AUSTIN, TX — Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0, 3-0) snapped a two-game losing streak to the Texas Longhorns (4-3, 2-2), defeating Steve Sarkisian’s team 32-24 at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium.
Texas led in the game until late in the fourth quarter when Tanner Brown kicked a 25-yard field goal with 4:37 remaining to give Oklahoma State a 25-24 lead, their first of the game. The Cowboys scored again after stuffing Casey Thompson on 4th and 3, securing the win and maintaining a perfect record on the season.
Texas quarterback Casey Thompson played with his thumb wrapped, after injuring it last week in Dallas against the Sooners. Thompson threw for 179 yards and one touchdown pass, and had two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. He was forced out of the game for one play late in the third quarter after being hit by Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.
Bijan Robinson eclipsed the century mark on the ground for the fifth straight game, finishing with 135 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
Marcus Washington who started at wideout in place of the injured Jordan Whittington, led all Texas receivers with 60 yards on two receptions.
Oklahoma State rushed for 220 yards and quarterback Spencer Sanders threw for 178 yards and a touchdown. Utah State transfer Jaylen Warren led all rushers with 193 yards on 33 carries including a long of 29 yards.
Linebacker Demarvion Overshown was injured in the first half of the game and did not return.
Texas falls to 4-3 overall and has lost two in a row.
The Longhorns have a much-needed bye week next week before traveling to Waco to face the Baylor Bears on Halloween Eve.
GAME RECAP
The Longhorns scored on the game’s opening possession, marching 75 yards downfield and ending with Bijan Robinson’s 1-yard rushing touchdown.
After punting on their first drive, Oklahoma State threatened in the red zone, but ended up settling for a 21-yard field goal by Tanner Brown.
The Longhorns responded with a field goal of their own, courtesy of Cameron Dicker, from 28 yards out to give Texas a 10-3 advantage.
Following another punt by the Cowboys, Bijan Robinson’s 26 yard run set up another scoring drive for the Longhorns. Robinson rushed for another 9 yards before Roschon Johnson entered for a short-yardage play in which he picked up a first down. Robinson came back in on the next play and caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Casey Thompson, extending the Texas lead to 17-3 over Oklahoma State.
D’Shawn Jamison picked off Cowboy quarterback Spencer Sanders, giving Texas the ball in Cowboy territory. On the ensuing drive, Jason Taylor II picked off Casey Thompson and returned it 85 yards for Oklahoma State’s first touchdown of the game.
The Cowboys added another Tanner Brown field goal just before the halftime clock expired, sending Texas into the locker room with a 17-13 lead.
Oklahoma State’s offense went three and out to start the second half, and Texas made quick work on their next possession.
An 18-yard reception by Xavier Worthy and a 12-yard rush by Casey Thompson set up Bijan Robinson’s second rushing touchdown of the day, this time from 38 yards out. Texas led Oklahoma State 24-13 at that point.
After three and outs by both teams, Spencer Sanders was roughed by Texas linebacker Ray Thornton, extending a Cowboy drive that would have been over. Oklahoma State then drove deep into Texas territory but left with just three points on Tanner Brown’s third field goal of the day. The Cowboys trimmed the Texas lead to 24-16.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Casey Thompson took a nasty hit by Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, forcing Thompson to the sideline. Hudson Card replaced Thompson at quarterback for one snap before Thompson returned.
Oklahoma State’s first drive in the fourth quarter included a Jaylen Warren 27-yard run which set up Spencer Sanders’ first touchdown pass of the day, to Pressley Brennan for 7 yards. The Cowboys went for two to try and even the score, but failed to convert and left Texas holding a 24-22 lead.
The Texas offense continued to be stagnant, punting for the fourth straight time. Oklahoma State marched the field again but was forced to settle for another Tanner Brown field goal, this time from 25 yards out. Brown’s kick gave the Cowboys their first lead of the game, 25-24, with 4:37 remaining on the game clock.
The Longhorns were faced with a 4th & 3 on the ensuing drive and Casey Thompson was stuffed short of the first-down marker, giving Oklahoma State the ball back.
Spencer Sanders capped a 3-play, 42-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys a 32-24 lead, which they would hold onto as the game ended.
