Oklahoma State beating TCU proves Cowboys are legit Big 12 contenders
After beating the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday the Oklahoma State Cowboys should be more than an afterthought when it comes to winning the Big 12.
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Mike Riley might have his best team since 2011 and the Oklahoma State Cowboys should be considered a legitimate threat to win the Big 12 after soundly beating Trevone Boykin and the TCU Horned Frogs in Stillwater on Saturday afternoon.
The preseason darling looked anything but that against the Cowboys in the 49-29 loss that also saw Boykin throw four interceptions and made the Heisman candidate look like a mere mortal. Boykin threw for 445 yards and scored three touchdowns but they were mostly empty yards with Oklahoma State building a 28-9 lead at the half and forcing TCU to abandon the run, even more than normal.
Oklahoma State’s pass rush that leads the Big 12 in sacks and was tied for second in the nation with 29 entering the game is something TCU and the other preseason darling, Baylor don’t have to complement the top two offenses in the nation.
Mason Rudolph has led a great Oklahoma State offense, albeit with a couple of subpar performances earlier this year, but the sophomore quarterback had his best game of his career with five touchdowns and 352 yards on only 16 of 24 passing.
He’s taken his game to a new level in recent weeks with an average of 314 yards per game and a total of eight touchdowns since throwing three interceptions in the overtime win against West Virginia on Oct. 10.
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With Rudolph developing at a rapid pace and wide receiver James Washington playing out of his mind with 487 yards and six touchdowns in that same time span.
Oklahoma State got past the first of three tough opponents they’ll face this month with a dominant performance vs. TCU that should give them even more confidence than they already had after starting 8-0.
With Baylor and Oklahoma coming to Stillwater later this month, they get all their toughest games in the friendly confines, which could result in the Big 12 champion being the team pegged to finish in fourth place in the preseason.
But unlike Gundy’s team in 2011 that was bypassed for the BCS Championship Game, this year’s team should be allowed to play for the national title and be one of the four teams in the College Football Playoff.