In a game that lasted just under six hours, Oklahoma State proved that they were ready to exercise the demons from last week’s debacle against Central Michigan. Luckily, a win tonight means that there likely won’t be lasting effects from last weekend.
The Cowboys went bombs away for the first 35 minutes of the game on offense. James Washington had over 230 yards receiving before halftime, Mason Rudolph obliterated the single game passing record, and Rennie Childs rumbled his way for 4 touchdowns with 103 yards rushing. No, that’s not a typo, Oklahoma State actually had a running back rush for over 100 yards.
With all of that, it’s a wonder how Oklahoma State didn’t run away with this game. We knew Pittsburgh was going to be a tough test for the Cowboys, and that proved true as the Panthers clawed their way back into a game with their backs on the mat. It seemed like every bounce went the Panthers way, but the Cowboys were resilient and grinded out a win against a very physical team.
Here are some of my thoughts on the big win in Stillwater tonight:
- That game had everything. Literally, everything. Missed calls, questionable review outcomes, and a lightning delay that lasted over two hours. Is that why we love college football? I hope so, because I’m not sure I can handle many more games like that.
The one thing this game was missing is a weather delay. WELL LUCKY CONTESTANT, TAKE A LOOK BEHIND DOOR NUMBER 3
— CRFF (@CowboysRFF) September 17, 2016
- OSU grinded out a win over a team that prides themselves on being grinders. Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt staff made some excellent adjustments after giving up over 400 yards in the first half. Midway through the 4th quarter, OSU had been held to just 86 yards of offense in the second half. That’s just another reason that OSU fans should feel great about this win.
- The running game has improved. Whether that is because of better running backs or improvement on the offensive line, I’m not sure. I do know this, though. The future is going to be bright with Justice Hill. He keeps impressing me and he is showing true potential. Rennie Childs also looked very good today, and that’s a promising anecdote for the remaining nine games of the season.
- This is hilarious:
Is this Daxx Garman appreciation day or something?
— Seth Krug (@Seth_Krug) September 17, 2016
- Mike Gundy said in his postgame press conference that the delay actually helped his team, adding that it allowed them to “get a lot of coaching done.” When word came down that there was a delay, I was ready to throw in the towel. Props to the coaches for making the most of it.
- For all of the mixed emotions towards #StripeBPS, it was a roaring success. It looked fantastic on TV. Solid effort on everyone’s part. Super duper! Neat-o, gang!
BPS #okstate pic.twitter.com/NDrRTQpBSU
— Sarah Phipps (@sarahcphipps) September 17, 2016
- What was up with all of the deep passes? I wish I could be a fly on the wall for a halftime discussion between Mike & Mike. I know they worked on occasion, but the feast or famine style of play is somewhat concerning. We won’t worry about that tonight, though.
- Speaking of deep passes, Mason Rudolph just broke the single game passing record at Oklahoma State, and I don’t think it’s asinine to say that he wasn’t sharp. He missed some throws high, and looked quite rattled in that 3rd quarter. It’s pretty insane that he blew a previously granite-cased record out of the water, and we are sitting here talking about high throws. It’s slightly concerning, but for now, revel in the record.
- Look at how awesome that is ...
Rainbow over Boone Pickens.. pic.twitter.com/pFss8bBIvZ
— Joe Johnson (@CowboyJoeDesign) September 17, 2016
- Moving to something not so awesome, Oklahoma State did everything they could to keep Pitt in that game. OSU was driving to go up three scores and an erred handoff attempt gave Pitt the ball at the OSU 40. The next play, Nathan Peterman found a wide open receiver to bring them back within a touchdown. That’s where this game went on a tilt. If OSU scores on that drive, I think we’re sitting here talking about a blowout win.
- I think I’m just going to schedule this tweet for 3:45 every Saturday afternoon. Life as an OSU fan, summed up in one GIF.
— CRFF (@CowboysRFF) September 17, 2016
- Oklahoma State has plenty of problems (all of which are correctable) but we learned a lot about this team tonight. We know they are going to struggle running the football (even though they ran it well against the best defensive line in the ACC), and we know that this team won’t quit. With everything going against them today, they could have folded. They didn’t. We will dissect more of these issues later in the week, but right now, OSU just got a great win over a team that they did not match up well with. They will be just fine.
- OSU escapes with the win, but the officials once again were at the center of controversy late in the second quarter. Had this touchdown stood and OSU lost, I think you would’ve had to physically remove Mike Gundy from midfield, and force him to put his polo back on.
I mean that’s just not a TD. pic.twitter.com/PRo0gGgOqs
— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguy) September 17, 2016
- We’re sure this game is over, right? Like, we’re surely sure? No striped-shirt wearing man is going to take it away?
The Cowboys head to Waco next week, and it’s surely going to be a fantastic matchup. We will have plenty of coverage in the coming days on tonight’s win, but for now, we can all go to bed happy.
Go Pokes!