Oklahoma State Football: 3 overreactions from Homecoming loss to Baylor
By John Scimeca
Oklahoma State football’s Homecoming celebration was spoiled by Baylor in Saturday’s 45-27 loss. Check yourselves before jumping to these conclusions.
We consoled ourselves after the 45-35 loss in Week 6 in Lubbock, Texas. We told ourselves that it was a road game, that the freshman quarterback was easily rattled in hostile confines, and that strange things can happen amid the tortilla-tossing, swashbuckling West Texas crowd — such as OSU turning the ball over five times.
The Week 8 loss to Baylor feels a little different for Oklahoma State fans. Yes, the Pokes led briefly in the fourth quarter before the Bears control for good, 31-27, on quarterback Charlie Brewer’s short two-yard run with 9:04 left.
But something doesn’t sit right with most OSU fans right now. Here are three overreactions to Saturday afternoon’s loss:
3. Spencer Sanders isn’t the answer
The redshirt freshman quarterback has now tallied eight turnovers in the past two games, both difficult losses against conference opponents from the Lone Star state. Oklahoma State now ranks as the seventh-worst team in the nation in turnover differential, at -9, and it has clearly swung momentum at the wrong time for the wrong team in the last two contests.
But I’m going to defend Sanders.
The Bears’ secondary bothered OSU’s receivers all afternoon, and Sanders showed the ability to unexpectedly extend plays. His final stat line wasn’t anything amazing, completing 18-of-32 passes for a touchdown and an interception, but Baylor is the Big 12’s top team in terms of sacks (nearly four per game) and this clearly affected Sanders.
He’s only started seven games at the collegiate level, and he’s got plenty of room to grow.