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Oklahoma State Football Fights Back to Beat the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 28-23

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Football

Defense was the story of the first three quarters for both teams. Entering the fourth quarter, the two squads combined for only 21 points with Oklahoma State limiting Tulsa to 187 yards of total offense and the Golden Hurricane holding the Cowboys to 213. Things changed drastically in the fourth quarter, with the two squads combining for 30 points. The largest lead for either team during the game was 11 points.

After a scoreless first quarter, Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders connected with Jaden Bray for a 26-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-17 play to get the Cowboys on the board. A 55-yard interception return for a touchdown just before half sent the two teams into the locker room deadlocked at seven apiece. Things opened up a bit in the second half, but an important goal line stand by OSU early in the fourth quarter forced Tulsa to settle for a field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, LD Brown got loose for a 98-yard touchdown return to give the Cowboys a 21-17 lead. After forcing a Tulsa punt, OSU strung together a 72-yard scoring drive capped by a Jaylen Warren touchdown run that gave the Cowboys a 28-17 lead. Tulsa scored late, but after OSU recovered the onside kick and got a first down, the game was over.
 
Game Notes

  • LD Brown's 98-yard kickoff return tied for the seventh-longest in school history and was the longest since Tyreek Hill returned one 99 yards for a score at Kansas in 2014.
  • The Oklahoma State defense forced Tulsa to punt on each of its first seven possessions.
  • Oklahoma State limited Tulsa to four-of-13 on third down in the game (30.8 pct.)
  • The OSU defense held Tulsa scoreless in the first quarter and the Golden Hurricane's only points of the first half came on an interception return for a touchdown. By halftime, the Cowboy defense had limited Tulsa to just 89 yards of total offense.
  • Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez finished with 13 tackles. It marked his second consecutive game and the 12th time in his career posting at least 10 tackles. He set a career high with 15 tackles last week.  
  • After missing the season opener while in COVID protocols, quarterback Spencer Sanders returned to the lineup and threw two touchdown passes.
  • Oklahoma State's first two touchdowns were scored by a pair of true freshman receivers – Jaden Bray and Bryson Green. The scoring grabs were the first for both Bray and Green.
  • Safety Tre Sterling missed the first half after being flagged for a targeting penalty in OSU's last game. He returned in the second half and finished with two tackles.
  • Receiver Tay Martin played the first two snaps of the opening series but came off with an injury. He did not return.
  • A defensive holding penalty wiped out an interception return for a touchdown by OSU safety Jason Taylor II in the first quarter. Taylor II made his first start of the season and the second of his career. His previous start came against Texas A&M in the 2019 Texas Bowl.
  • Sophomore Mason Cobb made his first career start.
  • Game captains were receiver Brennan Presley, offensive lineman Josh Sills, cornerback Tanner McCalister and safety Sean Michael Flanagan.

The Oklahoma State Win...

  • Marked its ninth straight over Tulsa and its 13th win in the past 15 meetings with TU.
  • Made it 44-27-5 all-time vs. Tulsa and 28-6-3 all-time vs. TU in Stillwater.
  • Gave it 23 straight wins vs. Tulsa in Stillwater, a streak that began in 1953.
  • Improved Mike Gundy's record vs. teams in the American Athletic Conference to 7-2.
  • Improved Mike Gundy's record vs. non-Power Five opponents to 38-4.
  • Made it 17-1 in its past 18 non-conference games and 39-6 in its past 45 non-conference games.
  • Improved Mike Gundy's record in non-conference games to 56-12.
  • Improved it to 43-18 in its past 61 games and 57-24 in its past 81 games.
  • Made it 76-16 in its past 92 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating back to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends

  • Malcolm Rodriguez has recorded at least eight tackles in seven straight games.
  • OSU is 28-10 in its past 28 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
  • OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 13 straight games.

The Bank of Oklahoma Turnpike Classic
Oklahoma State and Tulsa have a series that includes 76 matchups and dates back to 1914. The only school that Oklahoma State has faced more often than TU is Oklahoma. The Cowboys have won nine straight games in the series, including Saturday's victory. OSU leads the all-time series, 44-27-5, including a 28-6-3 edge in Stillwater. OSU coach Mike Gundy holds a 6-0 record against the Golden Hurricane, while TU coach Philip Montgomery is 0-4 against the Cowboys. The schools reached an eight-year scheduling agreement in May of 2019. The two teams, separated by just 72 miles, will meet annually from 2024 until 2031, with Tulsa hosting at H.A. Chapman Stadium in even years and OSU hosting in Boone Pickens Stadium in odd years.
 
Up Next
Oklahoma State is on the road to face Boise State at 8 p.m. CT on Sept. 18. The Cowboys were 44-21 winners over the Broncos when the teams met in 201