The Tulsa Loss Taught OSU to Bounce Back, What That Means Now

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STILLWATER — When Oklahoma State left Tulsa, it looked like the Cowboys were headed for another season of football so bad that even mediocrity would be considered high praise.

Instead, what transpired was a turnaround so dramatic that it would likely remain one of the biggest stories of the season if not for Oregon’s subsequent dropoff without starting quarterback Dante Moore, who was healthy when the Ducks visited Stillwater.

“Even week one, our loss to Tulsa, how we bounced back from that was huge and mature,” center Tyler Mercer said. “So I think it is the same vibe of you can’t let a loss beat you twice. So keeping our heads up and yes learning from our mistakes. … Knowing we can accomplish everything we want to accomplish going forward.”

Last time after a loss, Oklahoma State sent a then-top 6 program home at least somewhat embarrassed after the Cowboys not only won, but showed a great deal of control over the game.

At Tulsa, PFF graded Oklahoma State a 62.9 overall rating thanks in part to a 60.4 showing on offense and a 62.5 showing defensively. OSU’s only grade over a 70 was an 83.8 pass-blocking grade.

Against Oregon, the Cowboys earned a 78.5 overall score after a 65.1 offensive and 81.7 defensive showing. OSU graded out over 70 in run defense (86.7), coverage (75.2), running (71.1), passing (70.3) and pass rush (70.1).

“After the Tulsa loss too, like there’s just a different energy that goes through the facility,” defensive end Malik Charles said on Tuesday. “Everybody doesn’t like what we watched yesterday (in film review), and they showed us some bad clips, and everybody doesn’t want that to happen again. So everybody’s just been practicing. They probably practiced hard today. There’s good energy all around. Everybody was extremely focused, and we’re just ready to play.”

And if all these subjective numbers sound like mumbo jumbo, look no farther than Drew Mestemaker’s performance, OSU’s ability to run the ball and the defenses’ ability to limit yards per play.

Mestemaker threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns after being held to 241 yards and one score in the opener.

Caleb Hawkins averaged 4.8 yards on the ground and hit 110 total after a 79-yard, 4.4 average rush showing at TU.

OSU’s defense allowed Tulsa, an offense that currently ranks 101st nationally averaging 5.48 yards per play, to gain 6.3 yards per offensive snap. Then held the Ducks, who average 6.01 over the course of the season, to only 4.8 yards per play in their trip to Stillwater.

“Yeah, this group, especially our defense, we respond,” Charles said. “I feel like we respond really well to getting punched. We get punched, and we get right back up. We get knocked out and get right back up. I think this week is not gonna be any different.”

OSU players believe they will bounce back in similar fashion this Saturday against a Colorado team threatening to get its own act together after a 3-point loss to current No. 10 Utah and a halftime lead over current No. 8 Texas Tech in the Buffs’ last two games.

“The crazy thing about this team and watching this team, Colorado, right now is they might be the best two-win team in the nation. … The teams that they’ve lost to, I think their combined record is 21-3 right now,” coach Eric Morris said. “So, when you think about that, and they’ve been in these games. They’re a play away from making it happen.”

As of Wednesday night, Oklahoma State is a 13.5-point favorite on Saturday. A win might return the Cowboys, the unofficial 26th team to the AP Top 25 proper.

But the Cowboys aren’t playing for any of that on Saturday. This team has to prove it can learn from its mistakes.

It has to.

“We got to start fast, and that is evident,” Mercer said, when asked the most important lesson from the Houston loss. “We put up 30 points in the second half, and so coming out we have got to start fast. We know we are an explosive offense. … But we can’t put ourself in a situation where we are playing catch up in the second half and leaving it up to the clock.”

Oklahoma State points by quarter vs FBS

Even in wins, the Cowboys have tended to backload most of their scoring. Against Houston, the Cowboys just ran out of time.

When asked the same question, receiver Miles Coleman offered a similar answer, but he focused on the red zone struggles that have plagued this team throughout the year and emerged as one of the headlines following Saturday’s loss to the Cougars. It’s also been one of the biggest reasons for that slow start Mercer mentioned.

“Just staying consistent as an offense,” Coleman said. “We got to score in the red zone, obviously, but we know we’re a talented group, and we just got to put it all together, and we will figure things out.”