Eric Boggs 
Kansas State kept their CFP hopes alive.
Kansas State delivered a statement win over Oklahoma State, dominating 42-20 in a critical Big 12 matchup that had major implications for both teams’ chances in the College Football Playoff race. Coming off a tough loss to BYU, the Wildcats (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) needed a bounce-back performance, and they delivered in front of their home crowd at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The game, featuring No. 25 K-State against No. 20 Oklahoma State, started with promise for the Cowboys (3-2, 0-2 Big 12), who managed to jump ahead 13-7 in the second quarter after a 77-yard touchdown pass from Alan Bowman to De’Zhaun Stribling. The Cowboys’ defense then capitalized on a bad interception from K-State’s sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson, setting themselves up with prime field position at the Wildcats’ 33-yard line. But the Cowboys failed to capitalize, settling for a 31-yard field goal and missing a chance to build on their momentum.
That sequence was the turning point. From there, Johnson turned his game around, leading K-State on an avalanche of scoring drives. He connected with tight end Garrett Oakley for a clutch 19-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead, then hit Jayce Brown with a 55-yard bomb that put the Wildcats up 21-13 at halftime. By the third quarter, K-State had full control, extending the lead to 28-13 on another merciless drive. Johnson finished the day with 259 passing yards, three touchdowns through the air, and two more on the ground, along with 60 rushing yards.
K-State’s offensive barrage was backed by a stellar performance from running back DJ Giddens, who racked up 187 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries, including a 66-yard score that left Oklahoma State’s defense helpless. Giddens averaged 12.5 yards per carry, showing off his power and speed to keep the Cowboys reeling.
While K-State’s offense was unstoppable, the defense also made critical plays. They forced multiple turnovers, including two interceptions—one by Marques Sigle and another by Jacob Parrish—that stymied Oklahoma State’s hopes of a comeback. Though the Cowboys moved the ball for nearly 500 yards, they couldn’t convert when it mattered most, often settling for field goals or giving up the ball in key moments.
The Wildcats’ one defensive lapse came on the flea-flicker touchdown that put Oklahoma State briefly in the lead. It marked the second straight week that K-State’s defense had been fooled by a trick play, a weakness that could be exploited in future games.
For Oklahoma State, the loss leaves their Big 12 title hopes hanging by a thread. Bowman threw three interceptions, completing just 52% of his passes, and the Cowboys’ run game, led by Ollie Gordon, was largely neutralized after an early 43-yard burst on the opening drive. Gordon, who finished with 76 rushing yards, remains one of the best backs in the country, but he struggled to find room against the Wildcats’ defense.
As K-State moves forward with a 4-1 record, they look poised to remain in the thick of the Big 12 title race. Oklahoma State, on the other hand, now faces an uphill battle with a 0-2 start in conference play. Both teams will have a lot to play for in the coming weeks, but for now, Kansas State’s dominant victory puts them firmly back on track.
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