It seems Clint Chelf always gets to be at his best when he faces Baylor, but this time it ended up with a win. Oklahoma State beat the number 4 team in the nation 49-17, overturning the situation in the Big 12, which means the Cowboys now need to win their inner state rivalry game against the Sooners in order to win the conference for the second time in three years.
Baylor knew that the final month of the season was going to be brutal, but after their win over the Sooners, some thought the worse was behind them. Wrong. Chelf threw for 370 yards and three touchdown passes, running for another, as the Cowboys highlighted a better than expected defense, helping them build a 35-3 lead before the fourth quarter.
Baylor are used to having their way on the field, but after only seven three-and-outs prior to the game, but were forced to four such drive-endings against Oklahoma State, the most they’ve had in a game since playing against TCU in 2011. They turned the ball over three times (all fumbles), two of them coming in the red zone. In four red zone opportunities, they failed to score each time, their first game without a red zone touchdown since 2010, also a game against TCU.
Not all – It’s been over a year since Baylor were held scoreless in the first quarter, and it wasn’t far from being a complete first half shut out. They ended up scoring a field goal, avoiding their first 0-points first half since a 59-24 loss to Oklahoma State back in 2011.
Chelf has one more home game to play before leaving Stillwater, but he picked a perfect time to put in a career-best performance, not really bothered with the Baylor blitz. He completed all three touchdown passes when facing five pass rushers or more tied for the most touchdowns against the blitz by a Big 12 quarterback in a game this season. His nine completions on passes thrown 15 or more yards downfield are the most for a big 12 quarterback this season, and making Bryce Petty look quite nomral despite his 359 yards and two touchdown passes, coming when the game was sealed shut.
Mike Gundy – I couldn’t be more proud of what he’s accomplished. He’s been a good leader and he does it quiet. He’s been humbled, and for that he’s had success.
National title game for the Cowboys? Unlikely. They need too many things to happen in front of them, but they have the lead for the conference title, without a conference championship game to play and mess it up for them. Baylor, who were dreaming of sneaking up on one of the top 3 teams, were left crushed and broken after a very tough and demoralizing loss.
This is very difficult. This hurts. Our chances of still winning the Big 12 aren’t over, but we wanted something bigger than that. We wanted something that’s never been done before, and that was to go to a national championship. That dream came down.