WACO, Texas — A sluggish start and one defensive letdown kept No. 24 Oklahoma State from continuing its recent dominance of Baylor.
Lache Seastrunk rushed for 178 yards, including diving in to complete a 76-yard touchdown run after cramping up, and Nick Florence passed for 296 yards to lead Baylor past the Cowboys 41-34 Saturday.
The Cowboys (7-5, 4-5 Big 12) fell behind 24-3 in the second quarter before rallying within a touchdown with 5:30 left in the game.
On the next play from scrimmage, Seastrunk broke free up the middle for his long scoring run. The sophomore running back cramped up about 25 yards short of the end zone before stumbling in just over the goal line.
“We gave up big plays because we weren’t in the right position,” Oklahoma State senior linebacker Alex Elkins said. “They capitalized. It’s just going to happen.”
Oklahoma State came in having won 15 of its last 16 over Baylor, including the last six by an average of 31.7 points per game.
Baylor linebacker Eddie Lackey returned an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter, and the Bears scored on their next two possessions to take a three-touchdown advantage.
“I know all the guys felt we could score in a quick fashion,” Cowboys quarterback Clint Chelf said. “We felt that we could keep going. We just needed a couple of breaks and we did not get them.”
J.W. Walsh’s second rushing touchdown of the game capped an 88-yard drive and brought Oklahoma State within 34-27.
Seastrunk scored the game-sealing touchdown on Baylor’s next drive.
The transfer from Oregon raced past three Cowboys defenders before he just barely made it into the end zone. Seastrunk remained on the ground for a couple of minutes before limping off the field.
Bears coach Art Briles said Seastrunk experienced leg cramps on his last carry of the game.
“We’ve been harping on him about finishing,” Florence said. “For someone to cramp and pull up like that, that’s inspiring. He’s an outstanding player.”
Baylor (7-5, 4-5) has won at least seven games in three straight seasons - the first time the Bears have done that since 1949-51.
The Bears won four of their final five games to become bowl eligible for the third straight season.
“The food is going to taste good for the next three weeks,” Briles said. “The guys feel good about the way they finished the season.”
Josh Stewart had 147 yards receiving and a touchdown and Joseph Randle added 139 rushing for Oklahoma State, who was coming off a 51-48 overtime loss last weekend to Oklahoma in the Bedlam rivalry.
Chelf threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to David Glidden to make it 41-34 with 1:16 left in the game.
Baylor recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to secure its third straight victory.
West Virginia 59, Kansas 10: Geno Smith threw for 407 yards and three touchdowns in his final home game to lead West Virginia to a 59-10 win over Kansas on Saturday.
Smith completed 23 of 24 passes and became the first West Virginia quarterback to throw for 40 touchdowns in a season. His 95.8 completion percentage matched the single-game Bowl Subdivision record set by Tennessee’s Tee Martin against South Carolina in 1998.
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