Oklahoma State falls to Texas in the Big 12 opener 36-30
In the Big 12 opener, Oklahoma State was looking for their fifth-straight win over the Texas Longhorns, their sixth-straight in Austin, and had a chance with a minute and a half left to go in the game, but failed to recover an onside kick as Texas held on late to win 36-30. Oklahoma State drops to 3-1 on the season and start Big 12 play 0-1.
This was the Longhorn's first win over Oklahoma State in Austin since the 2008 season when Colt McCoy was the starting quarterback.
"I was really proud of our team, the way they fought tonight, continued to come back," said Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy. "We had our chances, we just didn't capitalize. We kicked too many field goals and/or set up to kick too many field goals. We've got to punch it in. The game now is played -- so much of the game is now played inside the 15 yard line, so we need to be more productive and scoring touchdowns and not kicking field goals, and obviously it changed the outcome. So, we've got a lot to work on. They made some plays, we made some plays, it's kind of that game. You've got two good teams playing against each other. So, we've got to get back and get to work and try to continue to get better. Just basic fundamentals in all three phases.
Spencer Sanders and Chuba Hubbard were able to put up yards against Texas, but never seemed to get it going as the progressed.
Sanders, playing in his first Big 12 games as an Oklahoma State quarterback, finished the night going 19-of-32 or 268 yards and two interceptions. He also carried the ball 18 times for 109 yards and one touchdown.
As for Hubbard, he carried the ball 37 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
When it comes to the Longhorns, quarterback Sam Ehlinger had a solid game. He finished the night going 20-of-28 for 281 yards with four touchdowns. He also carried the ball for 10 yards for 70 yards. Running back Keaontay Ingram also had a strong game as he carried the ball 21 times for 114 yards.
While Texas went 0-1 on fourth down conversions, they really hurt the Pokes throughout the night as they converted on 8-of-14 of their third down attempts.
On the defensive side of the ball for the Pokes, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga led the way with 11 tackles, seven of which were solo stops. Safety Kolby Harvell-Peel recorded nine total tackles for the Pokes, six of which were solo stops with one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Corner Kemah Siverand also recovered a fumble.
The Cowboys were off to a fast start after receiving the opening kick and starting on their own 21 yard line. After a couple of Texas defensive stops, Spencer Sanders found a wide-open Tylan Wallace a few times as they moved the ball down the field to the one-yard line. Unfortunately, Texas came up with a strong goal line stop forcing the Pokes to settle for a field goal.
After a rather defensive first quarter, Texas drove down the field at the end of the first quarter and scored in the opening play of the second quarter putting the Longhorns up 7-3.
Spencer Sanders was working out a few jitters in the first half when Texas hauled in an interception that they returned to the OSU 28 yard line. Sanders had a wide-open lane to pick up a first down down the left side of the field, but sailed a pass on a target to cowboy back Jelani Woods.
That pick led to a 17-yard pass from Ehlinger to Jake Smith putting the Longhorns up 14-3. But the Pokes weren't done yet, they'd battle back and with less than a minute remaining in the half, caught a big break.
After scoring a touchdown, Texas freshman Jake Smith muffed a punt and Kolby Harvell-Peel scooped it up on the Texas 15-yard line. Just a few plays later, Hubbard would find pay dirt from the one-yard line bringing the game to one point, 21-20.
The Pokes came up with a big stop on the opening drive of the second half and were able to drive down the field on the ensuing drive. Unfortunately, Texas was able to come up with another strong red zone stop. forcing the Pokes to kick another field goal putting the Pokes back on top 23-21. That was Oklahoma State's first lead since the first quarter.
On the next drive, Texas would connect on a little trickery as Sam Ehlinger and tight end Cade Brewer would connect on a flea flicker putting Texas back on top.
Momentum shifted back to the Pokes a few plays after another Texas goal line stand. On third and long, corner Rodarius Williams tipped an Ehlinger pass allowing Kolby Harvell-Peel to come up with the pick, Ehlinger's first interception on the season.
However, the Pokes weren't able to make anything happen and failed to convert on a fourth down fake field goal attempt allowing Texas to recover the fumble on their own 27-yard line. The fumble recovery and two penalties by A.J. Green for 25-yards led to another Texas score, bringing the score back to 36-23.
With just over a minute and a half left in the game, Chuba Hubbard was able to find the end zone putting the Pokes back within six points, 36-30, but couldn't recover the onside kick to try and complete the comback.
Oklahoma State will face Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Stillwater in the Pokes' Big 12 home opener. The kickoff for that game is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
