I also didn’t think I would be writing this article, but here we are. Oklahoma State has been playing some of the best defense in the country outside of Georgia (who has the most talent of any team in the country per the 247Sports composite rankings), and it’s time we start giving them credit.

The No. 6 Cowboys latest performance, a 24-21 nail-biting win over Iowa State, highlighted the ‘Pokes newfound strength. Oklahoma State shut down one of the most experienced offenses in the Big 12. 

Star Cyclones RB Breece Hall gashed Oklahoma State on the ground for nearly 200 yards, but most of that came on two runs (a 70-yard run in the first quarter and 66-yard touchdown dash in the third quarter). Outside of those he was held to 49 yards on 18 carries. Veteran signal-caller Brock Purdy completed just 19/34 passing and under five-yard an attempt. Oklahoma State forced eight straight incompletions of Purdy late in the third/fourth quarter while the game was within ten points.

In a season where the Big 12 has been a disappointment, Oklahoma State has the chance to save the conference from an embarrassing 2020.

Amongst qualified teams, the Cowboys are third in scoring defense (12.0 ppg), 11th in yards (303.0), and sixth in passing yards (176.0). 

"Our defense needs to stay humble. They keep practicing hard, and our whole team is practicing hard," Gundy said after the game. "I'm trying to get them to ignore the outside sources that are telling them how good they are. We haven't made plays like the ones we made today. We haven't laid out like that and, at full extension, knocked a ball down on third-and-12. If we don't make that play, they're going to catch it and run up the field for another 20 yards. Then you've got Kolby Harvell-Peel going up and making a play and intercepting the ball, not just knocking it away. They're gaining some confidence. Confidence is a powerful thing in life, particularly in sports. Every day, they're getting a little more confident."

The offense isn’t as explosive as we’ve seen in the past from the Cowboys. Chuba Hubbard hasn’t been able to repeat the same insane 2019 season he had. Quarterback Spencer Sanders has struggled to stay healthy. That means the defense is going to need to be leaned on. They’ve been more than up to the task, and they’ll have to do it against another experienced QB in Sam Ehlinger this upcoming weekend.

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-By: TJ Mathewson