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Iowa State Debriefing: Buoyed by Big Plays, Cowboys Get Right in Ames

See who earned helmet stickers and the top questions for TCU.

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The Cowboys were able to right the ship in Ames, downing the then-No. 23 Cyclones 34-27 as double-digit underdogs. Was there ever really any doubt?

Let’s debrief the Pokes’ fifth win of the season.

The Short Story

Oklahoma State’s offense got off to a fast start thanks to a couple of big chunk plays from Tylan Wallace and Braydon Johnson. Not to be outdone, Chuba Hubbard added his own 65-yard score later in the second quarter. Three plays from those guys accounted for nearly 50 percent of OSU’s yardage on the day.

But outside of those big plays, the Cowboys struggled to move the ball for stretches of the game, were 2-of-12 on third downs and tied a season-high being forced into four three-and-outs.

The defense, however, was mostly good all game. Iowa State’s playmakers made plays — Charlie Kolar is the Big 12’s top receiving tight end and looked like it — but the Cowboys were able to limit the huge chunk plays that it had been giving up as of late, held the Cyclones to 1.8 points per possession and held them to field goal attempts twice in the red zone.

But it was the big plays that the defense made that made the difference. OSU pulled in three interceptions in the fourth quarter included a pick-six to take the lead followed by two more to seal the win.

Brand Sticker (Offense): Spencer Sanders

You could make a case for either Tylan Wallace or Chuba Hubbard (each reached triple digits and a score in Ames) but I had to pick Spencer because he played a cleaner overall game, and because I kind of painted myself into a corner.

This is what I wrote on Friday when predicting the Cowboys’ Player of the Game.

I will go with Spencer Sanders as player of the game mainly because, for my prediction to come true, he’ll need to show vast improvement over the majority of the game and — again — cut down on the fumbles and picks. A one-turnover game with ≅ 300 total yards in a win guarantees Spencer a helmet sticker in next week’s Debriefing. [PFB]

One turnover ✔
Approx 300 total yards (292 to be exact) ✔
Win ✔

Sanders’ one interception was a bad one and he still left some plays on the field, but we’ll take improvement any day. The key will be turning a one-game improvement into an upward trend.

Brand Sticker (Defense): OSU’s Safeties

Tre Sterling ended second on the team in tackles (nine), had 0.5 tackle for loss, a breakup and his own interception and was downright stingy in coverage.

Sterling and the Cowboys secondary put the clamps on the Iowa State passing attack late in the contest against the Cyclones as Sterling finished the outing with just a 39.6 passer rating into his primary coverage. He was targeted six times, allowed four receptions for just 31 yards including zero yards after the catch. He made an interception and has two pass breakups in the contest while also making nine solo tackles and two defensive stops in the game. [ProFootballFocus]

Kolby Harvell-Peel was all over the place setting an Oklahoma State record with six pass breakups in the game to go along with eight tackles and a tackle for loss.

Jarrick Bernard pitched in with six tackles of his one and a pass breakup of his own.

The best news for Oklahoma State’s [knocks on wood] seemingly improving defense is that Sterling, Harvell-Peel and Bernard are just sophomores. Thanks to the amount that all of them played early in their careers, they all look like seasoned vets. OSU is set up to have a salty safety group for the next couple of years.

Questions for TCU

Is this sustainable? Any of it? Is the defense actually improving, or was Brock Purdy having a bad day? Can we expect more one- (or even zero-) turnover games from Sanders and the Cowboy offense? It might seem glum to say after a win, but with what we’ve watched over the last two-plus seasons, it’s hard to have a ton of confidence in consistency.

How will TCU attack OSU’s offense?: The Horned Frogs will show up in Stillwater ranked among the top three in the Big 12 in passing defense, interceptions forced, passer rating allowed and completion percentage allowed.

Gary Patterson will probably do his best to shut down Chuba Hubbard and the running game and make Spencer Sanders beat him through the air. Can Sanders continue to improve in his decision making? How does the coaching staff continue to try to help him find success and gain confidence?

Play(s) of the Game

I couldn’t land on just one.

This ridiculous 71-yard touchdown by Tylan Wallace, complete with a nasty stiff-arm, had to be highlighted.

And you can’t go wrong with Malcolm Rodriguez’s late pick-six to suck the wind out of a notoriously windy stadium.

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