Cowboys Nearly Double Offensive Production After Halftime Adjustments

Mike Gundy called the Cowboys halftime adjustments as good as he has been around in a long time.

In Oklahoma State’s 45-41 victory against West Virginia, the Cowboys essentially went back to the basics of a spread offense in the second half — four wide receivers. Gundy said OSU used six or seven base plays after the half.

“I don’t know if we ever ran four wides, two-by-two, in the first half,” Gundy said. “We didn’t have it in the game plan, so I don’t think we did, but what we went to were base plays. It’s almost like riding a bike.”

Here are a look at OSU’s first-half numbers compared to the second.

The adjustments enabled quarterback Taylor Cornelius, particularly. In the first half, Cornelius had 130 total yards, two touchdowns and two turnovers. In the second, he had 305 total yards, four touchdowns and zero turnovers.

The spread look gave lanes for Cornelius and running back Chuba Hubbard to navigate that they weren’t getting in the first half with extra bodies clogging the line of scrimmage.

Gundy said Cornelius’ demeanor made it to where he could take the halftime adjustments in stride.

“They played considerably different than what they played other people,” Gundy said. “And so we had to make adjustments and go from there.

“We made, essentially, drastic changes at half time. He was good with it. He understood it, and we cut it loose and let it go.”

Gundy said with how familiar the OSU and West Virginia staffs are with each other, coaching was a chess game. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they made the last move.

“They schemed us in the first half, now,” Gundy said. “(WVU defensive coordinator) Tony (Gibson) got us. (Mike) Yurcich may not admit that, but he got us. So, we changed it up and gave us a chance to have some success.”