The score does not show it, but Baylor had plenty of chances to keep things competitive against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday in Stillwater, Okla.
Baylor missed many opportunities to put points on the board, not getting any until a field goal in the third quarter. Oklahoma State took the game 59-24.
“I think our offensive line takes pride in being able to yard in the goal line situation,” junior quarterback Robert Griffin III said. “So it was obviously a hit to them whenever we weren’t successful down there. We have to stay positive. We can’t be negative.”
Baylor went inside Oklahoma State’s 35-yard line on each of its first five drives but could not capitalize. Two interceptions by the Cowboys, two stuffed fourth-and-1 plays and a missed field goal led to Baylor being shut out in the first half for the first time since the 2010 Texas Bowl.
For the game, the Bears committed five turnovers, the most since Aug. 28, 2008, against Wake Forest. Sophomore receiver Tevin Reese and sophomore running back Glasco Martin each fumbled the ball in the third quarter. Sophomore kicker Aaron Jones would hit a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter for Baylor’s first points, but Oklahoma State would head into the fourth quarter with a 49-3 lead.
Head coach Art Briles said he recognizes the need for high scoring in the Big 12.
“We’d like to change the trend, but that’s kind of reality in the Big 12 right now,” Briles said. “Do we need to score more? Yes, we’ve got to. Does it change how you approach games? Certainly. We’ve punted fewer than any Division I-A school in America. Is that good? I don’t know. It’s not good if you’re scoring.”
The offense did finish with more yards than Oklahoma State at 622-601; the defense, however, needs to prevent so many yards against the high-powered Big 12 offenses. Baylor’s defense has allowed at least 400 yards in all but one of its Big 12 games thus far.
“We take it personally,” senior inside linebacker Elliot Coffey said. “You’ve got to go back to the film room; you’ve got to go back to practice. You’ve got to focus on how we’re practicing; you’ve got to see how we’re accepting what we’re doing. And you’ve got to make sure that you go back and change whatever it is that’s screwing us up.”
Oklahoma State running back Joseph Randle set career-highs with 152 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Justin Blackmon had 172 yards on 13 catches and two touchdowns.
Baylor returns home for the first time in nearly a month Saturday to play Missouri.