Earlier this week, we looked at part one of the two part Oklahoma State 2016 schedule analysis. Part two features the bulk of the Big 12 conference games for the Cowboys, including their biggest rivalry game, against Oklahoma. Be sure to check out games one through five if you haven’t done so.
Oklahoma State 2016 Schedule Analysis: Games 6-12
Game 6: Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State, October 8th (Kickoff Time TBA)
After a red hot start to the season winning five straight, the Cowboys look to keep it rolling against the Cyclones. Iowa State comes into the game with a 2-3 record, still seeking their first Big 12 win. Running back Mike Warren is one of the surprise running backs in the nation, rushing for over 800 yards and eight touchdowns in his first five games. Iowa State is looking for revenge after a close Cowboys victory in 2015, 35-31. OSU is looking for their fifth consecutive victory against Iowa State.
Iowa State quarterback Joel Lanning kicks off the game fast with a 35-yard pass to Allen Lazard, putting the Cyclones in field goal range. Mason Rudolph responds with what will be the first of many touchdown passes to James Washington on the day. Barry Sanders Jr. and Chris Carson have their way with the Cyclone defense and rush for over 200 yards combined and two touchdowns. Iowa State’s running game is the only thing giving them any hope. Warren notches two touchdowns and 125 yards in the first half.
The Cowboys start the second half strong with the second touchdown from Rudolph to Washington on the day, giving the Pokes a 35-17 lead early in the third quarter. Lanning is sacked by Jarrell Owens and Jordan Brailford three times in the second half, stalling the Cyclone offense. Carson gets his second touchdown on the day to end the third quarter with the Cowboys leading 42-17. An early fourth quarter touchdown pass to Trever Ryen gives the Cyclones some chance to start a big comeback. However, any hopes of an Iowa State comeback are dismissed on a 72 yard touchdown pass to Washington, his third on the day. The Cowboys win big.
Oklahoma State 49, Iowa State 27
Game 7: Oklahoma State at KansasOctober 22nd (Kickoff Time TBA)
The Cowboys come out of their first bye week of the season looking to stay undefeated. Kansas is hoping to pull a massive upset and stop their losing streak against the Cowboys at eight games. The Jayhawks come into the game at 1-5, looking for their first Big 12 win since the 2014 season. Ryan Willis and Ke’aun Kinner are the lone bright spots of what’s been a rough season for the Kansas offense.
Rudolph and Washington look to stay hot after they combined for three touchdowns against Iowa State. Oklahoma State wide receiver Marcell Ateman has his breakout game of the season against Kansas catching ten passes for over 100 yards and two touchdowns. Rudolph gets seven different receivers at least one catch on the day. He also passes for five touchdowns with his only big mistake coming on an interception by Kansas safety Fish Smithson. Running back Jeff Carr runs strong behind the Cowboy offensive line for his first 100 yard performance of the season. Willis has a tough day with only 205 yards passing, one touchdown, and one interception. Kinner gets another 75 yards on the ground and one touchdown.
Oklahoma State 42, Kansas 14
Game 8: Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia, October 29th (Kickoff Time TBA)
It’s homecoming week in Stillwater and the Cowboys have started 7-0 for the second straight season. West Virginia comes into the game at 4-2, coming off a close loss to TCU the week before. Quarterback Skyler Howard and wide receiver Shelton Gibson turned into one of the best combos in the Big 12. Running back Russel Shell is also a threat that OSU will have to prepare extra for. The Mountaineers want revenge for a close loss to the Cowboys in Morgantown in 2015.
Carr gets his first start of the season for the Cowboys coming off his first 100 yard performance of the season. West Virginia forces a Rudolph fumble that is forced and recovered by defensive tackle Noble Nwachukwu on the first drive of the game. Shell punches it in on a six yard touchdown run on the Mountaineers first drive of the game.
However, Jalen McCleskey returns the following kickoff for a 99 yard touchdown. Neither offense can get much going and the Moutaineers carry a 13-10 lead into halftime. Mason Rudolph passes for his first touchdown of the game to start the second half. Both offenses go back and forth to end the third quarter, with a 24-20 Cowboy lead to start the fourth quarter. Rudolph hits Ateman for his third touchdown of the season to start the fourth quarter. Carr rushes for one more touchdown. The Mountaineers make a spirited comeback but fall one possession short.
