Had Kansas State taken advantage of a few early opportunities Saturday against No. 19 Oklahoma, maybe things would have trended in a different direction. Maybe.
But the Wildcats didn’t, and by the time they made adjustments, it was far too late. The result was perhaps the low point of the second Bill Snyder Era, a 55-0 loss that marked the first time K-State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12) has been shut out since 1996.
Oklahoma jumped to a 7-0 lead, then gave K-State a couple brief opportunities to climb back in the game. Joe Hubener missed Deante Burton on what would have been a game-tying 75-yard touchdown pass, and K-State stalled in the OU red zone two drives later.
The Sooners (5-1, 2-1) were done playing with their food at that point.
OU quarterback Baker Mayfield was terrific, connecting on five first-half touchdown passes. For every positive play by the Wildcats, OU had an answer and then some. It was an old-fashioned beat down in virtually every way.
By midway through the third quarter, most of the sold out crowd at Bill Snyder Family Stadium had left.
“I would have left, too,” Snyder said. “I think all of us are embarrassed. I can’t remember being in a game like this.”
Late in the first half, after his second interception of the day, Hubener was benched in favor of Kody Cook, who last played quarterback against Oklahoma State.
Cook was actually less effective at the position, completing just one of eight passes for six yards. Hubener returned in the fourth quarter, and finished the game with four completions for 39 yards.
In total, the Wildcats accumulated just 110 yards of offense, punted eight times, and committed three turnovers. Running backs Charles Jones and Justin Silmon combined for eight carries in the game.
Mayfield exited the game in the third quarter. He finished 20 of 27 passing for 282 yards and five touchdowns.
K-State heads to Austin, Texas next week for a date with the rejuvenated Longhorns, who will be off a bye week following their victory over OU.
On the topic of finding a way to bounce back, Snyder called it “one of the most significant challenges that any of us have ever met.”
