Analysis: How Oklahoma State saved its season after wacky week

Oklahoma State salvaged a long and miserable week with a 45-38 weather-delayed win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. In the process, the Cowboys might have saved their season.

There's no need to re-litigate the loss to Central Michigan last week. Everyone knows the miraculous Hail Mary-and-lateral on an untimed down never should have happened, as intentional grounding does not result in an additional play. But Oklahoma State had to relive the controversial result on campus and through the media all week, making the game against the Panthers a referendum on the team’s mental state.

Lightning forced a nearly two-hour delay with Saturday's game tied at 38 early in the fourth quarter, giving Oklahoma State even more time to think about the poor performance against the Chippewas. No one would have blinked if an emotionally drained and fragile team lost for the second straight week.

Instead, Oklahoma State responded.

Jhajuan Seales had an 86-yard catch to set up the game-winning touchdown. Mason Rudolph threw for 540 yards and two TDs, with James Washington shredding coach Pat Narduzzi’s secondary for 296 yards and two scores on nine receptions, the fourth-best receiving performance in conference history. They found a running back in senior Rennie Childs, who rushed for 101 yards and four touchdowns on just 10 carries. Ramon Richards, who had an interception that should have sealed the win against Central Michigan, did just that this week on a pick with 15 seconds remaining.

In the abstract, it's the bounce-back result one would expect from a veteran team returning 16 starters, tied for 12th-most in the FBS, that also won 10 games last season. But in reality, after everything that happened last week and then exacerbated by the weather, Oklahoma State could have decided that fate was against them this season and packed it in.

They didn’t. They fought back. And in the muddled Big 12, that means plenty.

Oklahoma again looks to be suffering from whatever curse causes them to implode whenever “Big Game” Bob Stoops starts the season in the top 10. Saddled with Art Briles’ baggage and a reduced roster, Baylor has struggled to put away SMU and Rice. TCU has yet to turn the potential and promise it showed during an unlikely 10-win season last year into action. And Texas has a freshman quarterback, which carries its own issues. The conference title is there for the taking if Oklahoma State can step into that void.

The win against Pitt showed that Oklahoma State is capable of doing just that. With a break or two, the College Football Playoff won't be out of the question if Oklahoma State wins the Big 12. The selection committee would have to assess a one- or two-loss Oklahoma State through the prism of the incorrect application of the rule book and the breakdowns that turned a mistake into a meltdown.

Oklahoma State’s entire season could have ended on Saturday. Now it’s just getting started.