OSU 36, Arizona 10: Thoughts and observations
by Brandon Chatmon
bchatmon@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter @BChatmon
— Did you expect anything less from this Oklahoma State team? They did what they were supposed to do, which is win comfortably against a team they are better than.
— It was clear OSU wanted it more and the 11-win season was important to the Pokes.
— The defense won the Alamo Bowl. Three turnovers and they allowed only 390 yards on 88 plays. That’s 4.2 yards per play. Bill Young’s group was superb. So much for the high-scoring shootout.
— Tonight’s pass rush may have been the best pass rush I saw all season from OSU. Five sacks and plenty of hurries on Nick Foles.
— Anytime you have a plus-4 turnover margin, you are probably going to win.
— Lou Groza Award winner Dan Bailey deserves strong recognition. Everyone wondered what would happen with Quinn Sharp out and Bailey was 3 of 3 field goals including a 50-yarder and had five punts averaging 39 yards per punt. He was outstanding as well. Both of OSU’s national award winners showed why they earned national honors.
— OSU set a physical tone and that’s a big reason they won the game.
— Justin Blackmon earned the MVP honors with his performance. Simply outstanding. He’s the best receiver in college football.
— One overlooked stat from the Cowboy offense: ZERO turnovers.
— I was surprised to see Kendall Hunter finish with just 10 carries but OSU only ran 61 total plays.
— Arizona had 25 first downs, 370 total yards and was 9 of 21 on third down. But scored just 10 points. Another example of the Pokes’ defense making plays when they need to.
