Oklahoma State Clinches Big 12 Title Berth With 23-0 Win Over Texas Tech
With a 23-0 shutout win over Texas Tech, Oklahoma State earned a berth into the Big 12 title game for the first time since the game’s inception.
The Cowboys move to 10-1 on the season and 7-1 in Big 12 play, the seventh 10-win season of Mike Gundy’s tenure. The win also marks the Pokes’ first shutout since the win over Savannah State in 2012.
“It’s a special night,” head coach Mike Gundy told the Cowboy Radio Network. “My message to [the team] since January is just find a way to get in the game somehow, it doesn’t make a difference. Because really, when people talk about goals and stuff, got to be careful what you ask them to do so you don’t get to things that aren’t attainable. Then in our league we’ve got a championship game. So, if you want to push to the next part, just get in that game somehow, then you give yourself a chance.”
“We’re going to Jerry’s World,” Devin Harper told the Cowboy Radio Network. “Everybody’s happy. We’ve still got OU, but it’s a goal we’ve been looking for since I’ve been here and we’re finally there.”
Despite a rather large yardage discrepancy, points were a little difficult to come by for the Pokes. There were three touchdowns left on the board, which resulted in three field goals by Tanner Brown.
The lone touchdown of the first half came from a 14-yard pitch and catch from Spencer Sanders to John Paul Richardson, Richardson’s second touchdown on the season to put the Pokes up 13-0.
Tanner Brown had a chance to hit his fourth field goal of the game, but the Red Raiders were called for a delay of game on 4th and 2, resulting in an OSU first down. Just a few plays later, and a few seconds into the fourth quarter, Spencer Sanders scampered into the end zone for his fifth rushing touchdown on the season, putting the Pokes up 23-0.
The Cowboys finished the first half with 236 total yards, 176 of which came through the air. On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys held Tech to just 31 yards of total offense, with just nine yards coming on the ground. The Pokes held Tech to just 1.1 yards per play, just four first downs and 1-for-7 on third down.
Spencer Sanders was solid on the day as he went 19-of-38 for 239 yards and one touchdown, as well as six carries for 48 yards and a touchdown.
“I feel like we played well in some certain areas, and I feel like there’s some mistakes that I’ve got to fix, maybe some better passes here and there,” Spencer Sanders told the Cowboy Radio Network. “I’m gonna work on that and make sure I fix that. We’re just going to be ready and get locked in for next week; can’t lose sight of what we’ve got going here. Obviously, we’re in the Big 12 [title game] and that’s amazing and I’m happy for everybody. The defense played phenomenal tonight; I’m talking phenomenal. Zero points from any team in college NCAA football is amazing, so hats off to them and hats off to Texas Tech defense. They played a good game and I give credit where credit is due. We just came over the top and made a few more plays than they did.”
For the second-straight week, Dominic Richardson led the way on the ground for the Pokes as he finished with 20 carries for 84 yards.
As an offense, the Pokes combined for 427 total yards on the day, 239 of which came through the air.
The second half was more of the same as the Cowboy defense was just as dominant. Through three quarters, the Cowboys had allowed just 41 yards.
The Cowboys held the Red Raiders to just 108 yards of total offense, a mark they didn’t hit until just under the six-minute mark. The also held Tech to just 10 first downs on the day, 3-of-14 on third down, 1.9 yards a play and they recorded 12 tackles for loss, four of which were sacks.
“That’s what we work on; apply pressure and definitely with a young quarterback like that, we want to get them scared and we want to get them shaking,” Harper told the Cowboy Radio Network. “That’s what we did, and we came out with a victory with it, a goose egg.”
The Cowboys will now host OU for Senior Night in Stillwater on Nov. 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC.