The no. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys entered Ft. Worth on Saturday with a 5-0 record prepared to take on another 5-0 team in the Texas Christian Horned Frogs. Despite taking a big lead early, the Cowboys could not hold on as on they allowed the Horned Frogs to rally for a 43-40 win in double overtime.
Poor Second-Half Play Calling Dooms Offense
With 10:04 left in the second quarter, the Cowboys led the Horned Frogs 24-7. Spencer Sanders was balling out, responsible for two rushing touchdowns, and his passing didn’t look too shabby either. Then, out of nowhere, the play calling took a dramatic turn, and Oklahoma State couldn’t manage anything but a field goal, despite fantastic field position on multiple drives.
I’m not sure what offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn was doing up in the booth, and it’s much easier to criticize coaches while I sit on my comfy couch, but I genuinely do not understand the complete flip to conservative play calling after starting the game off so hot. Oklahoma State had the same issues a season ago, and if this continues, the Cowboys are going to struggle to win games.
Special Teams Keeps Being Special
A bright side to the embarrassing meltdown was the special teams. It really is wild how what seems to be such a small part of the game continues to be such a big part of what the Oklahoma State Cowboys do.
On the very first punt of the game for Oklahoma State, punter Tom Hutton managed to put just the right amount of spin on his kick that it made it difficult for TCU returner Derius Davis to pull in the kick. As a result, he muffed the punt return, and the Cowboys recovered, giving them fantastic field advantage.
Plays like this are what give Oklahoma State yet another advantage against opponents, and while the drive ended in a field goal, it was just the result of turning a bad offensive possession at one end of the field into three points at the other end.
Speaking of field goals, Tanner Brown does not get enough credit. After recovering the punt, the offense failed to find the end zone, but kicker Tanner Brown came in and knocked in a clean kick from 35 yards out.
Tanner Brown continued his perfect streak on the season, not missing a single attempt, and his last one was the biggest one. Brown knocked in a 52-yarder in overtime after the Cowboys picked up a holding call on first down, setting a new career-high for the senior. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to win the game, but Brown’s efforts are going to be important as the season continues.
The Hunt Is Not Over
Despite the loss, the Cowboys still have a great chance at making another appearance in the Big 12 Championship. The path is as “simple” as this: win out and get in. Unfortunately, the schedule is going to stay tough before it gets easier, so for now, Oklahoma State needs to just find a way to win one game at a time.
TCU and Kansas State remain as the lone undefeated teams in the Big 12, and they play one another next weekend. Regardless of who wins that, Oklahoma State has to win out, which means beating Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas, on October 29th.
Horns for Homecoming
The Cowboys now head back to Stillwater where they will host the no. 22 Texas Longhorns for a Homecoming matchup. The Longhorns narrowly escaped Iowa State on Saturday 24-21, but Texas is not a team to be looked over.
Kickoff for the game is at 2:30 PM, and it will be televised on ABC.