Oklahoma State needed to score a big win in Stillwater on Saturday and that’s exactly what they did. The Cowboys picked up right where they left off against Missouri State last week. The defense pitched a second half shutout, scored a touchdown, and held Alabama State to less than 215 yards of total offense.
On the other side of the ball the Pokes had a clear talent mismatch and absolutely abused it to the tune of 604 yards in their second blowout win in as many weeks. Having done exactly what they needed to do during the first two weeks of the season, the question now is, will OSU move into the rankings next week to set up a Top 25 match-up with Boise State?
Game Thoughts (Positive)
- Corn Dog looked much more comfortable than last week. In making his second collegiate start, Taylor Cornelius threw for 428 yards and a score on a 25-of-40 performance. The Cowboys moved him out of the pocket for many of his throws and, for the most part, he was spot on.
WATCH: Cornelius to Johnson and Wallace takes #OKState 71 yards and into the end zone in just 23 seconds!
📺 #Big12FB on @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/5k0sXKsURV
— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) September 9, 2018
- Tyron Johnson is better than expected. The former LSU Tiger averaged 27.4 yards per reception (on five catches). He also scored on a rushing touchdown.
🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠
DON'T BLINK!
Run the board, @CowboyFB! Add another 6 to the stat sheet for the Pokes!#GoPokes | #Big12FB | @Big12Conference pic.twitter.com/rYbwsayEpk
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) September 9, 2018
- The new receiving duo has been established. Great receivers are a tradition at Oklahoma State and the next duo is going to be Johnson and Tylan Wallace who had a monster game with 166 yards and a score on ten receptions.
- Oklahoma State’s defensive front dominated. South Alabama averaged just 2.1 yards per rush attempt and had less than 100 total rushing yards for the game. The Pokes sacked USA quarterbacks four times.
Have you ever heard the phrase "living nightmare"?
The South Alabama QB just saw 2.#GoPokes | @CowboyFB pic.twitter.com/gLLUv8ciB5
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) September 9, 2018
Game Thoughts (Negative)
- The offensive line has significant struggles. It’s hard to be picky after a blowout win but there’s no reason for OSU to not have a 100-yard rusher against South Alabama. The Cowboys had four rushing touchdowns but only averaged 3.7 yards per carry.
- Penalties have to be cleaned up. Nine penalties for 112 yards is going to significantly hurt the Cowboys moving forward.
He gone. pic.twitter.com/ELl2miSKV1
— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) September 9, 2018
- Turnovers continue to be an issue. For a good as Cornelius looked, he also threw two picks. One of them was identical to the one he threw, in the end zone, against Missouri State last week.
Up Next
It gets real for Oklahoma State next week as the Cowboys host #20 Boise State.