Oklahoma State 38, West Virginia 30
Game 9: Oklahoma State at Kansas State, November 5th
The first week of the College Football Playoff rankings have the Cowboys just outside the playoff at number five. Kansas State has been one of the surprise teams of the Big 12 coming into this game 6-2, and 4-1 in conference play. Jesse Ertz has taken a strong hold on the starting quarterback job for the Wildcats. However, the Cowboys are looking to win for the first time in Manhattan since 2010.
Ertz starts off the first quarter with two straight touchdowns for the Wildcats. Rudolph has a rough start to the game, only completing 30 percent of his passes with one interception, in the first quarter. Carr continues his touchdown streak to three games with a touchdown to end the first quarter. The Cowboys and Wildcats swap touchdowns to finish the first half.
Furthermore, the Wildcats start off the second half with a field goal to take a 27-14 lead. Rudolph responds with a 17 yard touchdown pass to Blake Jarwin. KSU running back Charles Jones finds the end zone on the following drive. The fourth quarter starts strong for Rudolph with two touchdowns, which gives the Cowboys their first lead of the game. However, Rudolph throws an interception with six minutes to go. The Wildcats convert a 40 yard field goal on what will be the game winning drive.
Kansas State 37, Oklahoma State 35
Game 10: Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech, November 12th (Kickoff Time TBA)
Coming off their first loss of the season, the Cowboys are looking for a big win against a slumping Texas Tech team. The Red Raiders have lost three in a row in what was their toughest stretch of games of the entire season. Patrick Mahomes has put up huge numbers so far, but the defense is as bad as ever. Fans are expecting a high scoring game after the two teams put up 123 points combined in their 2015 meeting.
Oklahoma State dominates the first half of the game, and Sanders Jr. has his best performance in the last four weeks. As a result, Texas Tech is down by double digits at halftime for the third straight week. Rudolph puts up his third touchdown of the game to kick off the second half, giving the Cowboys a huge 38-14 lead. Mahomes leads a strong Red Raider comeback at the end of the third quarter. The Red Raiders put up a 21-7 scoring run, giving the Cowboys a 45-35 lead to start the fourth quarter. Furthermore, Sanders Jr. scores another touchdown for his second on the day. The Cowboys put up a 17 point fourth quarter. Sanders Jr. finishes his strongest performance of the season with 225 yards and three total touchdowns.
Oklahoma State 62, Texas Tech 38
Game 11: Oklahoma State at TCU, November 19th (Kickoff Time TBA)
After responding well to their first loss of the season, the Cowboys meet with the Horned Frogs for their first top 15 match-up of the season. Both teams only have one conference loss heading into the game. Kenny Hill has had an up and down season for the Frogs, but has led them to a solid season so far.
Rudolph and Hill both get three touchdowns in the first half, to set up an epic quarterback battle that will be one of the best of the season. The Cowboys struggle to stop KaVontae Turpin as he collects 125 total yards and two touchdowns in the first half as well. However, the Horned Frogs can’t seem to put together any sort of an effective pass rush as they only get one sack on the day from Josh Carraway. The two teams head into halftime tied at 28.
Rudolph finds Washington deep for a 55 yard touchdown pass to start the second half. Hill responds with a ten yard touchdown run on the next drive. The third quarter ends quietly with a 45-42 Cowboy lead. Hill starts off the fourth quarter with a 45 yard touchdown on a screen to Deante’ Gray. The game ends up coming down to the last drive. Rudolph caps off a clutch 80 yard touchdown drive with a pass to Ateman with 14 seconds remaining. The Cowboys pull off the upset in Fort Worth.
Oklahoma State 52, TCU 49
Game 12: Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, December 3rd (Kickoff Time TBA)
Bedlam, it’s finally here. Both teams come into the game with only one loss. Oklahoma’s chances at the CFP and winning the Big 12 come down to this game, and whether Ohio State can win the Big 10. The stage is set for another Big 12 deciding Bedlam game.
Baker Mayfield and Rudolph are both right in the thick of the Heisman race. Both defenses hold strong for a 3-3 tie at the end of the first quarter. The Sooners are expecting a heavy dose of Sanders Jr. in this game. As a result, their defensive line holds the Cowboy rushing attack to only 45 yards in the first half. OSU’s offensive line struggles to block in both the passing and running game, much different than their strong play previous to this game. Samaje Perine ends the scoring drought to end the first half with a seven yard touchdown run. However, Carson finds the end zone on the first play of the second half. Mayfield and Rudolph swap touchdowns to end the third quarter. A quiet fourth quarter ends with a clutch Dede Westbrook touchdown to give the Sooners the win.
Oklahoma State 23, Oklahoma 30
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