INSTANT RECAP - Oklahoma State vs TCU

Well that was fun. 9-0. Let that just sink in for a minute, Cowboy fans. For only the third time in program history, the Pokes have been unbeaten at this point of the season. Two of those times have been in Mike Gundy's tenure.

I'm going to be honest, I was not expecting a win like this. I actually stated in this week's roundtable that the Cowboys couldn't keep TCU under 30. It's good to be wrong sometimes. Let's look at how the Cowboys kept their season unblemished and their CFP hopes very much alive.

After the teams traded a couple three and out's, the Pokes defense set the tone when Jordan Burton picked off Trevone Boykin for his first interception of the game. The offense added to that momentum with a 48 yard touchdown from Mason Rudolph to James Washington. This would be a growing trend. TCU scored to make it 7-6 after Vincent Taylor blocked their PAT. Oklahoma State would score another touchdown in the first quarter on this time a 50 yard Rudholph-to-Washington connection. The Cowboys defense held TCU to a field goal giving the Pokes a 14-9 lead to end the first.

In the second quarter Oklahoma State kept rolling with a Mason Rudolph touchdown dump pass to Jeff Carr and then an 82 yard bomb to Marcell Ateman for 14 points. The Pokes would lead at the half 28-9 and never really looked back.

While OSU's offense looked good in the first half, its defense looked fantastic. That was the lowest scoring half for the Horned Frogs all year. The Cowboy secondary covered well making Boykin hold on to the football. The Cowboys who have had a bad habit of starting slow this season stuck it to the Frogs early.

In the second half, the TCU defense struck back a bit and tried to steal some momentum from OSU. But thanks to some great punting by Zach Sinor and the defense playing well, the Cowboys were able to stay in control of the game. This would have been a time where some teams might have played like they were ahead. But the defense showed none of that. They were ball hawking and fly around late in the fourth with a three score lead like they were down 10. You can't give enough credit to this coaching staff, especially Glenn Spencer. He had his players ready.

Some unorganized thoughts on the game:

• It was announced before game time (what had been reported earlier this week) that starting DE Jimmy Bean was out for the season with a knee injury. Next man up. Trace Clark played well. The defense didn't hang its head and Ogbah still looked unstoppable.

• This offensive line might be improving guys. Pass protection was really good tonight, aside from one sack and a couple of penalties. Rudolph had time to throw four huge deep balls.

• The Pokes scored 49 points on 53 total plays!!!

• Chad Whitener is my hero. I'm getting one of those life size sticky things of him to hang in my daughter's bedroom.

• James Washington is good. I already knew this. Gus Johnson listed the great OSU receivers: Hart Lee Dykes, Dez Bryant, Justin Blackmon and James Washington. Maybe he is great. He looked the part today.

• At the end of the first half, Mason was cruising down the field and the coaches put J.W. in and then had to call a timeout. That pretty much killed all the momentum the offense had going and killed the drive. Not to nick-pick here but leave the kid in while he's hot if you ask me.

• The Cowboys may have cost Trevone Boykin a Heisman trophy. Who knows? He's very good. But four interceptions. I guess it didn't hurt RGIII.

  

• I kept thinking all game, "This reminds me a lot of the '13 Baylor game. Hopefully, so will the '15 Baylor game.

• Uh oh. We're going to Ames next week. I heard Robert Allen say Gundy should show the TV footage of the '11 ISU game to his players this week. I agree.

• I'm in. I was skeptical before but I just mixed up a gallon batch of the orange kool-aid and will be selling it in my driveway for a handshake. Come get some.