Ranking Every Oklahoma State Game in 2023: No. 13 UCF
![Nov 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) is pushed out of bounds by Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Cameron Epps (7) during the second half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports Nov 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) is pushed out of bounds by Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Cameron Epps (7) during the second half at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3300,h_1856,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_pokes/01j3npcbjen121wq1j9k.jpg)
Oklahoma State was among the best in college football in the second half of 2023, but not every game went well.
After a disappointing 2-2 start, OSU rattled off five straight wins and controlled its destiny for the Big 12 title game. OSU capped the five-game winning streak with a comeback win against Oklahoma in the final Bedlam matchup on the schedule.
However, the Cowboys’ momentum from Bedlam was halted dramatically a week later. OSU had its first road matchup against one of the new conference opponents, traveling to UCF.
In Orlando, the Cowboys played through torrential rains and struggled to find anything to be optimistic about. The Knights won that game 45-3, as they held the Cowboys to their lowest-scoring total of the 2023 campaign.
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Ollie Gordon fumbled on OSU’s opening drive, followed by an Alan Bowman interception on the second. While OSU struggled to make anything happen, a 17-point deficit in the early stages of the second quarter seemed possible to overcome.
However, OSU’s offense again stalled out and had to punt, which led to John Rhys Plumlee’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Hudson. While UCF had a big play through the air to help it take a 24-0 lead to halftime, running back R.J. Harvey dominated.
Harvey finished the matchup with 24 carries for 206 yards and three touchdowns, easily outplaying Gordon, who finished with 12 carries for only 25 yards. OSU scored a field goal to start the second half and forced a fumble to set up deep in UCF territory before a Bowman interception ended the drive. UCF put the game out of reach on the first play after the interception with Harvey's 92-yard score on the ground.
OSU rebounded to win its final two regular season games and make the Big 12 Championship, but the team felt the hopelessness of September again in the mid-November blowout.
Ranking OSU's 2023 season:
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