Stillwater — The Oklahoma State Cowboys’ football season culminated in a heartbreaking moment as a high shotgun snap sailed over the head of Maealiuaki Smith, leading to a fumbled recovery by Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez for a touchdown. This misstep highlighted the Cowboys’ struggles throughout the season, which ended with a 56-48 loss against the Red Raiders at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Despite the defeat, the Cowboys (3-8, 0-8 Big 12) displayed glimpses of potential, especially from rookie quarterback Maealiuaki Smith, who made his first career start. Showing remarkable composure, Smith completed 26 of 36 passes for 326 yards, two touchdowns, and rushed for another, marking the first points of his college career. His enthusiasm brought a spark to the Cowboy offense during the game.
Adding to the excitement, fellow freshman Rodney Fields Jr. also scored the first touchdown of his career with a 19-yard run, highlighting the emergence of promising young talent amid a challenging season.
On the defensive side, however, the Cowboys struggled against a formidable Texas Tech offense. Running back Tahj Brooks and quarterback Behren Morton combined for a devastating performance. Morton completed 37 of 53 passes for a career-high 404 yards and four touchdowns, while Brooks added significant contributions, ultimately leading to Texas Tech’s commanding performance.
The Cowboys’ injury updates saw the return of starting left tackle Dalton Cooper, who played in his final game at Boone Pickens Stadium. Unfortunately, super-senior safety Trey Rucker encountered further injury setbacks, and defensive tackle Collin Clay also left the game due to injury, demonstrating the ongoing challenges the team faced.
The game doubled as Senior Day, recognizing 20 players who will be leaving the program after the season, and included a touching moment between Texas Tech starting center Sheridan Wilson and his brother, OSU right guard Preston Wilson.
Looking ahead, the Cowboys will face a tough matchup against Colorado on Friday, a game where both the team and its supporters hope to find a silver lining in a challenging season.
While this year has been fraught with difficulties, the emergence of new talents like Maealiuaki Smith and Rodney Fields Jr. provides a hopeful outlook for the future. The Cowboys appear to be building a foundation that looks promising for the upcoming seasons, paving the way for recovery and growth in 2024.