How Has Oklahoma State Fared After Bye Weeks in Recent Years?
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Oklahoma State is on a much-needed bye week, but they need to take advantage of it heading into next week’s game against Kansas State.
OSU has used its first bye week over the past few seasons to get some rest, prepare for big games and sometimes reset after disappointing losses. With OSU falling into all three categories this season, this is one of the most important bye weeks in recent history.
But how have the Cowboys fared in games after that first bye week? Here’s a look at how they have performed in that situation over their past five seasons.
Starting with last season, the Cowboys were coming off a 12-2 season and started 3-0 heading into the bye. But they would immediately get a test in their first conference game: a Big 12 Championship rematch against Baylor.
The highly anticipated matchup went great for the Cowboys. With a 16-3 halftime lead, Jaden Nixon took the opening second-half kickoff 98 yards to the house to give the Cowboys a lead that the Bears could never fully recover from.
OSU won 36-25 and kept its undefeated season alive, as it still ranked in the top 10 in the country. In 2021, OSU was also undefeated and highly ranked after its bye week as it headed to Austin to face Texas.
The Cowboys looked sluggish early as they trailed 17-3 near the end of the first half, with the Longhorns looking ready to score again. But Jim Knowles’ defense began to make some noise as Jason Taylor intercepted Casey Thompson and ran it back 85 yards for a pick-six.
Bijan Robinson extended Texas’ lead on its first drive of the second half to 24-13, but OSU responded. The Cowboys scored 19 unanswered points and picked off Thompson on the Longhorns’ last drive to get an impressive 32-24 victory.
After two weeks off, the Cowboys faced Iowa State in a ranked matchup at home in 2020. With a 24-21 win, the Cowboys remained unbeaten thanks to a 139-yard outing from Chuba Hubbard.
In Spencer Sanders’ first season as starting quarterback, OSU suffered its only loss after its first bye week in the past five seasons. After a rough loss to Texas Tech in 2019, OSU got a bye week before a homecoming game against Baylor.
The Cowboys started well and had a chance to win after LD Brown’s 68-yard fourth-quarter touchdown put them up 27-24. From there, it was all Bears as they scored three touchdowns to finish the game for a 45-27 win that kept them undefeated.
In 2018, OSU had its most comparable bye week to this season. OSU was 4-3 coming off two straight losses, including an ugly loss to Kansas State, where it scored only 12 points.
With questions at the quarterback position with Taylor Cornelius at the helm, the Cowboys were set to face a top-10 Texas team under the lights at Boone Pickens Stadium. Tylan Wallace and the Cowboys shocked the college football world that night.
Wallace’s Biletnikoff campaign was boosted significantly with 222 yards and three touchdowns, including a spectacular 36-yard grab before halftime to put OSU up 31-14. Texas would make a comeback but ultimately fall short as OSU pulled off the upset 38-35.
The Cowboys hope to make a similar statement against Kansas State in the upcoming Friday night matchup. There are still many questions about this team, but if it can answer some of those against the Wildcats, OSU may be able to keep its bowl streak alive.
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