Oklahoma State was outmanned, outmatched and outplayed from start to finish in Eugene, OR, as the Ducks obliterated the Pokes 69-3.
With the loss, the Cowboys dropped to 1-1 on the season.
It marked the second-worst loss in program history, nearly topping the 67-point loss to OU back in 1907, the year Oklahoma gained its statehood. They’ve now been outscored 121-3 against the last two FBS opponents, going back to the 52-0 loss to Colorado in 2024.
“[Oregon’s] really good, and we knew that coming in,” Mike Gundy told the Cowboy Radio Network. “The players are really disappointed, and I mentioned this to the media, I didn’t do a good job. I felt during the week we were doing too much. We watched them on tape, we knew how talented they were and how big they were up front on both sides of the ball, we knew they had great skill and great speed. And coaches can make a mistake of trying to think you’re going to outcoach and find ways to get stops and score points. So, we ended up not being good in anything. I had that feeling later in the week, but at that point, it was almost too late to change, and they got us on a lot of misdirection and cross country passes and things that, when you’re up by three touchdowns, you can start doing.”
The Cowboys were mismatched from the jump as the Ducks outgained the Cowboys in the first half, 473 to 123, and nearly perfectly balanced at 235 passing yards and 238 rushing yards. Unfortunately, the Ducks averaged 12.5 yards per rush, while the Cowboys averaged just 3.6 yards per carry.
For comparison, the Ducks had 506 total yards against FCS Montana State last week.
The 41-3 mark at halftime also marked the largest halftime deficit for the Cowboys under head coach Mike Gundy.
The Ducks finished with 631 total yards, 319 yards through the air and 312 yards on the ground. The Cowboys combined for just 211 yards, 67 yards through the air and 144 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Zane Flores went 7-of-19 for 67 yards with two interceptions returned for touchdowns. Kalib Hicks led the day in rushing with 63 yards on 14 carries.
The Ducks started the game with two plays, one of which was a 59-yard touchdown run. On their third play of the game, Dante Moore completed a 65-yard touchdown pass to Dakorien Moore to go up 13-0 less than two minutes into the game.
The Cowboys recorded just five first downs in the first half, compared to 17 for the Ducks.
The start of the second half wasn’t much better for the Pokes as they went three-and-out out of the gate and did so again on their second drive.
On the Ducks’ next drive, they attempted a 57-yard field goal, which missed wide right. However, the Cowboys elected to try and return the miss out of the back of the end zone instead of talking the ball at the 40-yard line. The Cowboys took over 1st and 10 from their own 19-yard line and went three-and-out.
Flores would throw two-straight pick sixes, giving the Ducks a 69-3 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys’ first first down of the fourth quarter came just ahead of the eight minute mark on a six-yard pass from Flores to freshman Royal Capell.
The Cowboys are back in action in two weeks from Friday as they play host to Tulsa.
