STILLWATER, Okla. -Case Keenum threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns, and Bryce
Beall caught the go-ahead 6-yard pass off a batted ball as Houston
stunned No. 5 Oklahoma State 45-35 on Saturday.
The Cougars (2-0) gave second-year coach Kevin Sumlin his first
marquee win with the program's first victory over a Top 5 team since an
upset of third-ranked Texas in 1984.
Oklahoma State (1-1) was coming off of perhaps the biggest opening
win in the program's history last week against Georgia and vaulted into
the Top 5 for the first time since 1985. But after overcoming a
17-point halftime lead, the Cowboys squandered their final chances for
a win.
Zac Robinson fumbled a snap to end one OSU drive in the fourth
quarter, and Jamal Robinson then returned his interception 32 yards for
a score to seal the upset with 3:14 remaining.
Dez Bryant returned a punt for a touchdown against Houston for the
second straight year as Oklahoma State reeled off 21 straight
third-quarter points to surge ahead 28-21. But, unlike last year,
Keenum and the Cougars had an answer this time.
And Oklahoma State ran out of weapons. Kendall Hunter, last year's
Big 12 rushing leader, didn't play in the second half due to an
apparent leg injury and Bryant also missed time. He lay sprawled out on
the turf for a few moments after tipping the pass that led to Jamal
Robinson's return, and trainers stretched out his right leg before he
left the field.
The Biletnikoff Award finalist also didn't return for Oklahoma State's last-ditch drive in the final minutes.
Tyron Carrier caught seven passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, and
Beall had 78 yards on 18 carries. He had a 1-yard TD plunge on a fourth
down with 13:40 to play that put Houston up 31-28 and provided an
answer to Oklahoma State's scoring surge.
Josh Cooper put OSU up one last time with a 22-yard TD catch with
11:22 left, but Keenum led the nation's No. 2 offense from last season
right back down the field.
That's when one in a series of fortunate bounces fell the way of the Cougars.
Linebacker Donald Booker leaped to deflect Keenum's pass up in the
air, and Beall was able to track it down for the go-ahead score. OSU's
chance to respond ended quickly as Bryant tipped the ball into the arms
of Jamal Robinson for the pick.
Houston also got a break late in the first half when Matt Hogan's
line-drive kickoff smacked off Taylor Sokolosky and was covered up by
the Cougars' Tim Monroe. Houston capitalized when Carrier, who's also a
sprinter on the track team, took a screen pass from Keenum and raced in
for a 32-yard score to make it 24-7 at halftime.