The woeful season continues for Oklahoma State as the Cowboys were defeated 41-13 on Saturday at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. OSU dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12, while the Wildcats improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
“There’s a lot of really good stuff in that game,” said Arizona head coach Brent Brennan. “It’s a Big 12 win and I’m proud of how we came to work this week and how we battled through that thing and closed the door on it at the end. When I think about this team, I’m just proud of these guys. I’m proud of our coaches and players and how they continue to work, how they continue to play for each other, how they play for the community and how they play for this university.”
Arizona jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter and never trailed in the game. OSU’s only score in the first quarter was a 47-yard field goal by Logan Ward.
OSU safety Parker Robertson intercepted a Noah Fifita pass late in the second quarter and returned it 33 yards. It was Oklahoma State’s second interception of the season. The drive ended with a Ward 46-yard field goal.
Arizona led 24-6 at halftime and with a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, the Wildcats extended their lead to 38-6 at the end of three quarters of play.
Another highlight in the game for the Cowboys came when redshirt freshman cornerback LaDainian Fields intercepted a Braedyn Locke pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. It was the first pick-six for Oklahoma State since Kale Smith went 73 yards against Arkansas in 2024 and was OSU’s only touchdown in the game.
The Wildcats outgained the Cowboys, 478-158 in total yards, including a 433-69 advantage in passing yards.
Four players took their turn at quarterback for OSU, with starter Zane Flores completing 9-of-20 passes for 47 yards and one interception, and he gained 31 yards on five carries. Flores left the game with an injury late in the third quarter.
Fifita completed 28-of-38 passes for 376 yards, five touchdowns and one interception, for Arizona.
The OSU defense racked up six sacks. Coming into this game, the Cowboys had five sacks in their first four games combined. OSU interim head coach Doug Meacham gave credit to newly named defensive coordinator Clint Bowen.
“Man, hat’s off to him,” Meacham said. “You could see the energy they had over there, even when we were down. I think he had a great plan. Numerically, it wasn’t good, but again, it was partly because we couldn’t move the football. For him to go in and have the kind of success, have the sacks he had, the turnovers and the picks and all the good things, they looked pretty good over there.”
The Cowboys will host Houston at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium. The Cougars (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) are coming off a 35-11 loss to Texas Tech.