No. 9 Oklahoma St. in B12 title game with 23-0 win over Tech

Updated Nov. 20, 2021 11:52 p.m. ET

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LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Ninth-ranked Oklahoma State is going to play for a championship because of its dominating defense.

Oklahoma State wrapped up its first spot in the Big 12 championship game with a 23-0 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday night, completely throttling an offense that hadn't been shut out since 1997. The Cowboys have allowed only one offensive touchdown over their past four games, but this was their first shutout on the road since 1995.

Spencer Sanders threw a touchdown and ran for another score, and Tanner Brown kicked three field goals for the Cowboys (10-1, 7-1, CFP No. 9). The defense limited Texas Tech (6-5, 3-5), which had scored in 302 consecutive games, to 108 total yards that included a 25-yard pass on the final drive.

With Bedlam at home next Saturday against 12th-ranked Oklahoma, the Cowboys are already assured of playing in the Big 12 title game Dec. 4 at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Still to be determined is if they will be the home or visiting team, and who they will play.

Oklahoma State and Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1, CFP No. 13) are tied for the Big 12 lead, so the winner next Saturday night will finish first in the regular-season standings. No. 11 Baylor (9-2, 6-2, CFP No. 11), which hosts Texas Tech earlier that day, is the only other team that could get in the title game.

Oklahoma State had its own issues at times offensively, but ended up with 427 total yards never trailed after going 70 yards on its opening drive for a 24-yard field goal.

The Cowboys didn't score again until Brown's 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter, with that kick coming after some trickery that would have worked if wide-open Jaden Bray hadn't gotten twisted around and fallen down in the end zone when fellow freshman receiver John Paul Richardson made a left-handed jump pass after getting the ball from Sanders.

Richardson caught a 14-yard TD pass from Sanders just before halftime, that coming one play after Texas Tech was called for defensive holding on a third-down play that had gained nothing. Sanders had a 9-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.

THE TAKEAWAY

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys won their only Big 12 title in 2011, which was the first season the league went to 10 teams and didn’t have a championship game. The title game was reinstated in 2017. ... Oklahoma State reached 10 wins for the 10th time, and seventh since 2010.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders had 31 total yards on 28 offensive plays in the first half. They lost yardage on nine plays, including two of their four completions before halftime. Redshirt freshman quarterback Donovan Smith finished 9-of-28 passing for 83 yards and was sacked three times. A week earlier in his first start, he was 25-of-32 passing for 322 yards and three TDs. After consecutive three-and-out to start the game, one with a completed pass for a 3-yard loss before two sacks, they got the Oklahoma State 37 on the next drive when down only 3-0. But they threw an incompletion instead attempting a field goal that would have been shorter than the 62-yarder Jonathan Garibay mode on the final play a week earlier to beat Iowa State.

WORTH WATCHING ON REPLAY

The drive for Oklahoma State’s second field goal started with consecutive highlight catches that were reviewed. The first was Tay Martin getting behind two defenders for a diving catch, and got his elbow in bounds just before his body rolled into the Texas Tech bench area. The referees ruled it a catch, and that stood after a replay review. On the next play, Blaine Green made a leaping catch on the opposite sideline that was initially ruled incomplete. That was overturned after the review to become an 18-yard completion.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma State: Home against Oklahoma for what could be the first of two meetings in two weeks against their instate rival.

Texas Tech: At Baylor, where Joey McGuire was in fifth season on staff before being named coach of the Red Raiders on Nov. 8, though he won’t take over the on-field duties until after Tech’s bowl game.

___

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