Oklahoma State Struggles From Start to Finish in 33-7 Blowout Loss to South Alabama

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State finished the non-conference slate of games with an embarrassing 33-7 blowout loss to South Alabama.

With the loss, the Cowboys fell to 2-1 to start the season. They’ll travel to Ames, IA, next week for a 3 p.m. kick against Iowa State.

“I feel bad for our fans the way we coached and played,” Mike Gundy said following the 33-7 loss to South Alabama. “I apologize to them. Great crowd, great atmosphere and we didn’t do a very good job of coaching and certainly didn’t do a very good job of executing.”

It was just about as bad of a game as we’ve seen from the Cowboys in quite some time, other than the 48-0 loss to Kansas State in 2022. The Pokes combined for just 70 total yards, 44 through the air and 26 on the ground, while going just 1-of-8 on third down attempts. However, the stat that stuck out the most was more first half punts at six than first down with just five.

On the other side of the ball in the first half, the Jaguars combined for 232 total yards, 125 through the air and 107 on the ground, while they combined for 5-of-8 on third down with 12 first downs.

The second half was better than the first half offensively for the Pokes, but just in terms of yardage. The Pokes combined for 138 total yards in the second half, although they did get into the end zone at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The Pokes were, however, better on the defensive side of the ball as they allowed just 163 total yards in the second half, but 136 of those came on the ground, which included a 65-yard touchdown run.

Collin Oliver led the way for the Pokes with 10 total tackles, five solos stops, one strip sack and one pass break up.

It was Alan Bowman who got the nod to start and went 6-of-12 for 42 yards and one interception in his four offensive possessions. The Cowboys’ offensive woes started on the opening drive as receiver Jaden Bray dropped a wide open pass from Bowman, a play which would’ve been a 48-yard touchdown.

The Pokes showed a little bit of life out of the break as the defense forced a USA punt on their opening drive of the second half. That was followed by an impressive 21-yard run by Gunnar Gundy for a first down, then a circus catch by Bray who hauled in a pass, which was tipped twice, while on the ground for a first down. However, the drive was capped by a second sack on Gundy to force the seventh OSU punt of the night.

It took until the fourth quarter, but the Pokes started to show a little bit of offensive life following a solid defensive stop. Collin Oliver recorded a 15-yard strip sack, which was recovered by the Jags, but it led to a punt.

Starting on the OSU 16-yard line, Gundy hit Josiah Johnson for 11 yards and the first down, a one-yard keeper up the middle on third and one to get the first down, a 15-yard completion to Talyn Shettron, and a 16-yard run up the middle for a first down by Jaden Nixon. Gundy then hit Bray for 10 yards down to the USA 19-yard line and rushed eight yards up the middle on 1st and 14 to get the eight yard line.

Ollie Gordon recorded a hard rush on 3rd and six down to the USA two-yard line, before another USA injured player, which was followed by a timeout on 4th and two. However, Gundy came out of the break and pitched the ball to Nixon who got into the end zone for the Pokes’ first score of the game, 23-7, with 12:14 left in the game.

The Cowboy defense came up huge on the ensuing drive by forcing a three-and-out and a punt. However, Brennan Presley muffed the punt to give the Jags the ball back on the OSU 20-yard line. They came up with yet another stop to keep USA out of the end zone, but the Jags nailed a 42-yard field goal to go back up 19 points, 26-7, with 9:04 left in the game.

Garret Rangel was put in the game following the field goal. Gundy finished the game going 9-of-18 for 64 yards through the air and 10 carries for 27 yards.

The Pokes went three-and-out in Rangel’s first drive, which also included two declined offensive holds. USA got into the end zone from 65 yards out on the ensuing possession, putting the Jags on top 33-7.