be seniors in 2012. The Horned Frogs would be well-served to prepare, and offer some depth next year.

Specialists: TCU will have to break in a pair of new starters on special teams next season. Kicker Ross Evans and punter Anson Kelton have exhausted their eligibility.

TEXAS TECH

Receiver: The Red Raiders' offense requires a lot of depth here. Tramain Swindall is the only loss at the position, but three more (Alex Torres, Cornelius Douglas, Darrin Moore) will be seniors. Douglas moved to cornerback this year after the team was racked with injury, but we'll see whether he moves back this offseason.

Offensive line: Tech has a huge need here. Four players won't be returning in 2012. Lonnie Edwards, Mickey Okafor and center Justin Keown must be replaced.

Defensive linemen: Tech's Donald Langley and Scott Smith are both out of eligibility, and juco transfer Leon Mackey will be a senior.

With the season over, it's time to take a look at the Big 12 in 2012. For now, that means assuming a few things. And we all know what assuming does.

It makes us all look like geniuses.

So, for the purpose of this, I'll assume a few predictions. First, I'll assume Robert Griffin III is heading for the NFL. I'll also assume Mike Stoops lands back at Oklahoma.

That said, it's time to project what this league looks like in 2012.

And, before we start, let me make this clear: The Big 12 from 1-6 is absolutely wide open. Last year, the league only had three legitimate title contenders: Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. This year, every one of the top six teams (and maybe seven, if RG3 returns) can win the Big 12 in a realistic scenario. The difference between Nos. 2 and 6 is minuscule and could change a ton by the end of spring practice.

And for the curious: I would have Missouri behind Kansas State on this list, and I'd have Texas A&M right behind Texas.

1. Oklahoma: The Sooners moved into the familiar role of favorite after Landry Jones announced he'd return in 2012, but not nearly as heavy a favorite as they were in 2011. Injuries hurt Oklahoma late this season, and replacing Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Frank Alexander, along with linebacker Travis Lewis and corner Jamell Fleming won't be easy. Receivers Kenny Stills and Jaz Reynolds have to play big for the Sooners to get the win.

2. Kansas State: The big question mark for this team is can it take care of business and not get stuck in close games in 2012? The Wildcats were 8-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less this season. They can't count on duplicating that in 2012. They should be better, and return most of the big pieces from this season's 10-win team, most importantly quarterback Collin Klein and linebacker Arthur Brown. Next season is the time to prove it.

3. West Virginia: Who else is excited to see Geno Smith, Dana Holgorsen and the Mountaineer Express show up in Big 12 country next season? Like I wrote last week, giving up 33 points and still winning by five touchdowns is the Big 12 way of life. The Mountaineers broke Baylor's week-old bowl scoring record with 70 points, and bring back most of a good Big East champion team in 2012. The transition won't be easy, but they've got a chance to make a big splash in their inaugural year. The Big 12 and West Virginia are both convinced that the Mountaineers will join the Big 12 in 2012 and are planning as if it will happen, though pending lawsuits with the Big East mean it's still unofficial.

4. TCU: The transition will be more difficult for TCU, methinks. Depth could be an issue. There aren't any weeks off in the Big 12. Not even Kansas. Ask Baylor about that one. New Mexico's staying behind in the Mountain West. Eventually, I think TCU has a chance to be on par with Texas and Oklahoma on the recruiting trail and on the field. Being the only team in the metroplex is a huge deal. And it'll bring back a great team with lots of offense, headlined by QB Casey Pachall and receivers Josh Boyce and Skye Dawson, along with Brandon Carter. It'll be fun to watch.

5. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys should sustain success from this year, even though they lose Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon. They don't have to worry about a losing season, but with a first-year starter at quarterback, the odds are against them winning the Big 12. First-year starters have only won the Big 12 twice. Look out for Joseph Randle to have a huge year in 2012. I'm also betting on Clint Chelf to grab the starting QB job, but keep an eye on early enrollee Wes Lunt.

