Look through the Record Book: Five Highest Passing Yards Games in OSU History

Basically since Mike Gundy took over in Stillwater, Oklahoma State has been known nationally for chucking the ball downfield.

Year after year, Cowboy quarterbacks have put up gaudy numbers and played a lot of exciting football. In the dog days of this COVID-19 pandemic, I thought it would be fun to look at the five most ridiculous passing games in program history.

1. Mason Rudolph vs. Pitt on Sept. 17, 2016 — 540 yards

Rudolph started this game with nearly a 100-yard cushion.

On the first play from scrimmage, Rudolph hit his trusty target James Washington for a 91-yard touchdown. That play alone is the second-longest passing play in school history (behind the 95-yard pass from Zac Robinson to Jeremy Broadway against Iowa State in 2008).

Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph (#2) to WR James Washington (#28) here 91 yards for the touchdown. #NFLDraft @Rudolph2Mason @OSUAthletics pic.twitter.com/mp8z2kUJ9s

— Kevin Brown (@KevinBrownNFL) November 13, 2017

Despite throwing for 540 yards, that was one of just two TDs Rudolph threw in the game. Instead it was Rennie Childs doing most of the scoring. He found paydirt four times.

Rudolph finished 26-for-46 with his prime target being Washington, who caught nine passes for 296 yards, the second-highest receiving mark in program history (behind Adarius Bowman’s 300-yard outing against Kansas in 2006).

Jhajuan Seales also hit the century mark in receiving yards, catching seven passes for 129 yards. OSU would go onto win the game (that went through a lightning delay) 45-38.

2. Brandon Weeden vs. Kansas State on Nov. 5, 2011 — 502 yards

In an all-time OSU classic, Brandon Weeden slung it around Boone Pickens Stadium against the Wildcats for half a thousand yards.

He hit seven different targets, throwing four TDs and two interceptions, and the Cowboys were able to hold off Bill Snyder’s group. Weeden didn’t have a ton of run support in the game, as Joseph Randle ran for 73 yards (all OSU had). Randle did, though, score a 23-yard go-ahead touchdown with 2:16 to go.

Weeden found two-time Biletnikoff winner Justin Blackmon 13 times. Blackmon had 205 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Tracy Moore also had a nice day, catching nine passes for 146 yards and a score. Randle caught the other touchdown.

OSU won the game 52-45.

3. Taylor Cornelius at Oklahoma on Nov. 10, 2018 — 501 yards

Another classic game, this one ended up not going the Cowboys’ way.

Cornelius nearly played the perfect Bedlam game in his lone season as the Pokes’ starter. He finished 34-for-53 with three touchdowns and no picks, but he was a failed 2-point conversion from being a folk hero in Stillwater.

After throwing a 24-yard touchdown to Tylan Wallace with 1:03 to go that made the game 48-47, OSU coach Mike Gundy decided to go for 2 and the lead. Rolling to his right, Cornelius again looked for Wallace but left the ball short and a bit behind him.

Despite the crushing final play, Cornelius was a big reason OSU was in it in the first place. Star running back Justice Hill left the game with an injury, and it became the first game Chuba Hubbard was the Cowboys’ featured back.

Cornelius completed 10 passes to Wallace for 220 yards and two touchdowns, and Tyron Johnson had 11 catches for 128 yards and a score.

OSU lost the game 48-47.

4. Mason Rudolph at Pitt on Sept. 16, 2017 — 497

Less than a year after torching Pitt in Stillwater, Rudolph traveled up to the Steel City and did it again.

This is the only game on the list that wasn’t a tight contest, as OSU went on to win 59-21. Rudolph looked like he was playing a video game, throwing a 54-yard and a 69-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The 54-yarder was to Dillon Stoner, the 69-yarder involved Rudolph ditching his pocket-passer label before finding Marcel Ateman.

Mason Rudolph avoids the rush & eventually hits Marcell Ateman for the 69 yard TD pass #OKState #OKSTvsPITT

pic.twitter.com/vHE0bahuEY

— Fantasy Sports Degens (@FantasyDegens) September 16, 2017

Then the second quarter came, and Rudolph threw three more TDs. All of those were to Jalen McCleskey, an 8-yard TD, a 40-yard TD and a 48-yard TD.

Rudolph could’ve threatened an NCAA record, but he was pulled and Cornelius came in and threw for another 75 yards. McCleskey, Washington, Ateman and Stoner all had at least 100 receiving yards.

5. Brandon Weeden at Iowa State on Nov. 18, 2011 — 476

This game will forever be remembered for many more things than the game Weeden threw for 476 yards.

It was the Cowboys’ only loss of the 2011 season, as OSU fell 37-31 in double overtime. Weeden threw 58 passes, completing 42 over them. He threw three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Josh Cooper led the game’s receivers with 13 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Blackmon caught 10 balls for 99 yards and a score.

But this game will be remembered in Stillwater as a terrible day, coming just after a plane crash, for a controversial missed field goal call and a contest that ended the Pokes’ hopes at a national championship.