The best in the Big 12? Oklahoma State leaves little doubt in dominant victory over TCU
TCU interim coach Jerry Kill joked earlier in the week that maybe Oklahoma State legend Barry Sanders could take a few reps for TCU and its depleted running back corps on Saturday night.
Well, Sanders didn’t come to TCU’s rescue on a night he was inducted into OSU’s Ring of Honor. Instead, Sanders enjoyed seeing the current Oklahoma State running back corps share the spotlight.
Jaylen Warren established the Cowboys’ rushing attack in the first half, and No. 10 OSU never stopped running en route to a 63-17 victory over TCU at Boone Pickens Stadium.
The Cowboys finished with 682 yards of total offense. That’s the seventh-most TCU has given up all-time and the most since Baylor had 782 yards in a 61-58 victory in 2014. Of the 682 yards, Oklahoma State rushed for 447 yards and eight TDs. The eight rushing TDs matched the most allowed by TCU in its history (Texas had eight rushing TDs in 1974).
TCU, meanwhile, had just 273 yards of total offense.
“They out-physicaled, out-played, out-coached us,” Kill said. “There’s not a whole lot to say when you get beat like that.”
Asked if the Cowboys were the most complete team he’s seen first-hand this season, Kill said: “No doubt about that. Most physical team.
“We just played Baylor, no disrespect to Baylor or anybody else we’ve played, OU, so forth, but nobody’s that physical. When you run the ball like that, you become a physical football team on both sides.”
TCU didn’t score its first touchdown until the fourth quarter when freshman Sam Jackson stepped in at quarterback. Running back Emari Demercado delivered the TD with a 13-yard run. The Frogs then added a defensive touchdown on a fumble return by defensive end Colt Ellison of Aledo. It was too little, too late.
“We just didn’t execute like we needed to,” said Demercado, who finished with a career-high 90 yards rushing. “We had a few big plays that could’ve happened. One got called back. We dropped another one, so just like those things, it was hard to pick up momentum. We really needed those plays. Those would’ve helped us a lot. Just execution.”
The 63 points were the most an opponent has scored since Texas Tech’s 70-35 victory over TCU in 2004. The 46-point loss was the worst since TCU fell 59-3 to Texas A&M in the 1993 finale.
Warren finished with 113 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Most of that came in the opening half with 103 yards and three TDs on 14 carries. Warren sustained what appeared to be a minor injury in the third quarter and didn’t return.
He didn’t need to, of course. The Cowboys had Dominic Richardson and Dezmon Jackson carry the load in the second half. Richardson, a one-time TCU signee, had a game-high 134 yards rushing and two TDs — all coming in the second half. Jaden Nixon had 69 yards rushing on three carries, including a 63-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, while Jackson finished with 68 yards and two TDs on 15 carries.
“They ran the ball very well,” TCU defensive end Dylan Horton said. “They ran the ball hard and have some good backs. As a defense, we need to tackle, tackle legs. That’s something we need to emphasize. We need to work on it, but they did a good job today.”
Oklahoma State’s 447 yards rushing were the most TCU has allowed this season. The Cowboys are the sixth team to top the 200-yard mark against the Frogs.
The Cowboys controlled the game from start to finish, building a 28-3 lead by halftime. The 28 points were the most TCU had given up in the first half this season.
TCU (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) reverted to its losing ways a week after stunning No. 12 Baylor in the first game since the school parted ways with longtime coach Gary Patterson. But the Frogs weren’t able to carry that magic on the road and have now lost six of their last eight.
“We’ve been depleted,” Kill said. “I don’t make excuses, but we just don’t have anybody left right now. We’ve got some young guys playing and some guys trying to play through injury. We’ve just been beat up.
“It’s been that kind of season for TCU but it happens. Those are all called excuses, but that’s why we’re struggling. We’ve lost some key personnel, and our kids in there now are playing their guts out. Offense didn’t help the defense any tonight either because offensively we didn’t do a whole lot and the defense was on the field. We play great team football together, and today Oklahoma State didn’t allow us to do that.”
OSU (9-1, 6-1) made a statement as the Big 12’s top team on a day Oklahoma fell to Baylor in Waco.
TCU faces Kansas in the final home game of the season next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
This story was originally published November 13, 2021 at 10:21 PM.
