This just in…Tyreek Hill is dangerous.
Hill’s 92-yard fourth quarter punt return was the pivotal play of the game, but the 38-35 Oklahoma State Bedlam victory was a foreshadowing of things to come. Freshman quarterback Mason Rudolph etched his name in Bedlam lore by delivering a victory in Norman.
The Cowboys (6-6) are bowl eligible and this young team will prepare to face Washington in the TicketCity Cactus Bowl on January 2, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona.
After dropping five consecutive Big 12 games the Cowboys were not given much of chance to go into Norman and get their first victory there since 2001. Enter Rudolph.
Despite a tense mood from Mike Gundy and general doldrums resulting from the losing streak, the Cowboys showed grit and the offense under Rudolph has come alive. Better yet, many of the biggest Bedlam plays were made by Rudolph and other key 2015 returnees. Has pessimism quickly turned to optimism in Stillwater? It sure seem so.
FanSided
The Cowboys offense under Rudolph began to show a pulse in their 49-28 loss at Baylor. Those 28 points were the most they had registered in a game since September. Still a black cloud hung over the Cowboys due in large part to Mike Gundy-to-Florida rumors and a very cryptic press conference.
That pulse was a full-on heartbeat against the Sooners. Mason found junior WR Brandon Shepard for two long touchdown passes including a 43-yarder with just under five minutes to go putting the Pokes within one score. The defense forced a punt – well…actually two punts, right? – and Hill did the rest.
Best news for Cowboy fans: Hill, Shepard and Rudolph are all 2015 returnees along with guys like James Washington and Seth Jacobs (13 tackles in Bedlam game), Jordan Sterns, David Glidden and many more. There is reason for optimism and the bowl eligibility means more practice time for Rudolph and other young playmakers.
Pessimism can quickly turn to optimism in college football. The Cowboys are going to a bowl for the ninth straight season. And for the young Cowboys that is more practice time and another opportunity for them to show Cowboy fans that 2015 will look much different.