Fourth Quarter Fumble Looms Over Chuba Hubbard’s Bedlam Breakout

There will be two ways people will remember Chuba Hubbard’s first Bedlam game: there is him nobly covering for an injured Justice Hill, and then his fumble in the fourth quarter.

Hubbard and Oklahoma State lost 48-47 to Oklahoma on Saturday, but for Hubbard, it was a breakout game. Filling in for Hill who left in the first half with reported bruised ribs, Hubbard had 22 carries for 104 yards and three touchdowns. He was also involved in the passing game, catching five balls on six targets for 49 yards.

“It was next man up,” OSU quarterback Taylor Cornelius said. “Chuba ran the ball well. He caught a couple passes out of the backfield, too. Nothing really changed offensively, really.”

Pessimists will scope in on a single play, though. With just over six minutes left, the game was tied at 41, and the Cowboys had the ball in OU territory. Hubbard, only a redshirt freshman, took a handoff and went 4 yards before getting rolled up on his leg, and he dropped the football. The Sooners recovered, abruptly stopping OSU’s attempt to take the lead. The fumble was the game’s only turnover.

Hubbard did all he could to make up for the mishap. He rushed for 26 yards on three carries during the Cowboys’ next drive, including his game long 18-yard run where he broke multiple tackles. The Cowboys went on to score off that drive, but would fail on a 2-point conversion attempt.

Hubbard has 987 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns this season. He totaled career highs in carries and yards in the Cowboys biggest game of every season. He is a blooming star, but like a couple of OSU players Saturday night, Hubbard will want one play back.

“I thought he did good,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “He ran hard. He put the ball on the ground. That’s the thing we stress all the time is ball security, but he’s young. He’s learnin’. I thought he ran hard and made some plays.”