Bedlam 2021: Looking Back on One of the Most Impactful Bedlam Wins in Cowboy History
Bragging rights. A trip to the conference title, and a chance to make the college football playoff for the first time in program history. There was a lot on the line on November 27th, 2021, and the Pokes came out victorious.
This game was an instant classic, going back and forth the entire game all the way up to the final drive. Whether it was the 100-yard kick return by Brennan Presley, or the sack by Collin Oliver on Oklahoma's final drive, there was a lot to look back on fondly.
Let's start with the first half. The first 30 minutes of football was about as even as it gets. The Pokes got on the board first after a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tay Martin on a drive that went 80 yards in just a minute and 29 seconds on five plays. The Sooners would then score on the following drive almost just as quickly, and no matter how many times it looked like the Cowboys would pull away, Oklahoma was able to answer right back, resulting in the score being tied at 24 a piece going into halftime.
In the third quarter, things slowed down a bit, as there wasn't a single offensive touchdown. The only points scored came off of two OSU mishaps, giving up a safety after runningback Dominic Richardson fumbled the ball while backed up on the goal line.
After the defense forced a three-and-out, WR Brennan Presley muffed the punt, and former Sooner safety Justin Broiles was able to dive on it in the endzone for an Oklahoma touchdown. After a missed field goal by Tanner Brown, it looked like Oklahoma was going to inevitably pull away. Obviously, that didn't happen.
The Pokes would force former OU QB Caleb Williams to fumble the ball on the third play of the following drive, but Spencer Sanders went on to throw an interception in Oklahoma territory six plays later. Jim Knowles's defense would force a punt on the next drive, and Oklahoma State drove 58 yards down the field and scored a touchdown to make it a two-point game.
After the touchdown, the Cowboys would force another quick stop. After five plays, OSU would have to punt the football, and what happened next is what ultimately won the game for Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State. Oklahoma RB Eric Gray muffed the punt from Tom Hutton, giving the ball back to the Pokes on the five-yard line. Jaylen Warren would go on to punch the ball into the endzone, giving the Cowboys a 37-33 lead with 8:54 left to go in the fourth.
They would hold onto that lead and go on to win the game after forcing a turnover on downs on OU's last drive. After forcing three straight incompletions followed by a legendary sack made by Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State would take a knee and run off what little there was left on the clock.
Even though it didn't turn into a playoff berth due to a crushing defeat in the Big 12 title game, it was still a legendary game that will be remembered by Cowboy fans for a long time. Oklahoma State would go on to defeat Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl 37-35.
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