Oklahoma State’s CFP hopes come to end with loss in Big 12 title game
No. 5 Oklahoma State’s hopes for a College Football Playoff berth agonizingly came up a half-yard short Saturday in a 21-16 loss to No. 9 Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Cowboys failed on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 30 seconds left.
A victory would not have guaranteed Oklahoma State (11-2) a Playoff spot, but a loss certainly guarantees the Cowboys won’t make it. In addition, a New Year’s Six bid isn’t guaranteed, either. Baylor (11-2) has long-shot hopes for a Playoff bid; it knows it will be in the Sugar Bowl if it doesn’t make the CFP field. The Big 12 champion is contractually guaranteed a Sugar Bowl bid if it isn’t in the four-team Playoff.
The Cowboy played without star running back Jaylen Warren, who has a leg injury, and quarterback Spencer Sanders wasn’t up to the task.
Sanders was inconsistent all season, but usually was bailed out by Warren and/or the Cowboys’ defense. Saturday, Sanders threw four picks, and while Oklahoma State’s defense played well, holding Baylor to 242 total yards, the rushing attack was nonexistent; the Cowboys finished with just 70 rushing yards. Baylor’s defense pressed the attack and harassed Sanders all day. The Bears had two sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Oklahoma State’s final drive was a rare show of sustained offensive success. The Cowboys took over on their 10 with 3:23 left and drove to Baylor’s 1 in 16 plays. On fourth down, backup running back Dezmon Jackson took a handoff and bounced it outside; sixth-year senior safety Jairon McVea, playing in his 58th career game, tracked him down and Jackson’s desperation lunge came up a half-yard short.
Baylor won despite playing without starting quarterback Gerry Bohanon, who has a hamstring injury. Redshirt freshman Blake Shapen, who was making his second career start, rose to the occasion; he completed his first 17 passes and finished 23-of-28 for 180 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half.
Oklahoma State beat Baylor 24-14 on October 2, thanks to 209 rushing yards. Warren ran for 125 yards and two TDs in the win.