Oklahoma State's Win Over Oklahoma Was a Playoff-Type Win, According to the CFP Committee
STILLWATER – On Tuesday evening, Oklahoma State jumped up two spots to No. 5 in the updated College Football Playoff Rankings. In doing so, they leap frogged Notre Dame who stayed at No. 6. This comes on the heels of the Cowboys’ 37-33 win over No. 9 Oklahoma this past Saturday in Bedlam.
This is the highest the Cowboys have ever been ranked in the CFP rankings.
According to Gary Barta, the CFP Selection Committee Chair, the top-10 Bedlam win for the Pokes was, “for all intents and purposes,” a playoff game with playoff atmosphere and pressure.
“One of the things we learned is this was a playoff game, for all intents and purposes. The winner goes on to the Big 12 Championship,” said Gary Barta, the CFP Selection Committee Chair. “So, one of the things you learn is how a team or how teams can handle that kind of pressure. And I think both teams handled that well. Obviously, Oklahoma State came out on top, which means in that pressure situation, whether it's the offense under Spencer Sanders or the defense that's been playing so well all year, they found a way to win in a really -- it was also a rivalry game. So, the committee took that all into account in watching the game. We just learned that two really good football teams, but Oklahoma State came out on top. They were able to score some points. The defense continues to play well. I don't know if we learned anything specifically about offense or defense, but certainly learned a lot about the character of the team under pressure.”
The game against Baylor this coming Saturday is going to be a pressure cooker of a game, especially for the Cowboys. The Bears check in at No. 9 in the rankings, so it would mean a third top-10 win this season for the Pokes.
Other than the loss to Iowa State, the Cowboys have taken care of business all season long and have put themselves in the best situation. Moving up to No. 5, if they win on Saturday and No. 1 Georgia beats No. 3 Alabama, the Cowboys will have a legitimate chance of making the College Football Playoffs.