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Oklahoma State pounds Oklahoma, keeps BCS title-game hopes alive

Dec 4, 2011 - 8:29 AM Stillwater, OK (Sports Network) - Oklahoma State gave voters something to think about with a sublime performance against the Sooners Saturday night.

The third-ranked Cowboys, needing a dominating victory in their regular-season finale to have any shot at playing for a national title, got just that with a 44-10 throttling of No. 13 Oklahoma in a de facto Big 12 title game.

Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith ran for a combined 270 yards and four touchdowns -- three coming in the first half -- as the hosts jumped out to a commanding 24-0 lead.

The second half was more of the same as the Cowboys convincingly captured their first conference title since 1976, snapped an eight-game losing streak to their in-state rival and brought some excitement to the final BCS standings to be revealed on Sunday.

Oklahoma State (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) held the No. 2 slot in the BCS standings before falling to Iowa State in double overtime on November 18. Since then, Alabama moved into the coveted spot behind top-ranked LSU.

A rematch between the Tigers and Crimson Tide for the BCS title appeared inevitable, but Oklahoma State made a strong case for consideration by holding the Sooners 33 points below their season average in the latest installment of the Bedlam Series.

"I don't think that there's any question that Oklahoma State should play in the big game," Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy said confidently. "After what they accomplished tonight and the way they did it against the No. 10 team in the country, I don't think there?s any question they deserve an opportunity to play for it all."

Brandon Weeden completed 24-of-36 passes for 217 yards, 95 going to Justin Blackmon on 10 receptions for the Cowboys' top playmaker.

Landry Jones committed four of Oklahoma's (9-3, 6-3) five turnovers, with two interceptions and two fumbles, one of which Richetti Jones returned five yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter.

"You can't put it on anyone but me tonight. I single handedly lost this game for us," Landry Jones said. "That's just the way it is. I had the ball in my hands and coach put the ball in my hands to win the game, and I lost it for us."

Tracy Moore set up Smith's nine-yard touchdown run with a 53-yard reception early in the opening frame.

On the next possession, Brodrick Brown came down with an interception in the end zone by wrestling the ball away from Jaz Reynolds.

Quinn Sharp capped the ensuing 11-play, 72-yard drive with a 25-yard field goal, and it stayed 10-0 until the Cowboys turned another Landry Jones mistake into points late in the second quarter.

On 3rd-and-6 from the Oklahoma State 19-yard line, Landry Jones was flushed out of the pocket by Alex Elkins and tried throwing the ball away to preserve field position. The ball, however, slipped out of his hand before he started his throwing motion, and Jamie Blatnick returned the loose ball 59 yards before getting dragged down just before the goal line.

On the next play, Randle took it up the middle for a one-yard score with 4:39 remaining in the half.

The Sooners proceeded with a three-and-out, and a quick seven-play, 43-yard drive ended with Randle going in from two yards out for a 24-0 cushion.

Michael Hunnicutt banked in a 48-yard field goal off the right upright to get Oklahoma on the board just before the intermission.

Sharp countered with a 37-yard field goal three minutes into the second half, and Richetti Jones' touchdown on the next play essentially put the game out of reach.

Smith ran for a seven-yard touchdown and Sharp booted a 34-yarder later in the third, and Oklahoma's Blake Bell ran for a 28-yard touchdown in the final minutes to account for the final margin.

"We did what we could do tonight, and that's all we can do. It's up to the voters now," Blackmon said.

Game Notes

This was the first time Oklahoma State posted 11 wins in the regular season..Oklahoma could have caused a three-way tie atop the conference with a win...The Cowboys outgained the Sooners, 495-358.