BOX SCORE

NORMAN — With a uncommon probability at consecutive Bedlam wins up for grabs, the Cowboys laid an egg.

Oklahoma State fell to Oklahoma 28-13 on Saturday evening at Gaylord Household Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Listed here are 10 Ideas from the sport.

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1. The Worst Quarter of Soccer in OSU Historical past (Most likely)

The OU band, a band identified for enjoying Boomer Sooner on repeat, may hardly sustain with all of its alternatives to blare Norman’s favourite music within the first quarter.

After the primary 15-minute interval, OU had a 28-0 lead, had compelled OSU into two turnovers and had a 299-61 benefit in whole offense. It was the least aggressive quarter of OSU soccer I had seen in my 27 years on this rock hurling via area, and I simply watched OSU lose 48-0 a couple of weekends in the past.

2. OSU Soccer Followers Are in a Poisonous Relationship

OSU followers obtained their hearts ripped out 1 / 4 into that sport. The Pokes had been down 28-0. The offense couldn’t go wherever. It was over. The Cowboys had been useless.

The 5 levels of grief had already began. After which OSU discovered a manner again into the sport, putting their followers’ hearts again of their respective chests simply in time to disappoint OSU a second time when the Cowboys’ comeback bid fell flat on its face. The companion on this relationship retains drawing you again in with its appeal earlier than hurting you once more.

Absolutely different fanbases have related ranges of disappointment, however it looks like solely at OSU may a basketball crew shoot 10% from 3 on Friday evening, a cross nation crew lose a nationwide title on a tiebreaker on Saturday morning after which a soccer crew break its followers’ hearts twice on Saturday evening.

3. And It Got here towards OU’s Worst Crew within the Mike Gundy Period

Mike Gundy’s document towards OU is effectively documented (it’s now 3-15 if it isn’t effectively documented sufficient), however on the peak of Gundy’s tenure, Oklahoma has been traditionally nice.

For a protracted whereas, the Sooners had sufficient Huge 12 title trophies to make use of some as paperweights and doorstops. However this 12 months was totally different. Since Gundy took over at OSU in 2005, OU had solely had 5 losses in a season as soon as (in 2014). Ten video games into 2022, and this rendition of the Sooners already had 5 losses.

OU had misplaced 5 of its previous seven. The crew was scrambling for bowl eligibility, and a loss Saturday would’ve despatched the Sooners to an evening sport in Lubbock subsequent week looking for a sixth win. It was too good.

As we’ve gone over, OSU followers are used to being crushed on this sport — it occurs (so much). OSU has solely crushed OU in consecutive video games 5 instances in historical past. However given how issues had been getting into this sport, it’s a travesty this wasn’t the sixth time.

4. Head-Scratching Fourth-Down Calls

Gundy has change into identified for conservative fourth-down calls, and regardless of it angering followers on events, it normally works for him. However what did OSU need to lose down 28?

Listed here are a couple of fourth-down selections OSU made Saturday within the first half:

4th-and-5 from the OSU 48 whereas down 28-0 — punt
4th-and-goal from the OU 7 whereas down 28-0 — area aim
4th-and-2 from the OSU 40 whereas down 28-3 — punt

The sphere aim, turned a four-score sport right into a four-score sport. OSU solely wanted 9 extra area objectives to take a lead after that one went via the uprights.

I can normally a minimum of perceive the place the choice is coming from when OSU punts in related situations, however these made much less sense than standard.

The Cowboys ended up going for a 4th-and-2 from the OU 17 within the third quarter whereas down 25. They accomplished a slant move for 1 yard … so, does that make all of these different calls proper? No. Will it deter OSU from going for it on future fourth downs? Most likely.

“Nicely, there’s no cause to go for fourth downs within the second quarter, and probably dig your self deeper right into a gap,” Gundy mentioned. “However then as the sport goes on, the clock begins to work towards us and so we’ve to attempt to convert to maintain issues alive.”

5. However Logan Ward Had a Day

In the event you’re gonna punt, may as effectively punt it effectively.

Logan Ward was one of many Cowboys’ lone vibrant spots (it’s most likely not best for a crew when its backup punter is a vibrant spot).

Within the first half alone, Ward had 244 punting yards, had two punts of fifty or extra yards and downed two punts contained in the OU 10-yard line.

6. Nearing OSU’s Win Report, Sanders Captures a Worse Report to Have

After Spencer Sanders’ savior efficiency towards Iowa State final weekend, there have been a couple of talks of the place he stands within the pantheon of OSU greats — he was largely being in comparison with Mason Rudolph.

Sanders is 2 wins away from tying Rudolph because the winningest beginning quarterback in program historical past. However in making an attempt to get to that plateau, Sanders set a unique document Saturday. Together with his 4 picks, Sanders has thrown 40 in his profession, passing Tone Jones and Mike Gundy for probably the most in program historical past.

After that Iowa State sport, OSU followers understand now greater than ever what Sanders brings to his crew. However the truth that Sanders may end his profession with probably the most wins and most interceptions in program historical past considerably poetically describes the journey he has been on because the Cowboys’ quarterback. It’s been chaotic.

He doesn’t have (and hasn’t had) offensive line. Sanders was sacked sick instances Saturday and hurried one other 12 instances. He doesn’t have a run sport. OSU working backs had 56 speeding yards on 15 carries Saturday. However 4 picks in a sport, whether or not its Bedlam or for a Huge 12 Championship, most likely isn’t going to win an entire lot.

7. In some way, That Protection Deserved to Win

When it was 28-0 14 minutes into the sport, Derek Mason’s protection regarded prefer it may get 70 held on it, however OSU’s D held Oklahoma scoreless in its closing 12 drives of the sport, forcing 9 three-and-outs.

OU had 299 yards of whole offense within the first quarter and solely 135 yards within the closing three. OSU’s protection did sufficient to win the sport. Was the beginning one thing out of a horror film? Yeah, however this wasn’t on OSU’s D.

8. And It Wasn’t Even Eric Grey

In the event you would’ve advised me getting into this sport that OU was going to win, I’d’ve assumed Sooner working again Eric Grey would’ve had about 200 speeding yards and three touchdowns. He had 90 speeding yards and one rating.

9. OK, Let’s Discuss Offense

Over OSU’s previous 4 video games, the Cowboys are averaging 12.3 factors per. For reference Iowa (IOWA) is averaging 23.5 over its final 4.

It’s unhealthy, and it begins up entrance. OSU can’t run the ball, and with two video games left, it’s protected to imagine the Cowboys aren’t going to determine it out between at times.

OSU had two receivers (Brennan Presley and Braydon Johnson) with greater than 100 receiving yards Saturday and got here away with 13 factors. It’s virtually inconceivable.

Sure, the Cowboys are banged up extra now than they’ve been in a protracted whereas. Sanders has been damage, receivers have been damage, working backs have been damage and the offensive line continues to be taking part in its yearslong sport of “musical chairs.” However 12.3 factors a sport isn’t going to do it.

By Oklahoma State offensive requirements, that is downright horrendous, however even by regular school soccer requirements, this has been unhealthy.

10. The place Does This Go from Right here?

After Saturday, OSU is formally out of the Huge 12 title race, so what now?

One of the best OSU can do is end 9-4 after some bowl win, and that form of looks like what this 12 months may quantity to.

OSU will most likely discover a technique to squeak by a West Virginia crew ready to fireplace its coach subsequent weekend earlier than going to some bowl and handing it off to a defensive lineman and pulling off some quarterback throwback that’ll be enjoyable and propel OSU ahead. That’s what Gundy groups do in spots like this. However after the Texas sport, it simply felt like this crew was destined for a lot extra.