ARLINGTON – The question going into a weekend of league title games wasn’t if the Big 12 would make the College Football Playoff, meaning you were nervous for no reason. Barring any left-over bias from 2014, when the committee ghosted Baylor and TCU, Bob Bowlsby’s bunch was practically golden. As long as LSU took care of Georgia, as proved to be the case, nothing fifth-ranked Utah could do against No. 13 Oregon would outpoint the winner of Oklahoma-Baylor, ranked sixth and seventh, respectively.

The only question Saturday at JerryWorld, then, was which one it would be:

Riley or Rhule?

Sorry, just channeling Jerry Jones there.

If Jerry is doing a little window shopping for head coaches – and if he isn’t, then the Cowboys have even bigger problems than we thought – he could’ve done worse than check in on the men working Saturday at his big house.

Lincoln Riley and Matt Rhule put on a good show in the Sooners’ 30-23 overtime win before 65,191, which was probably to be expected. Oklahoma’s 34-31 win last month, the greatest comeback in school history, was a hoot. The fact that CeeDee Lamb, unavailable in Waco, would play in the rematch figured to give Oklahoma the advantage. Lamb seemed to think so, anyway, catching eight passes for 173 yards and winning MVP honors.

But Saturday was not a one-man show. The Sooners got a big-time performance from Kenneth Murray, who had 10 tackles, three tackles for losses and one of OU’s six sacks. Baylor responded with two sacks and three tackles for loss by James Lynch.

Down to his third quarterback of the day, Rhule almost one-upped Riley with a freshman who played safety on the scout team Friday. Jacob Zeno might have won it, too. He threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Trestan Ebner and would have topped that number later if the Sooners’ Tre Brown hadn’t run down Chris Platt after 78 yards. Baylor was forced to settle for a field goal with 3:25 left, forcing overtime.

Did a physical, tight game do more for the Big 12’s cause than a blowout would have?

“I’m not sure what anyone else could have done to make a better argument,” Bowlsby said.

“I think this game lifted both teams and lifted the league as a whole.”

For its trouble, Oklahoma wins its fifth consecutive Big 12 title and what looms as Riley’s third straight CFP berth. With three different quarterbacks, no less.

Meanwhile, two years after Rhule debuted at 1-11, he’s all but assured of taking the 11-2 Bears to the Sugar Bowl.

How did he do that?

“He never allows us to be complacent,” senior linebacker Jordan Williams said. “He never allows us to be okay with just being good.

“He wants us to be great.”

Even before this season, Rhule’s results had earned him notice. He’s interviewed with the Jets and Colts. He might be working in New York now if he’d been allowed to hire his own staff.

Could it be a sticking point with Jerry if the Cowboys’ boss were interested? Not unless he believes anyone on Jason Garrett’s staff is worth fighting over.

Rhule is also under contract through 2027 with a buyout his boss, Mack Rhoades, calls “aggressive.” But if a branch on the Tom Coughlin coaching tree and maybe the most well-rounded coach in the Big 12 were available, Jerry shouldn’t let money get in the way.

“What Matt Rhule has done at Baylor is truly extraordinary,” Bowlsby said. “He’s a special guy, special values for the job that needed to be done there.

“He’s had some opportunities and he’s said, ‘No, I have things yet to accomplish at Baylor.’ ”

True enough, and he echoed those sentiments after Saturday’s loss, calling this season “just the beginning.” But lifelong dreams and opportunities that don’t always come twice can get in the way of good intentions.

Take Riley, who grew up in Muleshoe, Texas. Big Cowboys fan. He’s making a little more than $6 million a year through 2023. As a reference point, Garrett, in the last days of his contract, draws $6 million. According to reports, if Riley left after this season, he’d owe the university $4.6 million before the lawyers got cranked up.

Riley has built a great foundation at Oklahoma with a brilliant future. If he could keep Alex Grinch as defensive coordinator, no telling what the Sooners’ ceiling might be. The problem is that the NFL keeps knocking on Riley’s door. They’re interested in the secrets of a coach who’s built two Heisman quarterbacks and No. 1 draft picks. Kliff Kingsbury is coaching the Cardinals because of his well-deserved status as a quarterback whisperer. Riley is just as good at Xs and Os, and, as an added bonus, he wins. A lot.

Make no mistake: Riley wants to be an NFL coach someday. Sure, he could wait. But if Jerry were to come knocking, could he turn down a talented young team and quarterback?

What if Jerry’s next hire is the Tom Landry he’s always wanted?

What if he made a deal for Sean Payton instead?

Something to think about, anyway, as the Cowboys’ season runs out. Lots of good candidates. Especially if you can get past Rhule’s smock, or whatever that thing is.

Twitter: @KSherringtonDMN