Bears’ title hopes derailed by Oklahoma State

STILLWATER, Okla.—Baylor arrived at Oklahoma State seeking its first win in Stillwater since 1939—and a statement win to validate its case as a national championship contender.

The No. 3 Bears failed in stunning fashion, falling 49-17 in a crushing loss to the No. 11 Cowboys on Saturday night and sending another shockwave through the top of the BCS standings.

The loss for Baylor (9-1, 6-1 Big 12 Conference) almost certainly dooms its national title aspirations, leaving Alabama, Florida State and Ohio State as the remaining unbeatens near the top of the BCS standings. They’ll certainly line up in that order when the new numbers come out Sunday, with the Bears likely no longer in the picture.

Bryce Petty was 28 of 48 passing for 359 yards for Baylor, which had its school-record 13game winning streak snapped in convincing fashion.

“This is very difficult,” Baylor safety Ahmad Dixon said. “... This hurts. Our chances of still winning the Big 12 aren’t over, but we wanted something bigger than that.

“We wanted something that’s never been done before, and that was to go to a national championship. That dream came down.”

The Bears were done in thanks to Oklahoma State quarterback Clint Chelf’s latest career day against them, a performance that put the Cowboys (10-1, 7-1) within reach of a Big 12 championship.

Chelf passed for a career-high 370 yards and accounted for four touchdowns Saturday. He was 19 of 25 passing and has now thrown for 703 yards in his last two games against Baylor— including last year’s 41-34 loss in Waco.

His latest performance came in a win, a crushing one that delighted the record crowd of 60,218 in Boone Pickens Stadium.

“I couldn’t be more proud of what he’s accomplished,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “He’s been a good leader and he does it quiet. He’s been humbled, and for that he’s had success.”

Oklahoma State has won 10 or more games in three of the last four seasons, and can win the Big 12 by beating rival Oklahoma at home in two weeks.

If Chelf, who lost the starting job earlier this season for the Cowboys, plays like he did on Saturday night against the Sooners, a win is certainly possible.

The senior threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score against the Bears, topping the career day he had against them last year with 333 yards passing. He also had a 48-yard reception and finished with 438 yards of total offense.

Tracy Moore finished with five catches for 126 for Oklahoma State.

While the Cowboys had 594 yards of total offense, it was the usually high-flying Bears who were grounded.

Baylor entered Saturday averaging a national-best 61.2 points and 684.8 yards per game, but they had no answers for a Cowboys’ defense that held the high-powered attack in check most of the way.

Oklahoma State forced three Baylor fumbles and also stopped the Bears on two key fourthdown attempts in the second half—both of which led to Cowboys’ touchdowns.

Baylor finished with 453 yards of total offense, and Antwan Goodley had 10 catches for 118 yards receiving.

After falling behind 35-3, Baylor appeared on the verge of cutting the lead to 35-17 early in the fourth quarter.

However, Petty fumbled after a wild snap deep in Oklahoma State territory and Tyler Patmon returned it 78 yards for a touchdown to put the Cowboys up 42-10.

The score put the exclamation point on a thoroughly one-sided performance.