If the Oklahoma State Cowboys were looking to make a statement to prove their BCS title game worth, they're certainly halfway home. The Cowboys have dominated the Sooners on both sides of the ball through the first half of play, leading Oklahoma 24-3 in the latest installment in the Bedlam Series.
Both of Oklahoma State's touchdowns have come on the ground, with Joseph Randle accounting for two touchdowns, while Jeremy Smith has one of his own. Randle has rushed for 69 yards on 11 carries to go along with Smith's 29 yards on six carries.
The story of the game through the first half, though, has been Oklahoma State's defense. The Cowboys have forced Landry Jones to turn the ball over twice. Jones threw an interception in the endzone, as Brodick Brown ripped the ball away from Jones' target.
With the score 10-0 in the second quarter, Jones was sacked by Alex Elkins, who forced a fumble in the process. The ball took a fortuitus bounce for the Cowboys, as it bounced right to Jamie Blatnik, who returned the ball to Oklahoma's one yard line. The Cowboys scored on the very next play, extending their lead to 17-0.
Oklahoma State's defense forced a three-and-out on the Sooners' ensuing possession, and then marched down the field promptly on a seven play, 43 yard drive en route to a touchdown, giving the Cowboys a 24-0 lead.
Oklahoma finally got on the board as time expired. Michael Hunnicutt drilled a 48 yard field goal, which bounced off the upright but then through the goalposts, to give the Sooners their first three points of the game.
Look for the Cowboys to run up the score as much as they can, as they'll need as much favor with the BCS computers and voters as they can get if they are to leap over idle Alabama in the BCS poll tomorrow night.
Conversely, the Sooners have a lot of work to do if they want to earn a BCS berth this year, as a third loss would likely drop them out of the BCS picture.