After a tough loss to No. 18 Baylor, Oklahoma State must travel to No. 23 Iowa State for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday in a must win game for both teams.
With Big 12 losses, the Cowboys (4-3 overall, 1-3 in the Big 12) are realistically out of the running for a league title – although they are not mathematically eliminated.
Iowa State (5-2, 3-1) is tied with Texas and only one game back of league leading Oklahoma and No. 14 Baylor. ISU lost to Baylor but still must play Texas in Ames and the No. 5 Sooners in Norman.
A home loss to OSU would severely damage the Cyclones hopes to reach the Big 12 championship game.
The Cowboys are looking to secure bowl eligibility by winning at least two of the next five games.
Gundy praised the Cyclone offense.
“He’s a savvy quarterback,” Gundy said of ISU quarterback Brock Purdy. “He’s very good. I think he’s going to play in the NFL. He’s unusually mobile for his size. He’s strong for his size. He’s a good football player. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. They brought him out against us last year and he’s been in ever since and he’s played well. They’re a good football team. Matt Campbell does a good job. Defensively, they’re sound. They don’t give up a lot of big plays. They rush the football. They’ve gotten a little bit better based on mature quarterback play.”
Despite the losses, Gundy is optimistic.
“We had a good workout last night,” Gundy said Monday. “The players were enthusiastic and I was pleased with them.”
OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders hit 18 of 32 pass attempts but he threw an interception and lost two fumbles.
“To play quarterback at any level, you have to have good ball security in the pocket,” Gundy said. “We worked hard on it for two weeks and he was better. He put one on the ground in the fourth and they picked it up for a touchdown, made it look worse. If they recovered it and just get on the ball and we hold them to a field goal, then it’s different. That’s his responsibility, he knows that and he understands that. We will continue to work and get him better.”
Gundy defended his young quarterback.
“He made a poor throw at the end of the first half,” Gundy said. “People will say what happened? I don’t know what happened. If I had known what happened I would have fixed it before it happened. I just know sometimes that happens.
“Arguably, the most decorated quarterback to ever play here, other than me was Mason (Rudolph). I saw Rudolph pull an RPO (run pass option) at Oklahoma right to a safety on first and goal, and I had no idea why he did that.”
For the most part, Sanders played well against Baylor.
“He was like a seasoned veteran,” Gundy said. “He was fine and was communicating. He got off the field, he talked to Sean (Gleeson) and he was doing really well. He understood it and he got it, even when he missed reads.
“When Rudolph was at his best here, he would still miss a couple reads in a half. That is normal, because there is a lot going on. I think Sanders missed four total in the game. For a guy at his progression at his age, there is nothing wrong with that. That is going to happen. All of that was good.
“….He will get better each week, I guarantee you. The guy coaching him knows what he is doing. He will get him better.”
Against Baylor, OSU running back Chuba Hubbard gained 171 yards. He has 1,265 yards this season.
Baylor entered the game ranked third in the Big 12 in rush defense, allowing an average of 113.5 yards per game.
OSU finished the game with 281 rushing yards.
Baylor’s pervious season high for rushing yards allowed was 164.
L.D. Brown’s 68-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was his longest rush of the season and his longest since a 77-yard run against Missouri State in 2018.