6. Texas: The Longhorns should be better and have lots of upside, but it's looking more and more like this team will only go as far as David Ash will take it. We'll learn just how far that is during spring and summer. This offseason is paramount for Ash's development. He's got to show something big next fall. The defense should be stingy, the offensive line improved and the backfield loaded. It's up to him.

7. Baylor: Sounds like 2012 may be the Nick Florence Show in Waco. Baylor will take a step back without RG3, but we'll see just how much he had around him, which is to say, a lot. Kendall Wright and Terrance Ganaway will be gone, but Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese will get a chance to shine. Oregon transfer Lache Seastrunk will get plenty of preseason attention, too. The Bears look like a fringe bowl team with some upside without RG3.

8. Texas Tech: Tech and Oklahoma State probably have the most upside of any team in these power rankings. The Red Raiders were better than 5-7 this season, but will have to prove it in 2012, and have to stay healthy. Seth Doege, Eric Stephens and Darrin Moore could be a dynamic set of triplets in 2012, and don't rule out a top-three finish for the Red Raiders in 2012.

9. Iowa State: The Cyclones may have a bit of a quarterback controversy in the spring after Steele Jantz reclaimed the quarterback job in the second half of the Pinstripe Bowl. Paul Rhoads joked about it after the game, but he's not joking when it comes to needing one of those guys to push the other. Jared Barnett has more upside, and the Cyclones could certainly grab a third bowl bid in four years if he plays well in 2012. ISU's a good team, but it's stuck in an absurdly deep conference that could have as many as seven (six, most likely, depending on RG3) Top-25 teams to start the season.

10. Kansas: There's a new flavor at KU, and the variables will be unpredictable for this team through spring and fall. The season should be fun. Can Charlie Weis redeem himself? What about Dayne Crist? Was Notre Dame just not the right fit for either? The opportunity to do something special at Kansas is here, and the bar is very, very low after a miserable two years. The defense can't be worse, and the Jayhawks have solid, maturing running backs.

Oklahoma and Iowa will go head to head Friday night in the Insight Bowl at 10 ET on ESPN. Here are three things Oklahoma has to do to avoid a Hawkeyes upset.

1. Help Landry Jones out. His receivers -- sans Ryan Broyles -- have suddenly come down with a case of the dropsies late in the season. Jones will be throwing to lots of new faces without Broyles and Jaz Reynolds, and Kenny Stills hasn't looked like a No. 1 receiver in the Big 12 this season. Guys such as Kameel Jackson, Trey Franks and James Winchester will get reps at receiver. The Sooners can't afford drops in what looks like it'll be a low-scoring game.

2. Don't get fancy in the red zone. Oklahoma tried this against Iowa State, and Blake Bell threw an interception. The Sooners have had a ton of success with the Belldozer -- a Tim Tebow-like formation that allows the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder to burrow through the offensive line -- in the red zone, scoring 10 touchdowns in the past five weeks. Baylor couldn't stop it. Iowa might not be able to, either. But the Sooners have looked shaky in the gadget plays out of this formation. Just let Bell do what he does and make the defense stop it.

3. Win the turnover battle. It sounds simple and obvious, perhaps, but it needs to be said. Oklahoma's offense isn't as explosive as it was when the season began, and if you're a heavily favored team, this is the best way to lose these types of games. Oklahoma lost the turnover battle in spectacular fashion to Oklahoma State, 5-1. The result? The Sooners lost that game by 34 points. Oklahoma lost the battle 3-0 to Baylor and lost to the Bears for the first time in school history. Oklahoma has to take care of the ball.

Here are a few things to keep an eye on in the bowl games involving teams from the Big 12 this season.

1. The headless Aggies. A team playing in a bowl after firing its coach is a bit of a rarity, but that's where the Aggies are as they prepare to face Northwestern on Dec. 31 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas. Defensive coordinator and interim head coach Tim DeRuyter is leaving to become the coach at Fresno State. Former coach Mike Sherman served as their offensive coordinator, too, and it'll be interesting to see what Texas A&M looks like without him. Cyrus Gray is questionable, but Northwestern's defense is a lot different than Texas'. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill should be able to win this game, but will Texas A&M look like it's playing for anything, and will it show it has fixed the second-half woes?

