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STILLWATER, Oka. -- To maintain a clear path to the Big 12 Championship, No. 17 Oklahoma State needs to overcome the nations most potent aerial attack and Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes.For Oklahoma State (7-2, 5-1 Big 12, No. 13 CFP), two more wins will set up a showdown with intrastate rival No. 9 Oklahoma on Dec. 3 for the Big 12 title. But getting past Mahomes and Texas Tech (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) on Saturday will be a challenge.Tech ranks second in the nation in total offense (587.1 yards per game) and fourth in scoring, averaging 46.2 points. Mahomes tops the country with 3,886 passing yards and third with 31 touchdown tosses.Mahomes is an outstanding player with outstanding targets, and its kind of hard to get a grasp on them, said Cowboys defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer. They have concepts, but then their biggest plays come off of when he scrambles around and creates a different play from it. So we have to be very disciplined and stay with the receivers a long time.Hes a great talent and hes going to be a tough task for us.The Red Raiders, looking to recover from a 45-37 loss to Texas last week, know they face a tough task against Oklahoma State, which it has not beaten since 2008.Its a team that continues to find a way to win at the end, said Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury of OSU. Theyve had some really good comebacks. Theyre offensively tremendous skill players. The young running back (freshman Justice Hill) is doing a great job, (receiver James) Washingtons as good as anybody in the country, and the quarterback (Mason Rudolph) is throwing it really well. Defensively, they tend to make plays when they have to.Some things to watch on Saturday:1. MAHOMES ROLLING: Mahomes has been busy piling up ridiculous numbers, highlighted by his performance Oct. 22 against Oklahoma, when he completed 52 of 88 passes, tying the NCAA record with 734 yards and amassing five touchdowns. He has been sacked seven times the last two games, but still completed 61 percent of his passes. I think hes a potential first-round pick, said Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. He reminds me a lot of Dak Prescott, when we played Dak at Mississippi State. Weve got a great challenge.2. TURNOVER FACTORY: While the Cowboys defense ranks 98th (out of 128 FBS schools) in total defense, allowing 443.8 yards per contest, they generate a lot of turnovers. Safety Jordan Sterns interception in the end zone on the final play of last weeks 43-37 win over Kansas State was OSUs 11th of the season, leading the Big 12 and tied for 22nd in the nation. Overall, the Cowboys have forced 20 turnovers, most in the Big 12 and ninth in the country, with at least one turnover in every game and 10 in the last four.3. FLAGS PICKED UP: Through the first seven games of the season, Texas Tech was one of the most penalized teams in the Big 12, averaging 9.9 penalties and 85 yards per game. However, the last two games have seen a marked turnaround. The Red Raiders total of just five penalties for 19 combined yards in the last two weeks, including just one flag for 5 yards in their win over TCU Oct. 29, was the lowest in the nation.4. RUDOLPH SHINING BRIGHT: OSU quarterback Mason Rudolph has put together an outstanding season. After completing 29 of 38 passes for 457 yards and five touchdowns last week against Kansas State, Rudolph ranks seventh in the nation with 2,989 yards. His streak of 163 pass attempts without an interception ended in that game, tossing just four picks overall, with 22 touchdowns. He can throw the deep ball, ranking third in the nation with 26 completions of 30 or more yards, including seven of 50-plus.5. RUN DOWN: With thriving passing attacks, both teams have endured struggles running the ball. Oklahoma State ranks 101st in the nation with an average of 141.2 yards rushing per game, while Texas Tech is 124th at 101.3. Freshman Justice Hill leads the Cowboys with 663 yards rushing, with four touchdowns. Demarcus Felton tops the Red Raiders with 289 yards on the ground, with three touchdowns. Mahomes is second with 260 yards and has scored 10 rushing touchdowns. Fake Avalanche Jerseys . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Avalanche Jerseys 2020 . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. Colorado Avalanche Store .