No. 13 BYU, which entered Friday as one of 11 remaining unbeaten FBS teams, stayed undefeated with a dramatic 38-35 comeback win over Oklahoma State at home.
The Cougars (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) scored the go-ahead touchdown with 10 seconds remaining on a 35-yard pass from quarterback Jake Retzlaff to wide receiver Darius Lassiter. It capped a 75-yard scoring drive that took just 1:03, preserving BYU’s unblemished record and keeping them atop the Big 12 standings.
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The game-winning drive came on the heels of Oklahoma State taking the lead with 1:13 remaining on a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alan Bowman to Brennan Presley, finishing off a drive that chewed up eight minutes of game clock. It marked the first time BYU has trailed in the fourth quarter of a game all season.
The Cougars put themselves in a hole with three first-half interceptions, including one on a trick-play pass by running back Hinckley Ropati, but outscored the Cowboys 24-14 in the second half. Retzlaff finished 13 for 26 for 218 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, plus another rushing touchdown and 81 rushing yards. Sophomore running back L.J. Martin had a career-high 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Lassiter led all pass catchers with 129 receiving yards on six catches and that last-second score.
It was an admirable showing by a depleted Oklahoma State (3-4, 0-4 Big 12), which has dropped four games in a row to open conference play. Bowman, who started the first six games at quarterback, opened this one on the bench as sophomore Garret Rangel got the nod. Rangel provided a spark, completing 6 of 9 throws for 51 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 77 yards, but he suffered an upper-body injury on a long run late in the second quarter and never returned.
The Pokes were also without their top three defensive players due to injury. Reigning Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II was banged up for much of the game but still managed 107 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Bowman completed 11 of 19 throws for 85 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He even caught a touchdown on a trick play early in the fourth quarter, but the Oklahoma State defense couldn’t get that final stop.
BYU is 7-0 for just the second time since 2001 and entered Saturday morning in pole position in the Big 12 title race as its hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff continue to swell. The Cougars entered Friday’s game with a 19 percent chance of reaching the CFP, according to The Athletic’s Playoff predictor.
No. 9 Iowa State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) and Texas Tech (5-1, 3-0 Big 12) are the other remaining unbeaten teams in conference play; each will take the field Saturday. The Cougars travel to UCF next week with a rivalry showdown against new Big 12 foe Utah looming on Nov. 9.
(Photo: Rob Gray / Imagn Images)
