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The No. 24 Oklahoma State Cowboys' 44-30 loss to the No. 2 Kansas State Wildcats looked agonizingly familiar, writes Robert Whetsell of Cowboys Ride For Free.
The Cowboys turned the ball over five times and allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown in the loss. Three of the five turnovers resulted in touchdowns, with one coming immediately on an interception return for a TD from Kansas State's Allen Chapman, who picked off three passes in the game. Those events contradicted CRFF's keys to a victory, says Whetsell.
OSU had to play clean, no turnovers, short fields, or easy scores for the Wildcats.
Difference in the score? Fourteen points.
Easy scores? Fourteen points.
The pick 6 and the kickoff return.
Despite combining for four interceptions, Oklahoma State's quarterbacks were effective, as the Cowboys totaled 417 yards through the air. Clint Chelf, who came on in relief of the injured Wes Lunt, only threw one of those picks while completing 16 of 27 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. Although Chelf made a few questionable decisions, Whetsell believes he should be the starter while Lunt is out:
...he should start the rest of the season. Lunt will be out for at least a week, and Chelf obviously showed some maturity that is lacking in the leadership of this offense. He made pretty good decisions most of the time, and his legs are enough to be a threat to scramble.
The Cowboys have a tough road ahead, facing three teams that are currently ranked -- West Virginia, Texas Tech and Oklahoma -- before closing out the season against a Baylor squad that can, if nothing else, put points on the board.