2. Oklahoma State on the big stage. Oklahoma State has played in a lot of big games over the past two years, but the two biggest -- Oklahoma in both years -- were played in its home stadium. The Cowboys never played in a Big 12 title setting and never played in a huge neutral-site game against a team suited to beat them. The Jan. 2 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, opposite Stanford, will be all new for the Cowboys. Will the team look the same after a week unlike anything it has experienced before?

3. Sooners stopping a swoon? Oklahoma finished the season with two losses in its final three games and now will be without Jaz Reynolds in the Dec. 30 Insight Bowl against Iowa. Landry Jones will be missing his No. 1 and No. 3 receivers, and the Hawkeyes' offense will take on a defense that struggled late in the year against Baylor and Oklahoma State. Iowa is closer to Iowa State -- Oklahoma's only victory in the final three games -- but the Sooners had better show up in this one, or this season will get even more forgettable.

4. A finale for RG3? At Baylor, 2011 has been unforgettable. The Bears already have nine wins, a third-place finish in the Big 12 and the school's first Heisman winner. Quarterback Robert Griffin III has become must-see TV, but the Valero Alamo Bowl against Washington on Dec. 29 might be the last time we see him in green and gold. There's no guarantee on either side, but what's Griffin got in store for the finale?

5. Did the Longhorns learn? Texas lamented its holidays at home last year, with players saying they never wanted to experience the feeling again. Several said they couldn't even watch the bowls. Well, the Longhorns are back. How much will they relish the Dec. 28 Holiday Bowl meeting with Cal? Texas should be back to health by then, and a big win in this game might produce big results next fall for a young offense that needs good vibes heading into the offseason.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Bob Stoops and Landry Jones told me this week about the little things that go missing without injured receiver Ryan Broyles.

Sometimes a receiver drifts too far or too short over the middle. He does things differently than Broyles, who had caught around a third of Jones' career completions before tearing his ACL against Texas A&M.

Last week in windy conditions against Iowa State, the Sooners receivers dropped seven passes. This week, we've already seen six by my count, plus a deep ball that Jaz Reynolds didn't help break up. Brodrick Brown intercepted that one.

Broyles' best attribute was his hands. If the ball touched them, he caught it.

For all the talk of the little differences between having and not having Broyles, tonight, it's the big ones that have hurt.

Oklahoma won. That's done with.

The 26-6 final score over the Cyclones is convincing enough not to raise eyebrows. It should, though.

The Sooners suffocated Iowa State's offense, perhaps aided a bit by wind ,and quarterback Jared Barnett never consistently found receivers. The defensive miscues and poor safety play that plagued the Sooners against Baylor last week was gone, but Iowa State has nothing close to what Baylor has at its skill positions. Still, the defense was impressive.

But the offense?

It's clear this offense misses Ryan Broyles, and today, missed receiver Jaz Reynolds, too. Reynolds was suspended for a violation of team rules, and had a banged up shoulder from last week's loss to the Bears. Landry Jones' most reliable and most-often open target is gone, and against the Cyclones, it showed.

Jones finished 22-of-43 for 253 yards and no touchdown passes for the second consecutive game. His first interception? A ball thrown well enough to have been caught, but tipped up on a drop by Kameel Jackson and intercepted by ISU safety Ter'Ran Benton.

Why was Jackson playing? Because he had to. No Broyles and no Reynolds means the Sooners must dig deeper into the depth chart.

His second interception came on a pass intended for Trent Ratterree but CB Jeremy Reeves didn't clear out on an in route by Dejuan Miller and snatched an easy interception.

Who would have thought that missing the all-time FBS leader in receptions could leave a gaping hole in a passing offense. Oh, everyone? OK.

Backup quarterback Blake Bell's played well in short yardage situations and punched in eight touchdowns in three games for the Sooners.

