Texas Gets Season-Saving Win Against No. 6 Oklahoma State in Overtime
Tom Herman was all but done at Texas. Finished, over, the end. From Athletic Director Chris Del Conte’s silence and the pulse of the fan base and big money donors, Tom Herman is what we would call a “dead man walking” in football lingo. But just when you thought he was done, his team goes on the road against a top ten Oklahoma State team and pulls it off. And it was a wild one in Stillwater that could be a crucial turning point, not only for the winner, but the loser as well.
Oklahoma State would find the scoreboard first when Spencer Sanders hit superstar wide out Tylan Wallace for a score to put the Cowboys up 7-0 early. But thanks to a Spencer Sanders fumble, Texas got the ball in great field position and took advantage as Keaontay Ingram rushed in a score to tie the game up.
Just two drives later, Oklahoma State would find paydirt as Sanders found Landon Wolf for a five-yard score but of course, Texas answered with a Sam Ehlinger 41-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Eagles to tie things right back up at 14.
Yet again, another Spencer Sanders turnover would give Texas an opportunity to take the lead, but the Longhorns only get three out of it for a 17-14 lead. However, that lead did not last long as Spencer Sanders got back on track throwing to Chuba Hubbard for a score. The Cowboys would add a field goal as well on the next drive and just like that it was 24-17 in favor of the Pokes. And surprise, surprise, a second Spencer Sanders fumble gave Texas an extra three points before the half ended with the Cowboys leading 24-20.
In the first half, Oklahoma State outgained Texas 316 to 163 but due to the three Spencer Sanders turnovers, Texas was able to stick around.
Just like in the first half, it was the Cowboys once again who struck first when the Spencer Sanders to Tylan Wallace connection found the endzone to give Oklahoma State a 31-20 cushion. But just like a pesky mosquito Texas responded quickly as D’Shawn Jamison took the ensuing kickoff back 100-yards to put the Horns right back in it. However, due to a questionable unsportsmanlike penalty, the extra point was pushed back and missed by Cameron Dicker to make it a 31-26 ballgame.
A stretch of defense would be played, and it took a little while for any offense to get going before Oklahoma State’s LD Brown coughed the football up. Texas would take advantage with an impressive 15-play drive that took over seven and a half minutes off the clock. That drive would end with a Sam Ehlinger fourth down pass that hit Jake Smith in the endzone for the go ahead score with the two-point conversion as Texas led 34-31 with less than five minutes to play.
Give credit to the Cowboys because with a minute left, Spencer Sanders drove the offense down into field goal range and kicker Alex Hale drilled a 34-yard field goal to tie the game up a 34 send it to overtime.
Texas would end up with the ball first and after a generous pass interference call that extended the drive, Sam Ehlinger hit Joshua Moore for his first catch, and it went for a touchdown. But the game was not done as Texas needed the defense to make the stop. And then on fourth down, the Longhorns came with the house blitz and it paid off as the leader of the Texas defense Joseph Ossai made the game winning sack to give the Longhorns the 41-34 victory.
For Oklahoma State, this was a game they needed to win to solidify their spot in the Big 12 title game. Now they still must play Oklahoma in two weeks on if they drop that one, they may no longer control their own destiny. The defense came to play but due to the four turnovers, they put the game on a silver platter for Texas and surprisingly, Texas took advantage.
Obviously, this win is huge for Texas as well. Could this be the crucial win to possibly save the season? The Longhorns still must play Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa State and Kansas State. If they take care of business, then they will be in the Big 12 title game as every team in the conference now has one loss in Big 12 play. But on the flipside if Texas drops another game, the Tom Herman hot seat will be red hot. Right now, the seat is chilled off for this week.
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