Bedlam hangover? No. 15 Oklahoma State’s Big 12 title hopes take a hit with 45-3 loss at UCF

Experience a tale of two weeks.

No. 15 Oklahoma State soared high with a five-game winning streak, including a victorious home game against rival Oklahoma. However, their joy was short-lived as they suffered a crushing 45-3 defeat against Big 12 newbie UCF, significantly hindering their path to the Big 12 title game, only a week later.

Despite UCF’s prior 1-5 standing in its first six Big 12 games, the Knights outperformed from the get-go. UCF scored on its first two offensive possessions, while Oklahoma State’s initial two drives ended in turnovers – a fumble by star running back Ollie Gordon and an interception by Alan Bowman.

By mid-second quarter, UCF led 24-0, and Oklahoma State could not recover, as the Knights sought their first Big 12 home triumph over a ranked opponent.

Gordon, the nation’s lead rusher, struggled with just 25 yards on 12 carries, while Bowman suffered three costly interceptions. Conversely, UCF dominated the ground game. RJ Harvey led with 206 yards and three touchdowns, with quarterback John Rhys Plumlee adding 299 passing yards and three scores to help the Knights amass 592 yards and average a blazing 8.5 yards per play.

Following their 277-yard performance in Orlando, the loss creates obstacles for Oklahoma State’s Big 12 title game aspirations, amidst a crowded conference standings. Texas is 5-1, with Kansas State, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Iowa State all holding two conference losses, and further clarity is expected after other matchups on Saturday night.

Oklahoma State’s schedule remains favorable, with upcoming games against Houston and BYU – teams that held a combined 4-8 record in Big 12 play before Saturday night’s games.