Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Big 12 Football Power Rankings 2017: Week 2 edition

By Phil Poling

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 17 : Head Coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys takes the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers September 17, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State defeated Pitt 45-38. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 17 : Head Coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys takes the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers September 17, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State defeated Pitt 45-38. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 11
Next
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 26: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys drops back to pass against the Texas Longhorns during the 1st quarter on September 26, 2015 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 26: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys drops back to pass against the Texas Longhorns during the 1st quarter on September 26, 2015 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

Mason Rudolph got the Cowboys off to a hot start in their season opener, throwing three touchdowns in the first half before adding one on the ground in the second. His accuracy and precision were on full display, completing 20 of 24 pass attempts for 303 yards.

More: 5 reasons Mason Rudolph is the best quarterback in the Big 12

On the first Cowboys’ score, Rudolph found LSU-transfer Tyron Johnson for his lone catch of the game and a 44-yard touchdown. James Washington was the target on the other two, one coming from 40 yards and another that went for 77 yards. Rudolph and Washington hooked up six times for 145 yards. It’s obvious Washington is the No. 1 guy, but three other players hauled in multiple catches.

Running back Justice Hill balanced the Oklahoma State offense, running for 132 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. He added three catches for 10 yards through the air.

Allowing 24 points defensively to the Golden Hurricanes isn’t particularly encouraging when you understand 17 of those came in one quarter. While the Cowboys scored 17 points in the second quarter, they also surrendered just as many to Tulsa. What happens when an Oklahoma, or a Texas Tech, or a West Virginia gets rolling offensively? Will the Oklahoma State defense be up for the challenge?

Home/Big 12