The Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-3, 2-3 in the Big 12) return home at 2:30 p.m. Saturday to face TCU after a notable 34-27 upset of Iowa State.
TCU (4-3, 2-2) had their own upset Saturday, topping Texas 37-27.
“We made big plays in the fourth quarter,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said Monday.
Gundy said TCU, known for Coach Gary Patterson’s defense, is “probably the best defense we have played all year. This will be a real challenge for our team.”å
Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez got his first Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honor on Monday for his performance Saturday in OSU’s win at No. 23 Iowa State.
The junior linebacker scored the game-winning touchdown on a pick-six late in the fourth quarter, while also finishing with 11 tackles to lead all players in the game and adding a pass break up on a third-down play to force an Iowa State punt.
Rodriguez now ranks fourth in the Big 12 with an average of 8.3 tackles per game this season.
What was the difference for OSU against the Cyclones?
“No turnovers, to a certain extent, no penalties, don’t give up big plays. Good ingredients for much better football,” Gundy said.
The OSU defense was sharp.
“Jim [Knowles] had a good scheme for them when they throw the ball,” Gundy said. “It worked for us late, especially on the inside crossing routes. Our players bought into the scheme”
Kolby Harvell-Peel set a school record with six pass breakups.
“There were times we played tight coverage and he broke them up, and there were times we played tight coverage and they made tough catches,” Gundy said. “Our defensive plan was excellent.”
“They did a good job being multiple defensively and mixing up a lot of different things and gave a lot of different looks, and I think from our end we had a pretty good beat that that’s what was going to happen,” said ISU coach Matt Campbell. “Getting the consistency in the passing game never really took hold. We’ll have to go through and look at the video and, obviously, we’ll grow from it.”
Cyclone quarterback Brock Purdy threw three interceptions.
“I love him, I care about him, and I wouldn’t want to have any other quarterback in the country than that guy, and so we’ll grow from it,” Campbell said. “Part of it is, ‘how can I put you in a better situation?,’ some of those were tough situations at the end of the football game, so how do I help you and that’s way more than I ask any more of that kid because we wouldn’t be where we are at right now without Brock Purdy.”
OSU running back Chuba Hubbard entered the game leading the nation in rushing yards and rushing yards per game. He finished the game with 116 yards to bring his season total to 1,381 yards.
Hubbard has rushed for at least 100 yards in 10 of his past 12 games and he has a rushing touchdown in every game of 2019.
Cowboy wideout Tylan Wallace scored on a 71-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter that marked his third touchdown catch this year of at least 70 yards. Wallace now has at least one receiving touchdown in 10 of his past 14 games.
Wallace finished with 131 receiving yards to mark the 11th 100-yard receiving game of his career and his fourth of the season. His 11 career 100-yard receiving games ranks fifth in OSU history.
OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders became the all-time leader in freshman passing yards at Oklahoma State. His 249 passing yards vs. Iowa State brings his season total to 1,739. The previous record of 1,628 was set by Donovan Woods in 2004.
At halftime, OSU had not run a play in Iowa State territory, but led 21-13. OSU’s 21 points came on 23 first-half plays. OSU had three 50-plus yard touchdowns in the first half.