Oklahoma State Football: 3 takeaways from Cheez-It Bowl win over Miami

Oklahoma State football ended its 2020 season on a high note with a thrilling Cheez-It Bowl win over No. 18 Miami. What’d we learn?

After finishing the regular season with a 2-2 mark in their last four games, the Oklahoma State Cowboys limped into the Cheez-It Bowl to face Miami which had won five of its previous six games.

In the end, it would be Oklahoma State securing the win even without Chuba Hubbard and with Tylan Wallace playing just one half.

Granted, Miami did lose D’Eriq King to a knee injury in the first half, forcing N’Kosi Perry into action, but the Cowboys were the better team throughout and escaped Orlando with another bowl win for Mike Gundy — his fourth in the past five years.

What did we learn from this one?

3. Tylan Wallace will be missed

Call it what you want, but Tylan Wallace’s halftime exit was calculated and Mike Gundy and the staff said that this was the plan all along to just get him in for a half. He chose to sit the second half and it was probably a smart decision especially since he watched D’Eriq King get injured and miss the remainder of the game.

No, he’s not a quitter, but he wanted to make a decision that was best for his future and he felt that it wasn’t worth risking over the second half of the Cheez-It Bowl.

One thing is for certain, though: Wallace is going to be missed.

Wallace didn’t have to return for his senior year after his junior season was cut short with an injury but he felt he had unfinished business and pieced together quite the shortened season with 59 catches for 922 yards and six touchdowns. He finished his career at Oklahoma State with over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns on over 200 receptions.

What a career this kid had.

And he may have just handed the reins to freshman wide out Brennan Presley who had a breakout game with six catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns.