Iowa State can’t finish vs. OSU

STILLWATER, Okla. — Welcome back, Spencer Sanders.

Sanders passed for 235 yards and ran for 71 and a touchdown in his return from injury, leading No. 6 Oklahoma State past No. 17 Iowa State 24-21 on Saturday.

Sanders had been out since injuring his right ankle in the season-opener against Tulsa.

Chuba Hubbard ran for 139 yards and a touchdown for Oklahoma State (4-0, 3-0 Big 12), which joined Kansas State as the only remaining undefeated teams in conference play.

“I was really frustrated with myself for getting hurt, but I’m glad I’m back,” Sanders said.

Added Cowboys offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn: “He’s so dynamic.”

The Cyclones (3-2, 3-1) vaulted onto the national radar by beating Oklahoma earlier in the month and were seeking their first ever 4-0 start in conference play. Iowa State’s Breece Hall, who was second nationally in yards rushing per game, ran for a career-high 185 yards.

With Oklahoma State leading 14-7 late in the second quarter, Iowa State drove deep into Oklahoma State territory but had to settle for a field-goal attempt. Con

nor Assalley’s 33-yard kick bounced off the right upright with 1:22 left in the first half. It was his second missed field goal of the first half, and Oklahoma State took its seven-point lead into the break.

Hall broke away for a 66-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and the Cyclones tied the game at 14.

Sanders’ 14-yard TD run on the next possession gave the Cowboys the lead again, and Alex Hale’s 31-yard field goal pushed the lead to 24-14.

Brock Purdy threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Hutchinson with 49 seconds remaining to trim Oklahoma State’s lead to 24-21. Oklahoma State recovered Iowa State’s onside kick, and the Cowboys ran out the clock.

The Associated Press Brody Schmidt Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders played for the first time since the season opener and led the Cowboys to a win vs. Iowa State.