PROVO, Utah — On a challenging night for Oklahoma State, a moment of hope emerged when receiver Brennan Presley scored a go-ahead touchdown. However, the elation was fleeting.
Exactly one minute and three seconds later, BYU executed a drive that culminated in a game-winning touchdown, sealing a 38-35 victory that left OSU reeling.
OSU quarterback Alan Bowman, stepping in for the injured Garret Rangel, orchestrated an impressive 76-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to Presley that put the Cowboys ahead 35-31 with just over a minute left.
But BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was undeterred, leading an eight-play, 75-yard drive that included a critical fourth-down conversion and a 27-yard scramble before connecting with Darius Lassiter for a 35-yard touchdown, evading three defenders on the way to the end zone.
With this defeat, OSU now stands at 0-4 in Big 12 competition and has lost four consecutive games for the first time since 2014.
Here are four more highlights from the matchup:
Oklahoma State quarterback Garret Rangel had a rough start but quickly improved after missing his initial pass. The redshirt sophomore directed two touchdown drives before his night ended prematurely due to injury. Following an impressive 54-yard rush, he was tackled and left the field for a shoulder and collarbone examination, not returning to the game. Rangel completed 6 of 9 passes for 51 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and he rushed for 77 yards on five carries.
Safety Parker Robertson, primarily a special teams player, stepped into a starting role due to injuries in the secondary. He achieved a career-high in tackles, marking six by the end of the first quarter and concluding the game with 11 total tackles. Additionally, he recorded the first interception of his career late in the first quarter.
In a bid to inject fresh talent into the lineup, OSU utilized players lower on the depth chart during the bye week. Notably, backup running back Rodney Fields Jr. made his mark with eight carries for 38 yards, including a pivotal fourth-down conversion. Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Austin Kawecki contributed by rotating in at guard, while receivers Ayo Shotomide-King and Da’Wain Lofton saw increased playing time.
Defensive changes also occurred, with Landon Dean getting substantial playing time at defensive end and redshirt freshman Poasa Utu participating in pass-rush situations.
The injury situation worsened for OSU ahead of the game, as starting safeties Trey Rucker and Dylan Smith didn’t travel to Utah. Backup defensive end Jaleel Johnson and backup quarterback Zane Flores, who recently underwent season-ending surgery, also missed the trip. Rangel’s injury proved significant, but he was not alone in his misfortune: left tackle Dalton Cooper sat out the second half with a walking boot, and safety Cameron Epps was helped off the field in the third quarter, heading straight to the locker room.