It's clear Jones misses Broyles and against Oklahoma State next week, the Sooners will have to put up points. Iowa State's defense is improving, but Oklahoma State's defense is better. Make the same kinds of mistakes against Oklahoma State next week with a Big 12 title in the balance and the eight-year run of in-state dominance is over for the Sooners.

Reynolds will likely be back. That'll help.

But Oklahoma State has the offensive weapons to stretch the defense and force the offense to make plays. Turn the ball over three times in the second half next week like the Sooners did today and that's a near certainty. The defense forced four turnovers but the offense turned them into just nine points.

It was an ugly day. The defense might be capable of carrying the Sooners next week, but life would be easier if the Sooners offense made sure we all didn't find out.

If that's going to happen, there's plenty of work to do before next Saturday in Stillwater.

Oklahoma is already missing top receiver Ryan Broyles and top rusher Dominique Whaley.

Now, it's missing Jaz Reynolds. Reynolds is Oklahoma's No. 3 receiver-turned No. 2 without Broyles.

He suffered a shoulder injury last week against Baylor, but his post-game sling was reportedly a precautionary measure and coaches said he was expected to play.

Nope.

Reynolds isn't at the stadium, and updated fans about his status via his Twitter account.

"For whom it concerns: I'm at home icing my shoulder, I'll be back for bedlam don't worry too much..let focus now!" he wrote.

Not a good sign for the Sooners, who have been uninspired early.

The BellDozer formation that dominated Baylor last week hasn't worked well, and the Sooners tried to throw from the formation, but Jake Knott intercepted Blake Bell to end the Sooner scoring threat.

Early in the second quarter, Oklahoma trails Iowa State, 6-3, and will need to find some offense without three of the team's top five offensive weapons. Iowa State showed what it was capable of in beating Oklahoma State last week. It may not be easy.

Ryan Broyles sat on a training table with a quickly swelling, torn up knee and a college career that had been over for a little more than an hour.

His talented protégé, Kenny Stills, walked inside, but there was nothing left to be said.

Stills shook his head.

"He knew. I knew. He teared up and my eyes got watery for him," Stills said.

They shook hands. Stills promised he'd pray for him and he'd be missed. A relationship that began when Stills, a California native, visited Oklahoma for the first time was deepened on an offseason mission trip to Haiti.

Now, it's left to run its course off the field.

"You’re not able to change everything that you’re doing with three games left in the year," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. "Other guys just have to step up and make plays and try and make the plays that he’s used to making."

Broyles' career ended fittingly -- on a huge reception. The 30-yard grab was the 349th of his career, more than any other receiver to ever play the game.

Stills was blocking ahead of Broyles and saw him go down, but Broyles had complained of pain in his opposite knee during the week. He caught the ball and landed awkwardly.

"I figured when he went down, it was just the same knee and it wasn’t a big deal," Stills said, "and he'd be back."

Stills, too, had gone down in a heap clutching his knee earlier in the season in a win over Kansas. Fans feared the worst. He was back shortly.

Four plays after Broyles went down, Oklahoma reached the end zone to take a 34-10 lead in the win over Texas A&M.

Receivers went to the sideline, and it was only a few minutes before trainers told Broyles and his teammates on the sideline that Broyles' injury was serious.

Three of the worst letters in football: a torn ACL.

Broyles was in tears before being helped into the locker room.

"As soon as he went in the locker room, you pretty much knew," Stills said.

The team followed later, beating a good Texas A&M team by 16 with a dominant second half.

"The whole team felt (the loss). I could tell in the locker room, everybody was just more quiet than usual, because it was on all our minds," Stoops said. "It definitely took a lot away from it."

The task now is clear: Oklahoma's final four games will be played without Broyles, and Stills must develop into quarterback Landry Jones' new favorite target.

"Ryan’s always been the guy I’ve always looked up to. I came here to study underneath him and one day maybe follow in his footsteps," Stills said, "and that time came a little earlier than I expected."

Broyles' on-field void is obvious, but Stills isn't the only player who'll be affected off the field.

