Grades: Oklahoma State Fails Its Way to Passing Grade against Arkansas

Usually when I’m grading the Cowboys, I count a win as passing. So, yes, Oklahoma State passed the test that Arkansas gave it from the heralded SEC, but it was a course of failure with what was apparently a heavily weighted final.

OSU survived Arkansas in double overtime with a 39-31 win Saturday in Stillwater. But if not for being a curve with their classmates around them also failing to their job — the officials included — the Cowboys would have failed Week 2.

Here are my grades from a bizarre Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Defense: C-

It’s always a tale of two halves for this defense since Bryan Nardo took over last year. The defense kept OSU in this game at times and stepped up at the end, but you could also argue the defense was just filling in the hole it dug the Cowboys into.

The story of last week, and also last season, was Nardo’s defense giving up big plays. Big plays on StatBroadcast count as passes over 15 yards and rushes more than 10 yards. The Cowboys gave up 25 such plays to Arkansas. That helped boost the Razorbacks’ total yardage to 648.

Those numbers are truly abysmal and it’s a wonder it resulted in a win. However, the defense also attributed to this win, stopping Arkansas on a 4th-and-1 in double OT and forcing three turnovers, including a pick-six that was OSU’s only points of the first half.

Nardo’s defense did just enough to avoid failure.

Kasey Dunn: D+

Kasey Dunn is in control of an offense that features the best running back in college football, a seven-year quarterback, the most experienced offensive line in the country and a wide receiver room that’s as full as can be. Yet, the Cowboys’ offense wasn’t responsible for a single point in the first half. OSU’s offense didn’t even reach the end zone until there was 9:37 left in the fourth quarter.

A glaring stat for play calling and getting the ball to playmakers was Ollie Gordon’s 17 carries for 49 yards. OSU was playing from behind most of the game, but this was still the case early, with Gordon getting only six carries in the first half. Even Mike Gundy slipped after the game, “We got our ass kicked in the running game.”

I jokingly said I hope Dunn never searches his name on X. He consistently has fans coming for his head, and although I usually keep my pitchfork away and don’t join the mob, OSU’s offensive woes Saturday seem to fall on the man in control of it. However, that also means he gets the credit for coming through at the end and making enough happen for the Cowboys to win.

Alan Bowman: C

I gave Bowman his flowers last week, and rightfully so, but Saturday was a struggle for the seventh-year quarterback, especially in the first half. With the run game not there and the Cowboys playing from behind, the game was put on Bowman’s shoulders, and he pulled through, but he made it harder than it needed to be at times.

Bowman was 27-of-48 for 326 yards, a TD and an interception. Completing 56% of his passes, Bowman was off, especially compared to last week, under throwing targets frequently.

Nonetheless, Bowman did enough to pass (literally) and help get his team the win. Compared to the previous issues I’ve mentioned, I actually have the most faith in Bowman to bounce back and figure things out. This will be one of the worst outings we see out of Bowman.

Officials: D

There was free football at Boone Pickens Stadium, but there shouldn’t have been.

Logan Ward made a 38-yard field goal to give OSU the 31-28 lead with 55 seconds left. Arkansas got enough time to march down and tie the game as time expired, but it seems the Hogs never should have gotten that opportunity.

Before Ward’s attempt, OSU was flagged for false start, making the attempt five yards further. However, an Arkansas defender moved first, influencing the flinch for a false start. The five extra yards wasn’t the worst part, though, as the penalty stopped the clock while OSU was trying to milk as much as possible. Obviously Gundy was livid.

That officiating blunder seemingly caused the game to go into overtime and gave Arkansas three more chances to take down the Cowboys. That’s an even worse look when the officiating crew came from the SEC, the Hogs’ conference.

Welp. pic.twitter.com/kWTG1jg9Jw

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) September 7, 2024