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Avalanche Jerseys China . PAUL, Minn.Sky Sports Barrie McDermott, Terry OConnor and Phil Clarke react to the news that Leeds have placed Zak Hardaker on the transfer list. The England international was a key player for Brian McDermotts side in their treble-winning 2015 season, but the Rhinos have agreed to sell him after he expressed his desire to play in the NRL.Leeds have secured just three victories this season and are currently rooted to the bottom of the Super League table after 17 rounds, their most recent defeat coming at the hands of the Catalans Dragons on Friday evening. Hardaker on transfer list Leeds Rhinos put Zak Hardaker on transfer list Former Leeds stalwart and Sky Sports pundit McDermott admitted that he was not shocked to learn of the announcement.In some ways, its not surprising, said McDermott. The former Man of Steel was part of a treble-winning 2015, but equally part of the rock-bottom Rhinos of 2016.Rugby league players have short careers, which is probably why Zak Hardaker wants a new challenge. Zak Hardaker tasted Challenge Cup victory with the Rhinos in both 2014 and 2015 My instinct is he wants to play in the NRL, like many others. Like several Rhinos players, he has been way off his usual standards this year, and doesnt look like hes enjoying this particular challenge, so if thats how he feels, he must leave.Despite their current standing in the table and their hopes of a top-eight finish and the opportunity to regain the famous treble they secured last season all but over, McDermott is positive the club he represented between 1995 and 2005 can bounce back.Leeds will find a replacement Im certain, he added. Truthfully, 2016 will probably live as long as 2015 in the memory bank of Rhinos fans, and the rebuilding process will be a fascinating one.Change is inevitable. Some players will move on and others will move in. The 24-year-old was named 2015 man of steel following his performances for the Rhinos, which also saw him play five times for England To lose a player with such quality is a shame but thats the business aspect of rugby league.OConnor says the loss of such a big talent will be felt by the Rhinos, but believes they will come back stronger, and that the pressure on Hardaker may have contributed to his loss of form.Its tough for young players who win Man of Steel because there is always more pressure on them the following season, said the Wigan legend. Its new territory, whereas a senior player may have a bit more experience under the belt to deal with it.Perhaps Hardaker wants a new challenge, or maybe he wants to get away from that expectation.Either way, he will be a loss to Leeds, and I have no doubt that he will dazzle wwhichever crowd he ends up playing in front of, because he is a brilliant talent.dddddddddddd With that said, no player is irreplaceable so I can see Leeds bouncing back comfortably from this. Highlights from Headingley Carnegie as Leeds Rhinos faced Catalans Dragons in the First Utility Super League. Each time a big talent leaves, there is this feeling that he cant be replaced, but the truth is there are plenty of fresh, exciting players coming through each season, and they will take the chance to play for a club like Leeds in a heartbeat.No player is bigger than the club, and although I think it will take the Rhinos a bit longer to rebuild than initially thought, they will be back as a force within the next three to four years.Fellow Sky Sports pundit Clarke admitted his shock at Leeds decision to part ways with one of their most promising young players.In his Sky Sports column on Saturday, Clarke said: I never thought that I would see the day when Leeds allow one of their best players to leave mid-season.OK, I know he has not been as impressive this season as he was in the last, but as I mentioned earlier this week, Leeds need to buy some players, not sell them, if they want to get out of their current predicament. Two sides to every story Two sides to every story says Phil Clarke, as Leeds place Hardaker on transfer list The 24-year-old was voted Man of Steel last season, the first time that Leeds have had a player to win that title since Iestyn Harris back in 1998. Why would the Rhinos let him leave? And particularly in circumstances like this?My experience of following the game tells me that when a team loses on a regular basis, someone gets blamed. It might not always be that persons fault, but the club feel the need to change something, and it looks like in this case, it will be Hardaker at Leeds. Also See: Hardaker on transfer list Two sides to every story Leeds top eight hopes all but over Catalans overcome lowly leeds ' ' '