Mason Rudolph Throws for 400, Nearly Breaks Passing Record

It wasn’t the most pretty or convincing showing, but the Cowboys improved to 2-0 on the season in a 32-8 victory over Central Arkansas on Saturday night.

Mason Rudolph was good, but as he and Mike Gundy both acknowledged, needs to continue his development. In the postgame, Gundy said that he didn’t count but assumed Rudolph missed on about six throws that should have been converted.

Yet looking at the stat sheet, those six seem high. He finished the night just 10 yards shy of the OSU passing record by a sophomore. 401 yards on 23 of 35 passing.

Not bad.

It was just the 12th 400+ yard passing game in OSU history. Brandon Weeden had seven of them. Mike Gundy, Bobby Reid, Wes Lunt and Zac Robinson had the other four.

The best part was the development of his deep ball, which was virtually non-existent last week due mostly to a conservative game plan. Although the game was called conservatively again, the Cowboys opened up the passing game and Rudolph’s arm was on full display.

Rudolph’s connection with David Glidden was money all night, and his first touchdown strike put the Pokes up 17-0 early.

Mason Rudolph's first TD pass in Boone Pickens Stadium (of very many). pic.twitter.com/rHLD2YmazP

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) September 13, 2015

Then Rudolph delivered a beauty downfield, which James Washington so graciously turned into a #SCTop10 catch for us. I could sense his level of comfort gaining as the game progressed. This one was pretty.

James Washington with the circus catch on a pass interference call. pic.twitter.com/u5jDt5R7J1

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) September 13, 2015

Rudolph left early in the fourth to avoid injury, but not before delivering a 31-yard bomb to Glidden – his second of the night.

Rudolph proved that, despite an imperfect game, the offense that they put on the field Saturday is more like what we’ll continue to see throughout the season. The air-raid was definitely on display, and Rudolph proved that this offense is tailor-made to cater to his strengths.