No. 13 Oklahoma State took a big step toward a spot in the Big 12 Championship Saturday with a hard-fought win over Kansas State, 20-18, in Manhattan.

The Cowboys are off this week and they travel to Norman on November 21 for the Bedlam game with No. 18 Oklahoma.

If OSU can win the next four games against OU, Texas Tech, TCU and Baylor, they will gain a berth in the Big 12 Championship game. The Big 12 Championship game is scheduled for December 12 or December 19 (that could affect the Baylor-OSU game).

The Cowboys were short-handed against the Wildcats Saturday as wide receiver Tylan Wallace was dealing with a muscle sprain. Safety Kolby Harvell-Peel was also sidelined.

“I told the team after the game that this was a really big game for them because we limped through practice this week on both sides of the ball,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy. “We didn’t get quality work during the week in practice. The results usually aren’t very good, but they found a way to win the game, and ultimately that’s all that matters. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t pretty, but they found a way to win the football game. I told them it’s got to be them. The coaches can’t do it. The players have got to make a decision to get it done and that’s what they did.”

OSU running back Chuba Hubbard was not at full speed due to soreness and L.D. Brown became the workhorse. He rushed 15 times for 110 yards.

“He’s been good all year,” Gundy said of Brown. “He practices hard, he’s got a smile on his face. His attitude’s good, he’s unselfish, and I’m very proud of him. He stuck around a long time. He’s backed up a lot of good running backs in our organization, and he’s getting his shot this year. He didn’t practice much all week. In fact, he practiced a little bit Thursday, and that’s about it. Kudos to him for fighting through an injury and coming out and making some plays.

“Chuba didn’t practice this week either. He worked a little at tailback and that was about it.”

Offensive tackle Jake Springfield was injured.

“Teven (Jenkins) went down and we put the backup in and then he went down,” Gundy said. “I don’t know who we put in after that. Teven came in eight or ten plays later. We’re down to so many young guys I’m not even sure who’s playing anymore on the offensive line.”

“They played through injuries, it was just the next man up,” Brown said. “They played their butts off and we couldn’t have done it without them. Running behind them, they played tough today and I’m proud of those guys because we had to move some guys around as you all could see, but it worked out for us.

“I’m happy. We got a W and we’re going into a bye week, so my body can rest then. Coach Gundy knows and he’s got a plan for us to rest, and we’ll go from there.”

Wallace has 35 catches for 583 yards and four touchdowns this season. Against Texas last week, he caught 11 passes for 187 yards and two scores.

Wallace only played in one play. With Kansas State attempting an onside kick with 2:03 left, the ball bounced toward Wallace near the sideline and he had the presence of mind to not try and receive it in traffic, rather, he deflected it out of bounds.

Dillion Stone moved from his inside receiver spot to outside receiver and set season highs with seven catches for 62 yards.

Once again, the OSU defense rose to the occasion.

“Obviously it was big,” Gundy said of his defense. “We played okay offensively in the second half, but it wasn’t anything to write home about, so our defense needed to make plays. Obviously, we got a strip and the ball went into Jason’s (Taylor) hands and he was able to score. In the end, Tre (Sterling) made the play on the overthrow. They gave us a chance. The defense was able to step up and score a touchdown. Percentages will tell you when the defense scores a touchdown, you really have a good chance of winning the game. That’s what happened today and that’s why we won the football game.”

The defense fueled the win. OSU trailed 0-12 at one point.

“Feels good. We were down 12-0 and coming back to win it, that’s big time,” said OSU safety Tre Sterling.

“Nope. I didn’t practice much this week, but I came into the locker room and the defense was just saying ‘They’ve done everything that they have. They’ve already done it to us. They’ve used everything that they have. There’s nothing new that they’re going to come out with.

“That was proven. We held them to just one more touchdown in the second half. This is exciting. It’s a good feeling. The offense turned it on in the second half.”

Sterling had an interception.

“We just had lined up in a basic two-high safety look with man-under,” Sterling said. “They had lined up trips to the field on my side, and all three of them ran a vertical. Then the quarterback threw it, I’m not sure why he threw it, but he threw it.

“I just had to go up and make the play when the balls up in the air like that, and I did. I should’ve gone down, but I think I was just too excited. I wanted to show Coach Dungy what I could do at receiver.”