Texas Longhorns Must Contain Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon To Win Big 12 Championship

Everything for the Longhorns starts and ends with making Ollie Gordon obsolete on Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

Ollie Gordon is Oklahoma State's ace in the hole on Saturday at AT&T Stadium against Texas in the Big 12 championship, and everyone knows it. 

Sure, Cowboys quarterback Alan Bowman will need to limit the turnovers. Yes, the No. 7 Longhorns must utilize their passing attack to set up red-zone scoring opportunities. 

But everything for the Pokes resides on the legs of No. 0, the darling running back who single-handedly won games this season. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy however knows that's easier than done. 

“We have to find ways to block and balance our offense," Gundy told reporters Monday. "We would like to not be one dimensional. One dimensional has not been good for our team no matter who we played, much less as one as talented as Texas.”

Maybe the No. 20 Cowboys (9-3, 7-2 Big 12) would like to trust their passing game more, but Gordon's ability to be effective in space has been their best asset. And it's more than just the utilization of him as a runner. His hands might be one of the biggest factors that helped OK-State advance past teams like Oklahoma and Kansas. 

Gordon leads the nation in rushing yards. His 8.2 yards per reception have picked up countless first downs and kept drives at full-go. There's a reason he's the favorite to win Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and remains a dark horse to be invited to New York City as a Heisman finalist.

Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Alan Bowman (7) hands off to running back Ollie Gordon II (0) during the first quarter against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Few have been able to contain the sophomore from Fort Worth who didn't win the starting job out of fall camp in conference play. Gordon is averaging 163.4 yards per game against Big 12 opponents and has scored at least one touchdown in seven contests. 

For the Longhorns (11-1, 8-1 Big 12), taking a page out of Central Florida's game plan might be their best chance in stopping Gordon from surpassing the triple-digit marker. In a 45-3 loss to the Knights, Gordon totaled 25 yards on 12 carries and only picked up two first downs. He also fumbled on the opening drive, leading to a 7-yard touchdown pass by John Rhys Plumlee to Kobe Hudson. 

Texas' defense is built differently than UCF, so there's an advantage in game preparation. The Knights rank 121st in defending the run and simply caught OSU's offense slipping at the right time. The Longhorns, which ranks fifth in run defense, has only allowed one running back to rush for over 100 yards this season. 

“They’re 2.9 per carry which is tough for the guys rushing the football against them. It’s interesting," said Gundy. "They’re a 35-point team scoring and only give up 17 so they’re double.

"I’m going to say that for the most part, they’re going to do what they do. We’re in (game) 13 and there aren’t a lot of changes that are going to take place over a two-day preparation.”

Gordon, who could finish this season with over 20 touchdowns and more than 1,600 rushing yards, would have been playing Saturday regardless if he made a switch at the last second. Just before the stroke of Midnight during his recruitment process, Texas stepped up to offer him a scholarship. 

Oklahoma State Mike Gundy Explains What Makes Texas' Defense Line So Unique

But Gordon kept his commitment to Stillwater. He's run rampant over nearly everyone on his way back to play in front of his hometown Saturday morning. 

While he might not win college football's most distinguished award, he'll have the chance to end Texas' chance of making the College Football Playoff. 

That's if the Longhorns give him a lane to hit the open field.