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Owens, Presley help Oklahoma State beat Texas A&M 31-23 in Texas Bowl

After a tough loss to third-ranked Texas in the Big 12 championship game, No. 22 Oklahoma State was determined to finish on a high note in the Texas Bowl. Huge games by receivers Rashod Owens and Brennan Presley helped the Cowboys do just that Wednesday night. Owens had a career-high 164 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions and had 152 yards receiving in a 31-23 victory over Texas A&M.

Quick Read

  • Oklahoma State’s Texas Bowl Win: Oklahoma State, ranked 22nd, rebounded from a Big 12 championship game loss to Texas with a 31-23 victory over Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.
  • Outstanding Performances: Receivers Rashod Owens and Brennan Presley starred in the win. Owens had 164 yards with two touchdowns, while Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions for 152 yards.
  • Rushing Achievement: Ollie Gordon II, the Doak Walker Award winner, contributed 118 rushing yards, totaling 2,062 yards for the season.
  • Quarterback Contributions: Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State’s quarterback, threw for 402 yards, scoring two touchdowns but also had two interceptions.
  • Coaching Perspective: Coach Mike Gundy emphasized the significance of achieving 10 wins for the team.
  • Halftime Lead and Late Challenge: Oklahoma State had an 18-point lead at halftime. Texas A&M closed the gap to 31-23 but couldn’t overcome the deficit.
  • Texas A&M’s Quarterback Shift: Jaylen Henderson, Texas A&M’s starting quarterback, was injured early, and freshman Marcel Reed replaced him, throwing for 361 yards.
  • Interim Coaching and Future Outlook: Elijah Robinson served as interim coach for Texas A&M, with Mike Elko set to take over. Robinson will move to Syracuse as a defensive coordinator.
  • Texas A&M’s Struggles: The team dealt with numerous transfers and injuries, impacting their performance.
  • Game Highlights: Key plays included touchdown receptions, interceptions, and a critical fumble on the 1-yard line by Texas A&M.
  • Looking Ahead: Texas A&M enters a new phase under Mike Elko, while Oklahoma State is optimistic about the future, especially with Gordon’s decision to stay with the team.

The Associated Press has the story:

Owens, Presley help Oklahoma State beat Texas A&M 31-23 in Texas Bowl

Newslooks- HOUSTON (AP)

After a tough loss to third-ranked Texas in the Big 12 championship game, No. 22 Oklahoma State was determined to finish on a high note in the Texas Bowl.

Huge games by receivers Rashod Owens and Brennan Presley helped the Cowboys do just that Wednesday night.

Owens had a career-high 164 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions and had 152 yards receiving in a 31-23 victory over Texas A&M.

Oklahoma State linebacker Xavier Benson (1) and safety Kendal Daniels (5) celebrate Daniels’ interception of a Texas A&M pass on the final play of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

“It kind of stung us a little bit, and we took that game out on this field today,” Owens said about the 49-21 loss to the Longhorns. “It’s just a real good thing that a lot of guys have that same mindset that they want to finish strong. They want to finish that, get to that College Football Playoff experience and hopefully, next year is that year.”

Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashod Owens, left, reaches for the ball on a touchdown reception in front of Texas A&M defensive back Kent Robinson during the second half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Ollie Gordon II, the Doak Walker Award winner, added 118 yards rushing to finish with 2,062 yards of offense and help Oklahoma State (10-4) reach double-digit wins for the second time in three seasons after finishing 12-2 in 2021. Alan Bowman had 402 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Coach Mike Gundy said getting to 10 wins was important.

Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman jumps to pass the ball against Texas A&M during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

“That’s a big mark,” he said. “It’s not easy to win double digit games at any level, in particular with college football, and these guys have stayed the course from day one, and they’re unselfish. They practice hard, and it’s fun to coach them.”

Oklahoma State led by 18 at halftime but a 51-yard field goal by Randy Bond got the Aggies to 31-23 with about five minutes to go. The Cowboys missed a 47-yard field goal with 17 seconds to go and the Aggies (7-6) had another chance to score. But Marcel Reed’s pass was intercepted near the end zone by Kendal Daniels on the last play of the game.

Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II gestures to Texas A&M fans in the stands as he celebrates his touchdown during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Jaylen Henderson started at quarterback for the Aggies but left after being injured on the first play. His legs were taken out from under him when he was tackled after throwing a short pass.

Reed, a freshman who had thrown just three passes all season, took over and threw for 361 yards with an interception.

Texas A&M wide receiver Jahdae Walker, left, can’t make a reception in the end zone as Oklahoma State safety Trey Rucker defends during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Interim coach Elijah Robinson said it was tough for the Aggies to lose their starting quarterback so early, but he liked the way they regrouped.

“I think the mindset for our team was to say what’s next and respond,” he said. “For the most part those guys rallied around (Reed) and tried to make him feel comfortable.”

Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashod Owens (10) pulls in a reception over Texas A&M defensive back Bravion Rogers during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Texas A&M hired former Duke coach Mike Elko late last month to replace Jimbo Fisher, who was fired with two games left in the regular season. But he didn’t coach the Aggies on Wednesday night, with Robinson handling the bowl game before leaving to become the defensive coordinator at Syracuse.

Elko was in the building though and did a short interview on the television broadcast in the first half.

Oklahoma State wide receiver Brennan Presley slips past the tackle attempt by Texas A&M defensive back Jayvon Thomas during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Robinson, who’s been an assistant at Texas A&M since 2018, become emotional when talking about leaving the school.

“It came too fast,” he said. “It’s never easy leaving a group of people who have treated you well.”

Texas A&M defensive back Kent Robinson, left, defends on an incomplete pass to Oklahoma State wide receiver Brennan Presley during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

The Aggies were playing short-handed after more than a dozen players entered the transfer portal and several more, including star receiver Ainias Smith, were out with injuries.

Bowman’s pass was intercepted by Dalton Brooks on the first drive of the second half. The Aggies cashed in on the error when Daniels scored on a 2-yard run tot cut it to 24-13.

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, right, passes the ball over Oklahoma State nose tackle Collin Clay (93) and Texas A&M offensive lineman Kam Dewberry (75) during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

The second touchdown catch by Owens came on an 18-yard grab later in the third quarter that made it 31-13.

Reed dashed 20 yards for a touchdown on A&M’s next drive to get the Aggies within 31-20.

Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II, right, is caught by Texas A&M defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (99) during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

A&M was driving early in the fourth quarter when Amari Daniels lost a fumble on the 1-yard line after a 34-yard reception early in the fourth quarter.

But the Cowboys gave it back a few plays later when Bowman’s pass was intercepted by Sam Mathews.

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, right, passes the ball over Oklahoma State nose tackle Collin Clay (93) and Texas A&M offensive lineman Kam Dewberry (75) during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

It was tied after early field goals when Owens grabbed a 13-yard touchdown reception late in the first to put Oklahoma State up 10-3.

The Aggies made another field goal before Gunnar Gundy scrambled 10 yards for a touchdown that pushed the lead to 17-6 with about 9 1/2 minutes left in the second. That score was set up when receiver Presley threw a 34-yard pass to Owens.

Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II (0) dives for extra yardage past Texas A&M defensive backs Bryce Anderson, bottom right, and Dalton Brooks (25) during the second half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Oklahoma State made it 24-6 when Gordon scored on a 1-yard run just before halftime.

THE TAKEAWAY

Texas A&M: The Aggies begin the Elko era, where he’ll try to help them contend for a national title after Fisher failed to even lead them to an SEC West championship in six disappointing seasons.

Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman looks to pass the ball against Texas A&M during the first half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Oklahoma State: The offense should be in good shape in 2024 with Gordon saying recently that he’d return next season after he had considered exploring transfer options.

“I was really never going anywhere,” Gordon said. “The whole time we were doing it for recruiting. I was coming back the whole time. … I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else where I don’t feel comfortable. I feel comfortable here. Why would I want to leave?”

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