Mike Gundy explains Oklahoma State redzone problems in Big 12 Championship Game

Mike Gundy had No. 5 Oklahoma State in prime position to be one of the four teams to earn a trip to the coveted College Football Playoff. Instead, self-inflicted errors and the inability to score touchdowns became the difference in the outcome of the game. Ultimately, the Cowboys fell to No. 9 Baylor 21-16 in a game that proves the cliche that football is literally “a game of inches.”

Even after Spencer Sanders threw a Big 12 title game-record four interceptions that helped give Baylor a 21-6 edge at halftime, Oklahoma State did enough in the final two quarters to win.

The Cowboys’ offense needed a touchdown to win. On their final chance, they put together a 17-play, 89-yard drive to face first-and-goal at the two-yard line with just over a minute on the game clock. but 3-consecutive stops from Baylor meant 4th-and-goal, with Oklahoma State’s dreams on the line.

Mike Gundy and the Cowboys’ staff drew up a play that looked perfect upon first glance. Cowboys’ running back Dezmon Johnson bounced left and had plenty of green in front of him, but was chased down by a Baylor safety Jairon McVea who prevented Johnson from reaching the pylon.

Gundy was asked if the red issues were because of the Baylor defense or self-inflicted.

“It could be both,” Gundy responded in his postgame press conference.

“They’re a good defense,” Gundy said.

“You know that. You’ve watched them all year now. There’s no question that they’re a really good defense. So we have to look as coaches and see, okay, how is that scheme without watching the tape, and then you have to give them credit. I told our team that. In the end they made a play, and their coach made a call, and it is what it is, but I would say it could be a little bit of both.”

Mike Gundy praises his team, gives hope for future

The loss in the Big 12 title game is the Cowboys’ second of the season, almost certainly eliminating them from the College Football Playoff race. 

Oklahoma State will play in a major bowl game and have a shot to finish in the top 10 for the first time in a decade. But with losses to Baylor and Iowa State coming in excruciatingly close fashion, it’s hard to not wonder what could have been. 

Mike Gundy shared the feelings from the locker room, but made a point to let his team know there will still be another major game ahead.

“The guys are hurting in there, but that’s kind of the way it is. We still got another game, and it’s a special group. They’re looking forward to being together another three weeks or so before we go play in a bowl. Give them a week off. They need a break. They’ve pushed a lot,” Mike Gundy added.

For No. 8 Baylor, the win is beyond significant. For Dave Aranda, the second-year head coach at Baylor, winning the conference championship is a Big 12 reset. Oklahoma and Texas are headed for the SEC, and while Aranda has been attached to plenty of coaching jobs, for now, he’s building something special in Waco at a warp-speed pace.