Oklahoma State vs. Baylor 2012: Cowboys defense comes up short in loss

The Oklahoma State Cowboys ended the regular season with consecutive losses, falling 41-34 on Saturday to the Baylor Bears one week after losing to archrival Oklahoma 51-48 in overtime. Oklahoma State allowed Baylor to roll up 615 yards of total offense, with Bears quarterback Nick Florence accounting for 367 total yards in the game (296 passing with a touchdown, 71 rushing).

SB Nation's Oklahoma State blog Cowboys Ride For Free has seen enough of the soft Cowboys defense this season, and broke down one play in particular in their recap that captures the season-long defensive struggles of Oklahoma State:

This one drive, this one play, represents all that sucks about our defense for the last how many years. When facing top level offenses, they struggle to get off the field. A lot. Last year was more luck than anything with this unit.

The Cowboys allowed 40 points or more in five games this season, losing all five contests.

Despite the loss on Saturday, Oklahoma State (7-5) will still be playing in a bowl game. The final SB Nation bowl projections from Jason Kirk see the Cowboys squaring off against Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl, played Dec. 29 in San Antonio.