Oklahoma State’s 42-20 loss to Kansas State was a significant setback for their Big 12 championship aspirations. The Cowboys, once considered a favorite to play in the Big 12 Championship Game, now face an uphill battle to reach that goal.
Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson showcased his dual-threat abilities, passing for 259 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 60 yards and two more scores. The Wildcats’ running game also played a crucial role in the win, with D.J. Giddens rushing for 187 yards and a touchdown. KSU’s defense held Oklahoma State’s offense in check, limiting their scoring opportunities and forcing turnovers.
For the Wildcats, the victory marked a significant bounce back after a disappointing loss to BYU last week, keeping them in place as a contender in the Big 12 conference.
Five Takeaways
- Offensive Struggles: Oklahoma State’s offense struggled to maintain consistency throughout the game. While Alan Bowman passed for 364 yards, he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The Cowboys’ running game was also inconsistent, failing to establish a rhythm after the opening drive. Ollie Gordon averaged 5.1 yards per carry, but only managed 71 yards. It marks the fourth consecutive game that Gordon failed to reach the century mark. One can’t help but think that’s the missing link in the Cowboy offense.
- Defensive Lapses: Despite forcing a turnover, the Cowboys’ defense allowed Kansas State to dominate on the offense side of the ball. The Wildcats gained 559 total yards, at a pace of 8.6 yards per play, highlighted by Avery Johnson’s strong performance at quarterback and D.J. Giddens’ impressive rushing (12.5 yards per carry).
- Turnover Issues: Three turnovers, on the road, in conference play against a ranked opponent just isn’t going to produce a positive result.
- Lack of Closing Ability: The Cowboys struggled to finish strong, allowing Kansas State to pull away in the second half. They were outscored 21-7 over the final 30 minutes, including 14-0 in the third quarter. The Cowboys went toe to toe with the Wildcats in the first half, trailing by just one score, 21-13, but were totally dominated in the second half.
- Rising Competition: The Big 12 is a competitive conference, and Oklahoma State’s loss to Kansas State puts them with Kansas, Houston, and Baylor at 0-2 in conference play. Obviously this isn’t a death blow to OSU’s conference title hopes, but they’re certainly behind the 8-ball. There’s no more room for error on a schedule that still has them playing four of their final seven games on the road.
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Unfortunately this team is in big trouble and it’s problematic to figure out why when they had so many experienced players returning. Coach Gundy seems to be searching for solutions also. I see them struggling to become bowl eligible with their difficulties of playing any caliber of team on the road. If they don’t put a string of W’s together it may be time to give the younger QB’s some reps. I sure hope they prove me wrong.
They suck and need to fire Dunn and Nardo for starters. Play calling is terrible.