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Oklahoma State Football: Spencer Sanders harnessing his gunslinger game

By Collin Wieder

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive lineman Devin Drew #90 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders sacks quarterback Spencer Sander #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the college football game at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive lineman Devin Drew #90 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders sacks quarterback Spencer Sander #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the college football game at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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AMES, IA – OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Spencer Sanders #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys passes the ball to wide receiver Brennan Presley #80 in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Spencer Sanders #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys passes the ball to wide receiver Brennan Presley #80 in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

3. Reducing turnovers

Starting with Oklahoma State football’s Week 5 win at Texas, Spencer Sanders has played the best football of his career. He’s completed 122-of-199 passes for 1,430 yards, 11 touchdowns against four interceptions while adding 314 rushing yards, and four touchdowns with no fumbles lost on the ground.

He’s averaging just 204.2 yards per game through the air in those seven games, which likely won’t entice fans of the modern, pass-happy college and pro game. Nevertheless, Sanders is doing plenty for this offense. For one, his touchdown-to-turnover ratio in that span is nearly 4-to-1.

The former gunslinger has embraced more of a game manager style of play. He understands where the Cowboys’ strengths lie: on defense and with the ground game. He isn’t taking as many unnecessary risks. The defense holds opponents down, the run game melts the clock and Sanders takes care of the ball until he’s called upon to make some elite plays with his arm or legs.

He is willing to take a check-down or take off and run when the play isn’t there. Obviously, he’s still prone to turnovers like the two picks last week versus Oklahoma, but he made plays later in the contest to make up for that. And outside of that contest, he’s not had a multi-turnover game since Baylor.

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