STILLWATER, Okla, (AP) — With Heisman Trophy-winning running back Barry Sanders on hand, Oklahoma State showed it still can run the football at an elite level.
Jaylen Warren produced three of his team’s eight rushing touchdowns to help the 10th-ranked Cowboys roll past TCU 63-17 on Saturday night.
It was a great all-around day for the program. A 9-foot bronze statue of Sanders was unveiled outside of Oklahoma State’s Boone Pickens Stadium before the game. At halftime, the 1988 Heisman winner’s name and No. 21 jersey number were put in the Cowboy Football Ring of Honor inside the stadium.
Oklahoma State put on a rushing clinic in front of Sanders, former players who returned to campus to support him and a crowd dressed in black. The rushing touchdown total was the second-best in program history. Dominic Richardson and Dezmon Jackson each had two rushing scores.
“The offensive line played well,” Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders said. “I feel like the offensive line just really dominated the front today, and that really helped our backs, and our backs made a couple of guys miss and made some wonderful plays.”
The Cowboys (9-1, 6-1 Big 12, No. 10 CFP) won their third straight. Oklahoma State moved into a tie for first place in the conference with Oklahoma with two games remaining, including a showdown with the Sooners on Nov. 27.
“We just keep getting better every day,” Sanders said. “We take it day by day, snap by snap. As long as we keep doing that, take care of the little things, the little things will take care of the big things.”
Warren ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries in the first half as the Cowboys took a 28-3 lead. Oklahoma State gained 352 yards and held TCU to 162.
The Cowboys took control by outscoring the Horned Frogs 21-0 in the second quarter. They closed out the first-half scoring with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Spencer Sanders to freshman Blaine Green.
TCU (4-6, 2-5) couldn’t carry the momentum from a stunning win over then-No. 14 Baylor the previous week.
“They out-physicaled, outplayed us, outcoached us,” TCU interim coach Jerry Kill said. “There’s not a whole lot to say when you get beat like that.”
TCU has already played SMU, Baylor and Oklahoma, but Kill said Oklahoma State tops them all.
“They tried tonight, but we just got beat by a better, more physical football team — the best team we’ve played.”
THE TAKEAWAY
TCU: The Horned Frogs’ top two running backs — Zach Evans and Kendre Miller — missed the game, and the Horned Frogs struggled to run the ball. The Horned Frogs didn’t score a touchdown until the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma State: The offense is catching up with a defense that has been strong all season. Most notably, Sanders has improved as a passer and decision maker. He went without a turnover, threw several balls away when nothing was available and slid to avoid contact.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The Cowboys could jump a spot with Oklahoma losing to Baylor. They could move even more if the margin of victory matters to voters.
MORE BARRY
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy didn’t hold back on how he feels about his former teammate. Gundy was Oklahoma State’s quarterback during Sanders’ Heisman season.
“This day was for the greatest college running back ever,” Gundy said. “I don’t think that’s even up for debate.”
QUOTABLE
Gundy, on keeping his team focused:
“I spend my time stressing to them the importance of what tomorrow brings and what’s got them here,” he said. “What’s got them to this point is their focus, their discipline, their toughness and staying the course. And it’s just so difficult in the world today with social media and the outside people who now are going to tell him how great they are and more than ever for them to stay focused.”
UP NEXT
TCU: Hosts Kansas on Saturday.
Oklahoma State: At Texas Tech on Saturday.
