Grades: Pokes Pass Tulsa Test after Rough Second Quarter

The Pokes are perfect entering Big 12 play.

Oklahoma State beat Tulsa 40-21 on Saturday in T-Town in what was the Cowboys’ first visit down the turnpike since 2011. It wasn’t the cleanest game — the second quarter was quite messy — but OSU pulled away late and still covered. Here are my grades from Week 3.

Chuba Hubbard: A+

We’ll get the easiest one out of the way first.

When you do this on the first play from scrimmage, you set yourself up to get a good mark in the ol’ gradebook.

But yeah, he gets an A+ for all the obvious reasons: 256 rushing yards, three touchdowns eight yards a carry on 32 carries — all good.

First Half Defense: C

OSU’s defense had a good first two series, getting off the field in under two minutes in each.

Then things started to go south. Tulsa scored touchdowns in three of their final five series of the half, scoring off drives of 75 yards, 75 yards and 84 yards. The Cowboys went into the half trailing, and it looked like Tulsa — TULSA, who scored 20.5 points per in its first two games — was going to hang 40 points on the Pokes.

Second Half Defense: A+

After that, though, Jim Knowles’ unit got going.

In the final two quarters, OSU’s defense forced two three-and-outs, two turnovers off downs and gave up no points. One of those turnovers on downs came via another goal-line stand, something that has become the norm over the past two weeks.

Spencer Sanders: C+

It was a growing-pain game for the Cowboys’ freshman quarterback.

Sanders threw his first interception, had his lowest completion percentage and his fewest amount of yards. Even with all of that, though, it wasn’t a game he couldn’t come back from.

He still showed glimmers of brilliance, particularly on his 27-yard touchdown run.

He also showed some frustration on the sideline in the second quarter that made me wonder if things were only going to get worse, but Gundy said it came from a place of striving to be better, not from a negative place.

Here is a quote from Gundy postgame that I agree with on how this game will be beneficial for the young quarterback in the long term:

“Those things will help him as we go along,” Gundy said. “Won’t be the last time. He wants to win. He wants to be good, so he’ll get frustrated. But he calmed down really well. Didn’t lose his thought process, in my opinion. He’ll get better as we go along.”

OSU Through Its Nonconference Games: B+

There have been a lot of positives for the Cowboys heading into Big 12 play.

Chuba Hubbard is one of the best running backs in college football. Tylan Wallace is one of the best receivers in college football. Spencer Sanders can be electric. The offensive line looks solid. The linebackers have been solid, and the corners are some of the best in the conference.

There are also plenty of questions: Can this inexperienced defensive line hold up? Are the sophomore safeties going to be better against the pass this season? Can the offense limit its sputters?

It looks like an above-average team because it is. It also looks like a young team because it is. The Cowboys’ record is as good as it can be. They’ve outscored their opponents 148-78, but Tulsa is the best team they’ve played.

The Big 12 looks as deep as its ever been. Shoot, Kansas is entering conference play with a winning record. I think OSU is better this season than it was the last, but I’m not sure there will be any free spaces on this Big 12 bingo card.