Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Upends No. 23 Kansas 39-32 Behind Ollie Gordon’s Epic Day

On a day Terry Miller was inducted into the Cowboy Football Ring of Honor, Ollie Gordon looked great enough to join Miller, Barry and Thurman atop Boone Pickens Stadium one day.

Oklahoma State got its first win over a ranked opponent in nearly a year beating No. 23 Kansas 39-32 on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium. It was the first time OSU surpassed 30 points since beating Texas 41-34 on Oct. 22, 2022. That was also the last time the Cowboys defeated a ranked opponent.

And all thanks to Ollie Gordon for that offensive production Saturday. Gordon became the first OSU running back since 1989 to record 100 rushing and receiving yards in a game. He had 29 carries for 168 yards, averaging 5.8 yards a carry, and a touchdown. Gordon also caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Gordon excelled from the moment Wyatt Earp exclaimed “Hell’s coming with me!” on the Boone Pickens Stadium video board. Gordon took a pass from Alan Bowman for 50 yards on the first play of the game. He ended the opening drive with a 17-yard touchdown catch from Bowman.

The only argument against Gordon being the best playmaker on OSU’s roster may be Brennan Presley, who scored the Cowboys’ second touchdown on their second possession to give them an early 14-0 lead. Presley’s score was a 20-yard reception.

Kansas didn’t put the scorekeeper to work until it was already down two touchdowns. Jason Bean found Trevor Wilson for a 47-yard touchdown on KU’s second possession for the Jayhawks’ first points and promptly start a Big 12 shootout.

The Cowboys tallied points on their first three drives but were held to a field goal on their third possession before KU scored back-to-back unanswered touchdowns to take a 19-17 lead with 10:41 left in the first half. Bean and Mason Fairchild connected for both of those touchdowns.

Who else but Gordon got OSU back into the end zone with a 42-yard run that gave his team the lead back, 24-19. KU scored the last touchdown of the first half and first touchdown of the second half, though, to have a 32-24 lead early in the third quarter.

After another field goal for OSU, the Jayhawks were driving deep into Cowboy territory and on the verge of making it a two-possession game before Kendal Daniels intercepted a Bean pass just in front of the orange end zone. OSU failed to convert the turnover into a lead, though, after being held to a field for the third red-zone trip in a row, making the score 32-30 with 11:32 left.

Bryan Nardo’s defense prevailed again, though, as the Cowboys intercepted Bean on back-to-back drives. Dylan Smith caught the interception on KU’s 34-yard line. Despite the spectacular field position, once again, KU held OSU to a field goal attempt, but Alex Hale missed the 43-yarder for the Jayhawks to maintain their lead.

But third time’s the charm. For the third straight possession, the OSU defense forced a turnover– this time on downs– to give the offense another go at getting the lead, starting on the 50-yard line. The turnover resulted in a 6-yard touchdown run from Presley to give the Pokes a 36-32 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt with 2:33 left in the game.

The OSU defense was as clutch as it could be halting KU on fourth down on its next possession, forcing a turnover four series in a row. Hale then made a 42-yard field goal to make it a 7-point game with 19 seconds left. And, once again, the OSU defense held up.

The Cowboys will travel to West Virginia next at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.