Grades: Oklahoma State Aces First Easy Assignment of Season

Sometimes assignments are just get it completed and receive the easy credit. And Oklahoma State understood the assignment.

The Cowboys manhandled Tulsa 45-10 on Saturday in what could have been a trap game sandwiched between an SEC matchup and a date with the Big 12 preseason favorite. But OSU just did what it needed to and got through nonconference play unscathed with Utah up next.

Here are grades from the Pokes’ first blowout of the season.

Alan Bowman: A

I don’t care what Kevin Wilson thinks, it seems like a seven-year quarterback is good to have around.

Playing like a veteran, Bowman completed 77% of his passes for 396 yards and five touchdowns. He was a TD shy of throwing more than any FBS player so far this season. His only blemish was an interception in the third quarter, which was the only difference in him getting a 100% and A+ here.

There wasn’t a level Bowman couldn’t get the ball to and excelled with the deep ball — throwing TDs of 78 and 63 yards. Bowman played his best game as a Cowboy two weeks ago. Saturday was even better.

Pass Block: A+

Bowman went through OSU’s entire nonconference slate, which included an SEC defense, without getting sacked.

OSU’s offensive line has been tremendous in protecting Bowman. Not only was Bowman untouched Saturday, TU didn’t even breathe on him without even a quarterback hurry.

Experience obviously plays a role in the poise Bowman shows in the pocket, but the big guys blocking for Bowman might be his biggest comfort.

Run Block: C

While this group of big guys has been maybe the best in the country at pass blocking, not even the best running back in college football can find a hole behind it.

Reigning Doak Walker winner Ollie Gordon averaged only 2.4 yards a carry against an overmatched TU defense that should have presented a stat-padding kind of day for Gordon. And it’s not because Gordon is running poorly. He’s having to break tackles and getting slowed down before he even gets to the line of scrimmage.

This has been an issue even Mike Gundy has been publicly frustrated with. And it’s even more head scratching knowing this is the same group that paved the way for Gordon to lead the nation in rushing yards a year ago.

Defense: A

TU’s offense has been below average in its two showings against FBS teams, but Bryan Nardo’s defense still did everything it needed to Saturday, and even fixed the issues it had, at least for the day.

The Golden Hurricane totaled 352 yards and didn’t get points on the board until the fourth quarter. Even when Bowman threw an interception in OSU territory, the Cowboys then got a pick of their own and reversed everything to make OSU the one with great field position instead.

The biggest knock on this defense has been giving up big plays. On Saturday, the Cowboys gave up five plays of more than 20 yards, but three (so over half) came in the fourth quarter when starters were getting rest.

TU is not Arkansas or what OSU will face as Big 12 play starts, but regardless of competition, Saturday was the type of outing the Cowboys needed defensively before their biggest test of the season against Utah and an experience Cam Rising at quarterback next week.