John Holcomb: Oklahoma State Faces Familiar Challenges After Loss to Kansas State

After five games there are questions and concerns. A dormant rushing attack. A defense giving up big plays and one susceptible to running quarterbacks.

Outside of rotating quarterbacks, this must feel a lot like this point on the calendar one year ago for Cowboy fans.

Taking a closer look at the disappointing 42-20 loss at Kansas State there were signs that Ollie Gordon and the offense could actually duplicate some of what turned around the 2023 season. Gordon ran hard, and had room to operate as he gained 72 yards on nine carries in the first quarter. 

The success in the run game helped open opportunities for De’Zhaun Stribling in the passing game. There was rhythm. The Wildcats were on their heels.

Then came the mistakes.

Kansas State put an extra defender in the box, and Gordon’s carries were limited, as were his yards. That’s not what kept OSU from scoring more points. A low snap that Alan Bowman couldn’t handle led to a turnover deep in K-State territory. Logan Ward missed a 34-yard field goal. 

Bowman later threw two interceptions. 

The margin for error on the road against a good team is slim enough to begin with. Throwing away chances makes it really difficult to come out on top away from home.

Mike Gundy said Monday that it’s easy to focus on the four or five bad plays Bowman had, but that the quarterback also made 55 good ones. It just comes with the sport’s most scrutinized position. As for Gordon’s limited production after the first quarter, the Wildcats’ extra personnel in the box made a difference, but the OSU offensive line has struggled to get a consistent push from scrimmage. They’ve done a good job of pass-blocking.

Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson may not be the most polished quarterback yet, but his elite athleticism was a problem. He accounted for five touchdowns.

 Another problem? For the second game in a row, an opposing running back went for more than 180 yards. DJ Giddens broke free too often. Gundy says the issue isn’t as much about a bad defensive scheme as it is getting guys on the ground. Yards after contact have been killers.

All-America candidate linebacker Nick Martin’s status is crucial to OSU's success. He suffered a right leg injury in the fourth quarter in Manhattan. 

The Cowboys should get Justin Wright back soon, and they’ll need him to stay healthy. If Martin is out for an extended period, Gundy says several players, including Kendal Daniels, might spend time at that spot.

West Virginia brings another running quarterback, Garrett Greene to Stillwater this weekend. The Mountaineers are coming off a bye week with a 2-2 record after winning their Big 12 opener at home over Kansas with a second-half rally. They’ll be rested. 

The Cowboys will be playing their sixth game in six weeks. The first bye on the schedule is next week. Has all the extra emotional and physical energy expended in the rally past Arkansas in double overtime and against Utah drained OSU’s tank? It has had an impact. 

The Cowboys need to dip into those reserves to break into the Big 12 win column.