Oklahoma State vs. Baylor Postgame Notes

Game Flow

Trailing, 21-16, with 3:23 left in the game and no timeouts remaining, Oklahoma State got the ball on its own 10-yard line. The Cowboys drove 89 yards in 17 plays. On fourth and goal from the Baylor one-yard line and 24 seconds left in the game, Cowboy running back Dezmon Jackson was forced out of bounds just inches from the pylon to clinch the Baylor win.

1,000-yard rusher and Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Jaylen Warren was sidelined to injury. Also missing was three-time all-conference center Danny Godlevske. With those two out, Oklahoma State had difficulty in the run game and finished with 70 yards on 40 carries (1.8 average).

One of the deciding factors in the game was turnovers. Baylor forced four. The Bears scored three touchdowns in the first half. Each of those touchdown drives started in Oklahoma State territory. Two of those three drives came immediately after OSU turnovers.

Holding a 21-6 lead, Baylor went for it on fourth-and-1 from its own 36 early in the third quarter. The Oklahoma State defense held to secure a key turnover on downs. From that point, OSU went on a 10-0 run and ended up just inches from recording the second-largest come-from-behind win in school history.

Korie Black blocked a field goal attempt on the final play of the first half. It was OSU’s third of the season. Kody Walterscheid blocked one against Missouri State and Jason Taylor II blocked one at Boise State.

Black made a second big play on special teams when he recovered a muffed punt by the Big 12’s leading punt returner, Trestan Ebner, on the Baylor 30 yard line in the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma State’s defense limited Baylor to a season-low 242 yards of offense. The Cowboys held the Bears to just 36 yards of offense in the second half (seven rushing, 29 passing).

Oklahoma State entered the game having already set a single-season school record for sacks. They added six to that total to bring the current mark to 55. Baylor entered the game leading the Big 12 and ranked ninth in the FBS by allowing just 1.00 sacks per game. OSU’s six sacks were the most allowed by Baylor all season. The previous high was three, set by Oklahoma State in the regular season meeting between the two.

Oklahoma State needed two tackles for loss to set the second-best single-season tackles for loss mark in school history. The Cowboys got 11 to bring their season total to 110. The school record is 112, set in 1998.

Baylor entered the game leading the Big 12 and ranked eighth in the FBS by averaging 227.4 rushing yards per game. Oklahoma State limited the Bears to 62 yards on the ground.

Baylor’s Abram Smith entered the game ranked seventh nationally by averaging 113.8 rushing yards per game. Oklahoma State limited him to 63 yards on 17 carries (3.7 average).

Notable Streaks and Trends Through the Game

• OSU has held six of its last 10 opponents under 100 yards rushing.
• OSU has held seven of its last nine opponents under 200 yards passing.
• OSU has held 22 of its last 24 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 24 of its past 30 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 24 straight games.
• OSU has held its opponent to fewer than 20 first downs in 11 games this season.
• Malcolm Rodriguez has recorded at least five tackles in 20 of his last 21 games.
• OSU has forced 27 turnovers in its past 17 games.

Appreciating What Mike Gundy is Doing at Oklahoma State

• Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has led the Cowboys to 11 wins so far this season. Since 2010, he has led OSU to seven seasons with at least 10 wins. The only active coaches with more 10-win seasons in that time frame are Alabama's Nick Saban (12) and Clemson's Dabo Swinney (10).
• Gundy has led his alma mater to 15 consecutive bowl games (with a 16th coming this season) and in the likely event the Cowboys end up in a New Year's Six game, it would mark OSU's fifth since 2010, as Gundy has already led the Cowboys to a pair of Cotton Bowls, plus appearances in the Sugar Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.