Big 12 Honors Double Dip for Pokes Again, Four Times in a Row for Ollie

(The Big 12 Conference contributed to this story originated by Pokes Report.)

STILLWATER – In a little bit of a surprise move, but one that is fully understandable, Ollie Gordon was selected as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth consecutive week. Gordon, who had 137-yards and two touchdowns rushing on 33 carries and also had an 18-yard reception in the 27-24 win over rival Oklahoma in the final scheduled Bedlam meeting in football, shared the honor. Central Florida running back R.J. Harvey had his fourth consecutive 100-yard plus game with a career high 164-yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns in a road win over Cincinnati. Oddly enough, these two running backs and their teams will meet in Orlando at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday.

Oklahoma State also had the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week in linebacker Xavier Benson. 

Benson was all over the field in Saturday's win over OU, recording seven tackles, a sack, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three tackles for loss, which is the most by a Cowboy this season and the most by any Big 12 player this week.

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Benson and corner Korie Black stand over OU receiver Drake Stoops after breaking up a pass.

The senior LB is the first Big 12 player since UT's Joseph Ossai in 2020 to record at least three TFL, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in one game. Benson helped set the tone early. On Oklahoma's second drive of the game, he recorded a strip-sack and then recovered a fumble just two plays later.

“He’s reckless with his body. If you want to play well at this level, you have to have the ability to play recklessly with your body and if you get hurt, you get hurt,” Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said when told that Benson was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. “That’s what he’s doing. I watch him on video, he’s running, he’s sliding, he’s slamming himself into linemen and giving his body up, so he’s playing well. He’s really evolved in his mental preparation and how he handles game situations in my opinion. That’s where he’s made his biggest stride over the last 12 months.”

In addition to his impact forcing turnovers, one of Benson's most impactful tackles included a six-yard tackle for loss against Drake Stoops on third down with about four minutes remaining in the first half. The play forced a 51-yard field goal attempt that sailed just wide. Another big tackle also came on third down, as he helped bring down Jalil Farooq five yards short of the marker before OU's final offensive play that was stopped to seal the three-point Cowboy win.

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Gordon dives in for his first touchdown.

Gordon II (co-offensive) became just the second student-athlete in Conference history to earn four consecutive Big 12 Player of the Week awards with another impressive performance on Saturday, producing 156 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the Cowboys' 27-24 Bedlam win over No. 9 Oklahoma. He logged 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground, along with an 18-yard reception. His first touchdown came on a 20-yard run to cap OSU's game-opening drive, and his second came on a two-yard run with just under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Cowboys the lead for good.

“Obviously, he had a good game, he made plays, made key runs and broke tackles at times,” Gundy said of Gordon. “Oklahoma inserted an extra player in the box to stop the run, which we knew they would, that was not a mystery. That’s what I would’ve done, and it helped. The other times he ran through the guy, and he rushed for about 130-140, something like that, against a team like that, they’re a good defense and pretty good against the run. So, it was a good day for him.”

The sophomore has now rushed for 100+ yards in six straight games, which ties for the sixth-longest streak in program history. He has scored multiple touchdowns in four straight games with 10 total scores, including three consecutive games with two or more rushing touchdowns. Gordon's 137 rushing yards marked the most by any player against the Oklahoma defense this season, and his two rushing touchdowns matched the most against OU this year.

Big 12 Players of the Week
September 4
Offense: Emory Jones, UC, QB, Sr.
Defense: Jeremiah Cooper, ISU, DB, So.
Newcomer: Emory Jones, UC, QB, Sr.
Special Teams: Ryan Rehkow, BYU, P, Jr. and Gavin Freeman, OU, WR/PR, So.  
 
September 11
Offense: Quinn Ewers, UT, QB, So.
Defense: Danny Stutsman, OU, LB, Jr.
Newcomer: Adonai Mitchell, UT, WR, Jr.
Special Teams: Colton Boomer, UCF, K, So.
 
September 18
Offense: Dillon Gabriel, OU, QB, Sr.
Defense: Tyler Batty, BYU, DE, Jr.
Newcomer: Nic Anderson, OU, WR, Fr.
Special Teams: Matthew Golden, UH, KR/WR, So.
 
September 25
Offense: DJ Giddens, K-State, RB, So.
Defense: Cobee Bryant, KU, CB, Jr.
Newcomer: Parker Jenkins, UH, RB, Fr.
Special Teams: Chase Contreraz, ISU, K, Sr.
 
October 2
Offense: Jonathon Brooks, UT, RB, So.
Defense: Caden Jenkins, BU, CB, Fr.
Newcomer: Adonai Mitchell, UT, WR, Jr.
Special Teams: Loic Fouonji, TTU, WR, Sr.
 
October 9
Offense: Dillon Gabriel, OU, QB, Sr.
Defense: Beau Freyler, ISU, DB, Jr.
Newcomer: Cameron Epps, OSU, CB, Fr.
Special Teams: Trevor Wilson, KU, WR/PR, Jr.
 
October 16
Offense: Josh Hoover, TCU, QB, Fr. and Ollie Gordon II, OSU, RB, So.
Defense: Kobe Savage, K-State, S, Sr.
Newcomer: Avery Johnson, K-State, QB, Fr.
Special Teams: Chase Contreraz, ISU, K, Sr.
 
October 23
Offense: Ollie Gordon II, OSU, RB, So.
Defense: Eddie Heckard, BYU, CB, Sr.
Newcomer: Nic Anderson, OU, WR, Fr.
Special Teams: Isaiah Hankins, BU, K, So.
 
October 30
Offense: Ollie Gordon II, OSU, RB, So.
Defense: Beanie Bishop Jr., WVU, CB, Sr.
Newcomer: Leon Johnson III, OSU, WR, Sr. and Beanie Bishop Jr., WVU, CB, Sr.
Special Teams: Xavier Worthy, UT, WR/PR, Jr.
 
November 6
Offense: RJ Harvey, UCF, RB, Sr., and Ollie Gordon II, OSU, RB, So.
Defense: Xavier Benson, OSU, LB, Sr.
Newcomer: Adonai Mitchell, UT, WR, Jr.
Special Teams: Bert Auburn, UT, K, Jr.