After a weather delay began at 3:08 p.m. CT, the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Kansas Jayhawks returned to the field to resume the first quarter after a delay that lasted 80 minutes. The field was vacated after weather that included lightning came through the area. Just before 4:30 p.m. CT, the game finally resumed and the scoreless first quarter came to an end shortly thereafter.

The first quarter featured four turnovers on downs as both teams managed to move the ball relatively well, but elected to go on fourth down two times each.

Deep in to the opposing team's territory on each gamble, the turnovers on downs didn't afford either team great field position, although both teams passed on the opportunity to kick go-ahead field goals, including a fake field goal attempt by Kansas that was unsuccessful.

Both quarterbacks played very close to even in the first quarter, as Dayne Crist's 55 yards passing just edged J.W. Walsh's 53.