"He’s such a spark in everything that he does, so in both places, but again, our team will respond, I believe," Stoops said. "We have to."

It's only the latest loss for an Oklahoma team now missing its top rusher. Broyles, a much higher-profile player than first-year starter and walk-on Dominique Whaley, makes it easy to forget just how big of a hit the Sooners have taken in recent weeks. This loss, though, Oklahoma is better prepared to handle.

Stills is the biggest reason why. Fellow receivers Jaz Reynolds, Trey Franks and Dejuan Miller will have to help, too.

"Everybody just has to step their game up, from the offensive line to the running back to the quarterback and receivers. Just keep rolling and step our game up and pay attention to little details and we’ll be fine," Stills said. "We have a lot of playmakers. Ryan’s no scrub. We know we’re going to miss him, but other people have to step up and make plays for us now."

Handing out a few stickers for a job well done.

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State: Weeden was big time when the Cowboys needed him most: the fourth quarter. He threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Justin Blackmon in a pressure-packed drive with the Cowboys trailing by one and hit Blackmon again for the two-point conversion. He finished with a school record 502 yards and four touchdowns on 36-of-46 passing in the Cowboys' 52-45 win over No. 14 Kansas State.

Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor: Ganaway averaged more than 15 yards on his 12 carries, running for 186 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard score in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach in Baylor's 42-39 win over Missouri.

Joe Bergeron, RB, Texas: Star freshman and the team's leading rusher, Malcolm Brown, was out with turf toe, and Bergeron answered in a big way. He ran for 191 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in Texas' 52-20 win over Texas Tech.

Jared Barnett, QB, Iowa State: The passing wasn't too pretty, but you can't deny Barnett's productivity. The freshman, making his second career start, ran for 125 yards and threw for 175 more in Iowa State's 13-10 win over Kansas.

Roy Finch, RB, Oklahoma: The Sooners' undersized back proved he could be pretty durable, carrying the ball 26 times for 99 yards and a touchdown in OU's 41-25 win over Texas A&M that wasn't quite that close. No other running back had more than one carry in the game. This sticker was close, and here's a nod to Blake Bell, Landry Jones and Jaz Reynolds, who all have a case for this award.

A dominant third quarter turned a tight game into a laugher.

Oklahoma rolled to a 41-25 win over Texas A&M. They restored some pride on their home turf in their first game at Owen Field since a loss to Texas Tech.

For the Sooners, though, the focus from Saturday's game wasn't on the final score.

Ryan Broyles went down with what looked like a knee injury, and was visibly emotional on the sidelines before being taken into the locker room.

Earlier this season, Broyles grabbed the national record for receptions. The NCAA record for receiving yards still looked in reach. Now, Oklahoma must wait to learn about the status of one of their captains.

It looked serious, and Broyles is an obvious huge loss.

The Sooners have a deep, solid receiving corps with emerging stars Kenny Stills and Jaz Reynolds, as well as Trey Franks and Dejuan Miller. But no Sooner does it like Broyles, one of the team's unquestioned leaders.

Freshman mistakes turned to senior leadership for Broyles, and he helped shepherd the young receivers on and off the field, wowing coaches with both efforts.

Losing him would be a huge mental and physical blow for the team, and speaking for college football fans everywhere, a loss for us to not be able to see him.

Broyles was one of the best at his craft, and entered Saturday's game as the nation's leader in receiving yards per game. He caught two passes for 87 yards on Saturday, suffering the injury on a 30-yard catch.

Broyles' injury feels a lot like Robert Griffin III's knee injury back in 2009, if it ends up being serious. Both guys do it the right way and are so much fun to watch. They're everything right about college football.

The sad truth though, is it's a dangerous game.

Broyles and the Sooners have been forced to revisit that lesson.

Texas A&M has led all eight of its games this season by double digits.

That streak looks like its over, but the Aggies can't afford another second-half swoon if they want to prevent this season from getting any further out of control.

Oklahoma leads 34-10 after scoring three quick touchdowns in the third quarter, highlighted by a perfect one-handed grab in tight coverage by Jaz Reynolds, his second one-handed TD catch in two weeks.

