Okla. St. rallies, will satisfy UT in Big 12 title
Nov 25, 2023, 11:30 PM ET
STILLWATER, Okla.– Oklahoma State’s furious comeback versus BYU encapsulated the roller-coaster trip of a season that has actually made the Cowboys a chance at a conference title.Ollie Gordon
II ran for his fifth touchdown of the game in the 2nd overtime, and the No. 21 Cowboys rallied from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Cougars 40-34 on Saturday, protecting an area in the Big 12 championship game.BYU had a chance to win after Gordon’s final score, but Oklahoma State’s Trey Rucker ripped the ball from Isaac Rex after a catch and recuperated the fumble to end it. The Cowboys commemorated the third-largest return in school history after the play was verified by replay review.It’s been that type of season for Oklahoma State– unpredictable but, eventually, effective. The Cowboys began 2-2, consisting of a 33-7 home loss to South Alabama. After winning five straight and beating rival Oklahoma, the Cowboys lost 45-3 at UCF.They followed
that with big resurgences to beat Houston and BYU. The Cowboys conquered deficits of 14 points or more in successive games for the very first time in school history.
“We sure make it difficult on ourselves to get to where we want to go,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy stated. “That was a really great win for our team. I’m extremely pleased with them.”
Oklahoma State (9-3, 7-2 Big 12, No. 20 CFP) removed Oklahoma from the title game. The Cowboys will play No. 7 Texas next Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, seeking their very first conference title since 2011.
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The Cowboys, who lost the conference title game 2 years ago to Baylor, did not satisfy the Longhorns in the routine season.
“Texas is playing at really high level right now,” Gundy stated. “Texas has good players. Texas has excellent players. They have actually always had them. They play at a high level. They’re not an easy team to play. However I like my group.”
Gordon, who went into the week as the nation’s leading rush, ended up with 166 backyards on a cold, rainy day and has 1,580 this season. His five touchdowns connected a school record Barry Sanders set three times in 1988, his Heisman Trophy-winning season.On his game-clincher, he took a handoff and started left, shrugged a protector and reversed field, then released himself over two BYU players into the end zone.
“You understand, it was just more of a thought procedure of I could not let my guys down,” Gordon said. “Most of our O-linemen are seniors and they’ve been playing their butts off this whole season. And, you know, I just would not wish to sell them anything brief.”
Alan Bowman passed for 321 backyards and Leon Johnson III had 9 catches for 132 backyards for Oklahoma State.Jake Retzlaff passed for 166 yards and ran for 2 touchdowns for BYU (5-7, 2-7), which required a win to become bowl eligible. Retzlaff began in location of Kedon Slovis, who has actually been combating shoulder and elbow injuries.The groups traded scores in the final minute to force overtime. Gordon’s 15-yard touchdown with 53 seconds remaining put Oklahoma State ahead 27-24, but BYU’s Simi Moala blocked the additional point. BYU lastly put some offense together, and Will Ferrin made a 48-yard field goal as time expired in regulation.Retzlaff and Gordon traded rushing goals in the first overtime before Gordon’s consent 2-yard run in the 2nd OT.BYU led 24-6 at halftime. Gordon’s very first touchdown, a 2-yarder four minutes into the 3rd quarter, got the Cowboys within nine. Another 2-yard rating by Gordon and a 2-point conversion pass from Bowman to Rashod Owens cut BYU’s cause 24-21 with 10:53 remaining.Retzlaff scored on a 2-yard run to put the Cougars ahead 7-6 late in the first quarter. BYU seemingly gained more momentum by recuperating an
onside kick, but an unlawful block took it away.Early in the second quarter, Eddie Heckard intercepted Bowman and ran it back 13 lawns for a goal to put the Cougars up 14-6. The Cougars struck again, closing an 89-yard drive
with an 11-yard scoring run by Keelan Marion. BYU added a 42-yard basket by Ferrin before halftime however didn’t score again up until the final play of guideline.”We did whatever we could,”BYU coach Kalani Sitake said.”In the end, errors cost us, but the guys fought hard. I value how difficult they fought. They just didn’t make adequate plays, particularly in the second half.
“BYU’s loss suggested that of the Big 12’s four brand-new members this year, only UCF got approved for a bowl.The Associated Press added to this report.