Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Drops Big 12 Opener to Baylor 45-27

BOXSCORE

The Cowboys showed some life under interim head coach Doug Meacham but ultimately came up short against the Bears’ prolific passing attack.

Oklahoma State fell to Baylor 45-27 in the Cowboys’ Big 12 opener in Stillwater.

After dumping out the playbook to keep the Cowboys in it over the first two quarters, OSU’s offensive production fell off a cliff in the third, and they couldn’t keep up with the Bears high-flying offense.

The Cowboys came with new life on offense. Their 150 yards were the most in an opening quarter since 2023, but it didn’t stop then. The Cowboys scored on three of their first five possessions and went into halftime down one score and having outgained the Bears in total yardage 349-285. But the Bears made the big plays (including some quick-strike TDs) to keep the Pokes at an arm’s length while the Cowboys stumbled down the stretch.

After Sam Jackson found Josh Ford for a momentum-swing touchdown on a gadget play, the Bears answered with a 19-yard touchdown by Bryson Washington on the first play of the second quarter to go up 14-7. Then after the Cowboys had pulled within 28-20 and then gotten a stop to end the first half, Baylor went up 35-20 on a three-play, 86-yard TD drive to start the third.

The Cowboys were outgained 233-55 in the third quarter

The defense created some opportunities for the Cowboys in the third, but the offense just couldn’t pay them off.

The Cowboys stumbled into a three-and-out on their first drive, right after giving up that TD.  Robertson found Caden Knighten for a 39 catch and run, but Dylan Smith ripped it loose. David Kabongo recovered the fumble to give some juice right back to the Pokes. But then a couple of underthrown balls by Flores and the Cowboys punted again. Flores completed just one of his first six passes in the second half which led to three-straight three-and-outs.

The Cowboys gained some momentum back with a turnover-on-downs forced to give OSU the ball at its own 45 and the offense finally paid it off with a 39-yard connection between Flores and Rigby to set up first-and-10 at the Baylor 14. Trent Howland followed up a 13-yard pass with a 1-yard touchdown run.

After the Cowboys pulled to within 35-27, Baylor pushed its lead to 11 with a field goal. On the subsequent drive, OSU opted to punt it on fourth-and-6 at its own 49-yard-line, much to fans’ chagrin. The Bears made them pay by chewing up clock. That was consecutive drives by Baylor that exceeded five minutes in length and ended with a score.

After starting 11-of-14 and going into the half 15-of-26, Flores completed just three of 10 pass attempts in the

Playing out of the wildcat, Sam Jackson (a former QB-turned-receiver) was 4-for-6 for 46 yards and the only passing touchdown for the Cowboys.

Some trickery for the TD 👀

6⃣➡️1⃣8⃣➡️4⃣0⃣@OGandE | 📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/bsUKk9HenD

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) September 27, 2025

Howland had his own completed pass to set up one of his two rushing scores. He logged a career-high 84 yards and those two TDs while averaging 5.4 yards per try.

exhibit A

📺: ESPN2 https://t.co/5Ml2vKfjcA pic.twitter.com/8KpTby5j19

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) September 27, 2025

Following up his breakout game against Tulsa, Rodney Fields Jr. added five carries for 39 yards and five catches for 75.

Across the field, Sawyer Robertson went 24-for-35 for 393 yards and four passing scores plus one more on the ground. That keeps him in the FBS lead in passing yards. Four different Baylor receivers caught a touchdown, and Bryson Washington and Caden Knighten combined for 158 rushing yards and a score. The Bears improve to 3-2 and 1-1 in league play.

With the loss, the Cowboys fall to 1-3 and 0-1 in the Big 12. Next up, the Cowboys head to the desert to face Arizona at 2 p.m. Saturday in Tucson.