Oklahoma State Football: 3 takeaways from devastating loss to Texas

Oklahoma State football went into Saturday’s game undefeated and ranked sixth in the AP Poll and the Big 12’s lone chance at the playoff.

Mike Gundy navigated a tumultuous offseason and positioned his Oklahoma State squad at 4-0 heading into their matchup with Texas.

After a thrilling overtime game, both Oklahoma State’s undefeated season and their playoff hopes evaporated.

Still, there are some positives to find from the game.

3. Spencer Sanders is the real deal

If there was any doubt that Spencer Sanders was a big-time quarterback, those were squashed Saturday.

Sanders, the former four-star quarterback from Texas (who was not offered by the Longhorns), threw for 400 yards and engineered an impressive game-tying drive at the end of the fourth quarter.

After missing a month following an ankle injury in the opener against Tulsa, Sanders has returned in in a big way, accumulating 635 passing yards and five passing touchdowns in his two games since returning. He relied heavily on star receiver Tylan Wallace who hauled in 11 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

After receiving a redshirt in his first season on campus, Sanders threw for 2,065 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2019, albeit with 11 interceptions. In 2020, Sanders has taken a huge step forward, commanding a potentially potent offense, and elevating the play of those around him.

Wallace has seemingly returned to his 2018 form (1,491 yards and 12 touchdowns), while the pressure on Chuba Hubbard has lessened.