Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Drops Season Finale 20-13 to Iowa State

BOXSCORE

The Cowboys fought hard, but their Big 12 losing streak will extend into its third season.

Oklahoma State fell to Iowa State 20-13, despite a resilient effort on Senior Day.

The Cowboys pulled within one score three times, but turnovers and missed opportunities kept them from getting over the hump.

The Cyclones took a 10-0 lead before the Cowboys were able to get on the board. OSU remained within 10 the entire game.

After the Cowboys stalled on their first three drives, Zane Flores hit his stride in the second quarter, leading them on a 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Trent Howland got the points, but Flores completed nine-straight passes in the first half.

The Cyclones extended their lead to 17-7 early in the third quarter after Abu Sama broke free for his second big run of the day, this one a 40-yard touchdown. The Cowboys answered with a field goal to make it 17-10, but a Flores interception on their next drive led directly to an ISU field goal to make it 20-10. It was the second turnover for the Cowboys that led to an Iowa State score.

The Cowboys found some momentum, but it was two steps forward, one step back.

On their third drive of the third quarter, a nice first down play to Quinton Stewart was called back thanks to a holding but then another 15 yards were tacked on thanks to an unsportsmanlike penalty on Shamar Rigby. So a positive play across midfield turned into a stalled drive.

But the Cowboys recovered the ensuing punt that bounced off a Cyclone to get the ball back with 14 yards of field. But since Cowboy fans can’t have nice things, a botched trick play turned into a loss of yards and the Pokes settled for a field goal. A microcosm for the second half of OSU’s disappointing season – some nice things occurred but ultimately the Cowboys can’t get a win.

Then late in the fourth, the Cowboys made it to the Iowa State 23-yard line before Flores fumbled, and it was recovered for a loss of 14. They had to once again settle for 3 to make it 20-13 with four minutes to go. The Cyclones essentially needed a first down to seal, and they got two. What would have been an insulting walk-off touchdown was called back for holding. The Cyclones were able to drain the clock down to 16 seconds giving OSU nine seconds to go 81 yards. The Cowboys got 10 yards before the clock expired on their hapless 2025 campaign.

Flores finished the day 19-of-30 for 166 yards and an interception. Five different Cowboys caught multiple passes, led by seven receptions for 46 yards by Gavin Freeman. Terrell Davis and Shamar Rigby each caught five passes for 57 and 52 yards, respectively.

Trent Howland rushed 14 times for 37 yards and the Cowboys’ lone TD.

On Senior Day, seniors Brian McCoy Jr. and Parker Robertson tied for the team lead with seven tackles each. Robertson also had a QB hurry. Landon Cleveland and Jacobi Oliphant Jr. each had a sack.

With the loss, the Cowboys end their 2025 season 1-11 and 0-9 in Big 12 play. Next up, the Eric Morris era.