Oklahoma State Must Avoid Letting Loss to Oregon Define the Season
Oklahoma State’s loss to Oregon on Saturday, a crushing 69-3 defeat, was their worst under head coach Mike Gundy. The game quickly spiraled out of control as the Ducks surged ahead, dominating both offensively and defensively from the start.
Oregon’s offense was nearly flawless in the early stages, jumping to a commanding lead, while Oklahoma State’s defense struggled to contain them. The situation worsened as the Cowboys allowed back-to-back pick sixes, cementing the blowout as one of the most humiliating losses in recent memory for Gundy and his team.
Beyond Oregon’s impressive performance, Oklahoma State had little to celebrate. Their offense was sluggish, mirroring the issues they faced last season with a quarterback rotation. Meanwhile, their defense looked much like the porous unit from 2023.
While the 69-3 loss should not be entirely dismissed, the Cowboys cannot afford to let it define the rest of their season. Media coverage of the team has already turned critical, and although Oregon was always seen as the superior team, the manner in which they won has left Oklahoma State fans frustrated.
On a positive note, the Big 12 remains highly competitive, and despite the Cowboys’ many unanswered questions, there are still opportunities to remain competitive in upcoming matchups.
A potential boost for Oklahoma State could come with the return of starting quarterback Hauss Hejny, who impressed early in the season before being sidelined by injury. Hejny recently underwent foot surgery but is expected back, which could inject some much-needed energy into the offense.
The team’s next game against Tulsa offers a chance to regroup, with hopes that they can find some consistency on both sides of the ball. Following that, a series of winnable Big 12 games against Baylor, Arizona, Houston, and Cincinnati could provide an opportunity for the Cowboys to get back on track before a tougher stretch of games.
Gundy has a strong history of bouncing back from tough situations, both in individual games and across seasons. Although this start to the season mirrors some of the struggles from last year, Oklahoma State has the potential to recover and remain competitive in the Big 12 race.
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