PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Taylor Cornelius has usually been the subject of questions regarding his play, but the fifth-year senior hushed critics with his best performance in the win against Texas. He completed 23-of-34 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns and scored the decisive touchdown on a 10-yard keeper. Cornelius was 6-for-7 on third downs in the first half as the Cowboys gained command.
–P Zach Sinor, a former finalist for the Ray Guy Award, had struggled this season since missing the first three games recovering from hernia surgery that was performed in early August. He averaged 45 yards on four attempts and had a 57-yard punt in the fourth quarter that pinned Texas on its two-yard line with the Cowboys leading by three. Sinor also helped execute a fake that led to a crucial Texas penalty.
–WR Tylan Wallace generated 222 receiving yards against Texas to mark the eighth-best single game total at Oklahoma State. It was the second-highest total by an underclassman behind Dez Bryant’s 236 as a sophomore against Houston in 2008. Wallace’s 10 grabs were a career-high. He also helped the Cowboys to a fast start with 167 receiving yards in the first half. He has five 100-yard games this season.
–CB A.J. Green gave up a five-inch height differential in his matchup with Collin Johnson, a 6-foot-6 standout receiver for Texas. Green limited Johnson to five catches on 13 targets, while credited with two pass breakups. Johnson had just one third down catch and did not score for the first time in five games.
SERIES HISTORY: Oklahoma State leads Baylor 20-16. The Cowboys throttled the Bears 59-16 a year ago while amassing 757 yards, an Oklahoma State record. RB Justice Hill rushed for 117 yards to compliment an Oklahoma State passing attack that was unstoppable.
QUOTE TO NOTE: (Our corners) competed against really quality, tall, long and athletic (Texas) receivers. That was a concern of mine two weeks ago. They are going to make some plays because they are good players. Where we improved in (the Texas) game is even when they made plays in the passing game, we were within arm’s length of covering them.” — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.