Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Loses To Texas 49-21 in Big 12 Championship Game

ARLINGTON– At one point after a drive in the second quarter, a usually smiling Ollie Gordon stormed off the field, threw his helmet, knocked over a folding chair and yelled in disgust behind Oklahoma State’s bench at AT&T Stadium. It was just that kind of day for the Cowboys.

No. 7 Texas handled No. 18 OSU 49-21 in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday in Arlington in what was the Longhorns’ last conference game in the Big 12 before leaving for the SEC. It was a contest that at the half had a Big 12 championship game first-half record 49 combined points, and not because it was necessarily a shootout early as the Cowboys trailed 35-14 at halftime.

Texas started the game up 14-0 just 6:26 into the game. Both touchdowns were thrown by Quinn Ewers, who went on to break the Big 12 championship game record for most passing yards and tie the record for most passing touchdowns in the title game.

OSU seemed to have found its groove on offense on its third possession, driving 75 yards and capping the series with its first points– a five-yard throw from Alan Bowman to Brennan Presley that cut the deficit to 14-7. But it wouldn’t matter if the offense hit a stride or not as the Longhorns couldn’t be stopped.

Texas answered OSU’s first score before the first quarter ended. Defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat caught a two-yard pass from Ewers for a touchdown.

That play gave the Big 12 title game a touchdown from the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, but not the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, OSU running back Ollie Gordon. Gordon finished the game with 34 rushing yards on 13 carries against the fourth-best rushing defense in the country.

Bowman was responsible for all of OSU’s touchdowns, also finding Rashod Owens for a seven-yard score in the second quarter, which made the count 28-14 with 5:50 left in the half. That touchdown was set up by Nickolas Martin’s 27-yard interception return to Texas’ three-yard line. Martin also finished the game as OSU’s leading tackler with 13.

That 14-point margin was the closest the game would be the rest of the way, though, as Texas finished first-half scoring with another touchdown pass from Ewers, this time to Jaydon Blue for eight yards. The Longhorns were the only ones to score in the third quarter with a 57-yard run from Keilan Robinson. Robinson scored another 11-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend Texas’ lead to 49-14 with 10:38 left in the game.

Bowman connected with Owens again with 6:26 left in the game for a three-yard touchdown to put up the final score. Bowman was 22-of-38 for 250 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the title game. Owens had four catches for 85 yards to go along with the pair of touchdowns.

OSU will await its 18th straight bowl destination, which will be announced Sunday. A victory in the bowl game would give Mike Gundy his eighth season with at least 10 wins.