The Aggies, meanwhile, surrendered great field position for the first two drives with an interception and a 14-yard punt.

By now the Aggies' second-half failures have devolved into a tired joke, but they're still happening. This time, though, there was no lead to protect.

As a result, we could see another frustrating loss for the Aggies, who dropped double-digit leads in losses to Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Missouri.

Ryan Tannehill's struggled with his accuracy today (13-of-32, 176 yards, TD, 2 INT), and Landry Jones has as well, but the Sooners are rolling in the second half.

The Aggies finding a way to slow that trend would be a shocker.

Late in the second quarter of Oklahoma's 55-17 victory over Texas on Saturday, Longhorns standout Fozzy Whittaker had returned a kickoff 100 yards to stifle OU's momentum and cut its lead to 27-10.

Four players later, Texas brought a big blitz to try to get to Sooners quarterback Landry Jones, whom the Horns sacked just once.

OU was ready. It had a screen play called to Jaz Reynolds. Jones dumped it off, and Reynolds caught a quick glance at the sideline.

"I looked over at Mack Brown and his hands were on his head. And he was pissed, man," Reynolds said. "That was a good feeling. I was like, Yeah, I got him."

Reynolds turned the catch into a 16-yard play to reach midfield. Two plays later, the Sooners were in the end zone and led 34-10 at halftime.

"Next thing you know, you look up and we’re scoring and it was an even better feeling," Reynolds said.

It was a great moment in a day full of them. He racked up 92 yards receiving. His six catches were a career high.

Before last year's Red River Rivalry, though, Reynolds endured a career low.

He'd already been suspended for a game for academic reasons and hadn't appeared in a game to that point, but a rabble-rousing tweet suggesting people from Austin commit suicide cost him the rest of his season with a stern suspension from Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.

The lesson was painful.

"I’m being watched at all times. No matter what I’m doing, somebody’s watching you," Reynolds said. "I have to be more selective in what I say and how I handle myself on and off the field to get my spot back. Kenny (Stills) came in and was playing well and Dejuan (Miller) and Trey (Franks) were playing well. It wasn’t just going to be given to me."

But Reynolds earned it. And a year after being a black eye for the team heading into its biggest rivalry, he was one of its biggest assets.

That status may only grow.

"A year ago there were quite a few more drops. He’s just been more and more consistent catching it, route running, being more competitive. Everything," said Stoops. "That’s also understandable now that he’s a junior, he’s getting older and he’s just grown in the position and he’s doing really well."

Part of that growth, both on and off the field, has been working next to one of the best in the game every day.

"I think [Ryan Broyles] rubbed off on all the players in the receiver room," Stoops said. "Coach Jay Norvell does a great job coaching them, but when you’re looking at an example in Ryan and how serious he takes it, he watches tape, he understands coverages, how he’s working it, his route running. All of it. And they see how hard he works at it, so I think it’s rubbed off on all those guys."

Reynolds rejoined the site after Saturday's game, and several of his teammates ramped up their use of the site in the past year.

"You won’t hear much from me. The only time you’ll hear from me is whenever y'all interview me," Reynolds said. "Or whatever I do on the field."

Everyone heard him loud and clear on Saturday.

DALLAS -- Oklahoma wide receiver Kenny Stills looks like he's majoring in shock value. He's got a Mohawk that's partially dyed bright blond, a fully inked upper body and a piercing beneath his lower lip.

Sidekick Ryan Broyles plays it straight and narrow. He has no tattoos, no piercings and closely cropped hair.

"He's from California," Broyles explained. "I'm from Oklahoma."

Landry Jones and his talented receiving corps lit up Texas.
Together, the stylistic opposites inhabit a state of euphoria catching passes from Sooners quarterback Landry Jones. Throw in emerging third wheel Jaz Reynolds, and Oklahoma has a receiving corps that's more deadly than two-dozen fried Oreos from the Texas State Fair.

For Pat Forde's full story, click here.