Instacap: OSU Can’t Complete Historic Comeback, Fall 45-40 to Kansas State

Oklahoma State dropped its third home game of the season 45-40 to Kansas State despite a near historic comeback in the fourth quarter.

Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way and sometimes it feels like you should have just stayed in bed. For much of this game, the Cowboys looked somewhere between lethargic and inept, and were outplayed in all three phases by Kansas State.

For the first three quarters, redshirt freshman Skylar Thompson — 10 of 13 for 204 yards and three TDs, and 93 rushing yards and another score — got the best of OSU’s all-time leading passer, senior Mason Rudolph. Rudolph ended with 425 yards but going 32 of 53 with three passing TDs and two interceptions. Rudolph also added a rushing score.

After the two teams traded touchdowns on the opening two possessions of the game, Oklahoma State looked mostly stagnant when it wasn’t shooting itself in the foot. The Cowboys defense had its moments but gave up big passing plays over the top to a third-string redshirt freshman QB.

The Cowboys pulled to within 5 in the fourth quarter despite trailing 42-13 towards the end of the third. Rudolph’s touchdown pass to Dillon Stoner made it 45-40, but his 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted in the end zone. An unsuccessful onside kick gave the Wildcats good field position but another stop got the Cowboys the ball back with 2:16 left near midfield and a chance at the go-ahead score.

But four straight incomplete passes would spell doom for Rudolph and Co. Several of the senior’s passes were overthrown during the game but two of those last four touched the hands of James Washington and Justice Hill.

Kansas State’s leading receiver, Byron Pringle had a career-high 166 yards and three receiving scores as well as 114 kickoff return yards including an 89-yard score as a replacement for the injured D.J. Reed.

Oklahoma State’s defense gave up 6.8 yards per play, Oklahoma (10.4) is the only team to log a better number against the Cowboys.

This the first season since Mike Gundy’s inaugural 2005 campaign that the Cowboys lost three home games. That team went 4-7 (1-7 in the Big 12).

Next up, the Cowboys close their regular season welcoming Kansas next Saturday.