The best and worst of the Big 12: Week 3

Saturday was a packed slate of Big 12 games, so naturally, this week's  best and worst reflects that. We saw a flubbed coin toss, one of the best catches you'll ever see and an awkward birds-eye view. Let's get to it.

It's probably the fairest representation of what happened. The official muted his stadium mic and explained to Desmond Jackson what he was doing, but for some reason, it didn't click. I imagine there are plenty of emotions before a game like that starts, so it's understandable that he wouldn't fully grasp that Texas had lost the toss and UCLA would get the ball at both halves. Either way, it was high comedy. Strong had the only possible reaction: A muted, incredulous anger. You can't get too mad at a guy for an honest mistake, and Texas did have a gigantic game it had to, you know, play.

Worst timeout: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa. I don't have time to dive fully into my hatred for icing kickers, but it is a vibrant and deep detestation. I recognize many share this attitude, but I'm consistently astounded at how many coaches do not. Time and time again, it's been statistically disproven and more than anything, it's annoying.

I can't help but feel a little glee when it blows up in a coach's face. Saturday, it went nuclear on Ferentz, whose salary surpasses Bill Snyder's by more than a million dollars. He called a timeout just before Netten booted a 42-yard attempt that went wide left and appeared to send the game into overtime.

Not so fast.

The celebrating fans in Hawkeye-land couldn't believe it and neither could I. If, at some point in the last 10 years, Ferentz had taken a moment to study and recognize how illogical the kicker-icing phenomenon is, his team would have had a chance to beat their rivals in overtime. Instead, he has to live with a high-profile, silly decision that helped turn Iowa into a Cyclone State for the next 12 months. Congratulations.

Best moves: You do you, Jordan Phillips. You do you. Shmoney Dance all you'd like. I will enjoy it and not be envious of the post-dance butt-chewing you received from Bob Stoops.

Worst time management: Dana Holgorsen. The Mountaineers got away with it, but in college football (and on a rainy day), I don't understand why you would take the ball out of your quarterback's hands in the middle of a 500-yard day and settle for a 47-yard kick to try and win a game. That makes no sense. WVU threw the ball six times on its game-winning, 13-play, 65-yard drive, but five of those six passes were either screens or quick hitches to the edge of the field. Trickett threw down the field just once on the drive, and found Daikiel Shorts for 17 yards.

When your quarterback is hot, trust him. This could have been a disaster. The way WVU's offense had played, Trickett had a chance to either score a touchdown or give Lambert a chip shot for the win. The percentages just don't support settling for a 47-yard kick to try and win a game.

Worst kickoff: Kansas and Duke. Cue the basketball school jokes. After the final touchdown of Duke's 41-3 win over the Jayhawks, the teams lined up on the wrong side of the field. Has no one in Durham ever heard the phrase, "Losers walk?" This is where it applies.

Biggest sigh of relief: Baylor. There wasn't much to take away from Baylor's 63-21 romp in Buffalo on Friday night, but after a shaky opener against SMU and two fractured transverse processes in his back, Petty looked like his old self against the Bulls. Most importantly, he took a few hits and didn't look like he was in any pain. He finished with 416 yards and four scores on 23-of-34 passing.

Best photo: Iowa State OL. If offensive linemen aren't your favorite people in football, you're doing it wrong. An Iowa player was salty about this photo, but Iowa State offensive lineman Tom Farniok made sure the sodium levels remained sky-high with a tweet of his own.