Monday, November 29, 2021
OSU vs. OU 37-33 Cowboys in unfamiliar territory after instant classic Bedlam game
Alicia Young
Cowboys had usurped Oklahoma 37-33, winning the lopsided series for the first time since 2014 for in-state authority, and set themselves up to accomplish something they’ve not done in a decade. Win a conference title. Dean Ruhl OSU will have a quick transition into the championship game, slated to Sports Editor be played Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The rare triumph couldn’t keep “Obviously I haven’t done it Oklahoma State fans off the field. before, so what I told them Saturday is As students and alumni poured the same thing I’ve told them, because it onto the Boone Pickens Stadium field, is one week,” OSU coach Mike Gundy risking the 8-foot drop, the Cowboys said. “So they enjoy this, go out with found themselves in uncharted territory. your family, eat dinner with girlfriends In sole possession of first place in the or whatever.” Big 12 at the end of the regular season, The victory over OU not only preparing to battle for a conference title keeps the Sooners out of the Big 12 and in the hunt for a College Football Championship Game for the first time Playoff berth. since it was reinstated in 2017 but halts In an instant classic game, the a second Bedlam from happening in
Texas. Instead, OSU will challenge Baylor (10-2 overall, 7-2 Big 12). The two schools have each claimed conference championships outright in the past (OSU in 2011 and Baylor in 2013 and 2014), but never competed in the championship game to date. That will change this Saturday. The current Baylor squad is a far cry from not only the two-win team OSU walloped this past season, but also from the team OSU played a mere seven weeks ago. “You can watch them on film and they’re not the same football team,” offensive lineman Josh Sills said. “They’ve gotten a lot better up front; you know blitzing and that kind of thing. So going into this game, you’ve got to have an open mind.” Since the Bears’ loss to OSU in
early October, they’ve rattled off wins against BYU, Oklahoma and Kansas State, each by two scores. Outside of a misstep against TCU, the Bears have controlled games behind the running back tandem of Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner. They status of BU quarterback Gerry Bohanon is still unknown, after he suffered a right hamstring injury against Kansas State. The goal remains the same for the Cowboys as it has all season – claim a Big 12 title. They’ve staved off inner demons to put them in position to accomplish this, the most significant being the win of OU. “Beat Baylor to get into the playoffs,” linebacker Devin Harper said. “That is our goal.”
Fight to the end sports.ed@ocolly.com
Harper, defense, instrumental in OSU’s win Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter
Abby Smith
When Devin Harper hounded after Caleb Williams, cutting through the cold lateNovember in a sprint to tackle the Oklahoma quarterback, he thought about a warmer time. “All I could think about was the long days we put in in the summer,” Harper, a senior linebacker, said. “Remembering Coach Knowles always telling us
to fight to the end.” At that moment, with 1:20 remaining in the game and thoughts of tough training camps popped into Harper’s mind, the end was near. Of the play, the game, and maybe OSU’s College Football playoff hopes. Harper followed Knowles’ advice. Fight until the end. Oklahoma State beat Oklahoma 37-33. A reason the score held was the aforementioned play Harper made on the Sooner’s potential game-tying drive.
See Fight on 2