Houston and UCF Give Oklahoma State Great Look at Next Two Games

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State got to witness one of the weirdest college football Saturdays in a while as the Pokes were at home for an open week. 

There were several games which didn’t make a lot of sense, especially in the Big 12. No. 10 BYU barely beat TCU 17-10, and it took nearly the entire game for No. 12 Texas Tech to figure out how to beat Colorado 29-7. Iowa State shocked a lot of people by beating West Virginia 45-42, as did Baylor as the Bears went on the road and beat Arizona State 55-19. 

No. 20 Houston put on a bit of a show as they hosted UCF as the Cougars rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Knights 27-17.

The Knights scored their third and final touchdown of the game at the 6:01 mark of the third quarter, before UH QB Connor Weigman scored three-straight rushing touchdowns to give the Cougars the lead. 

It was a pretty rough offensive game from both sides as the Knights put up just 332 yards of total offense, 73 on the ground and 259 through the air, with Keyone Jenkins going 23-of-35 for 253 yards and one touchdown and interception apiece. He also had a rushing touchdown. It was Duke Watson who led them on the ground with 50 yards on nine carries. 

As for the Cougars, they were just a bit better on offense as they combined for 393 yards, 154 on the ground and 239 through the air. Weigman went 18-of-33 passing for 239 yards and had 13 carries for 50 yards and three scores. Re’Shaun Sanford II led them in rushing with 18 carries for 60 yards.

While it’s only been two games played in Big 12 play, UCF has one of the worst offenses in the conference as they’re averaging just 299 yards of total offense, just 89.5 yards on the ground and 209.5 yards through the air. They ranked No. 15 in total offense, No. 14 in rushing offense and No. 10 in passing offense. The Knights’ defense is mid-pack as they’re giving up 368 total yards per game.

As for Houston, the Cougars are No. 6 in total offense with 425.5 yards per game, No. 10 in rushing offense with 164.5 yards per game and No. 5 in passing offense with 261 yards per game. Their defense is No. 8 giving up 378.5 yards per game.

It’s an unfair comparison because the Pokes have played on one game in conference play, but they put up 609 yards of total offense against West Virginia last week and are leading the conference by more than 100 yards.