South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Cowboys rally late to top Longhorns
No. 12 OSU scores 3rd straight win over a ranked opponent
AUSTIN, Texas — Facing a big early deficit on the road at Texas, Oklahoma State leaned on the two things that had kept the Cowboys undefeated so far: defense and a punishing run game that could grind out the final quarter.
Eventually the Longhorns folded. Again. Tanner Brown’s fourth field goal of the game gave the No. 12 Cowboys their first lead in the fourth quarter, and quarterback Spencer Sanders’ scrambling 10-yard touchdown run with 2:18 to play sealed a 32-24 victory as No. 25 Texas collapsed for the second consecutive game.
“We talk a lot about no fear, no frustration, no fatigue,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said.
Texas built leads of 17-3 and 24-13 behind three touchdowns from Bijan Robinson before the Cowboys’ defense started dominating the line of scrimmage and tailback Jaylen Warren began smashing the Longhorns for huge gains.
Brown’s kicking and Jason Taylor II’s 85-yard interception return for a touchdown kept Oklahoma State in the game early. Tanner McAlister’s interception with less than 2 minutes left ensured Oklahoma State’s third consecutive win over a ranked opponent, the first time that’s happened in school history.
The Cowboys allowed Texas just 317 total yards. Warren finished with 193 yards rushing on 33 carries, pounding out 154 yards in the second half rally.
Sanders pulled Oklahoma State within 24-22 with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Presley. Brown’s 29-yard field goal put the Cowboys ahead.
Sanders had three key turnovers in a loss to Texas last year but kept the big mistakes to a minimum and was steady late. He was 19 of 32 for 178 yards with only one turnover. Even that one didn’t hurt as Taylor’s interception returned the favor and kept Texas from pulling away.
“I didn’t play too good, but I didn’t hang my head,” Sanders said. “The second half we overcame adversity. I’m proud of our guys.”
Texas still had time to possibly retake the lead, but the Cowboys defense stuffed the Longhorns on fourth down at the Texas 42. Sanders scored two plays later and Oklahoma State then sealed the victory with Tanner McAlister’s interception with 1:57 to play. Robinson led Texas with 135 yards on 21 carries, his fifth consecutive 100-yard game and sixth this season.
“This is two weeks in a row where we’re just trying to hold as opposed to attacking,” first-year Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I think that we do that, just hoping the other team might make a mistake. Oklahoma State didn’t make a mistake. They just kept playing their game.”