Stillwater, Okla. • If Mike Gundy were sitting down at a poker table instead of a football field on Saturday night, the last person he’d want to see was Kalani Sitake.
As Gundy thought about Sitake’s situation during the week, he saw a coach leading a BYU team making a last-gasp effort to save a season and get to a bowl game. Meanwhile, Gundy was playing for a spot in the Big 12 conference championship with everything to lose.
“They could put all their chips out, no matter what their hand was,” Gundy said. “They could have a poor hand and put it all out. ... It makes it difficult. We were concerned about that.”
The early part of the game realized his worst fears. Sitake called a fake punt and an onside kick. His defense played aggressive, jumping routes on a pick-six by Eddie Heckard. By the time Gundy caught his breath at halftime, BYU was up 24-6.
But there was only one problem with Sitake’s strategy. He did show all his cards. He pushed all the chips into the middle of the table. But even BYU’s best hand wasn’t good enough in a 5-7 season that is now over.
BYU could make it competitive, but couldn’t finish it. Just like Oklahoma the week before, Oklahoma State stormed back with 21 unanswered points to win in double overtime 40-34.
It leaves BYU in the same position it was going to be in whether it won or not: BYU needs to make changes in its program if it is going to compete in the Big 12. It needs more depth. It needs more talent. Simply, it needs better cards.
“They did the right thing and were trying to win at all costs,” Gundy said. “But the guys kept playing... In the end, what could you say?”
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II (0) runs past BYU linebacker Ace Kaufusi (18) and safety Talan Alfrey (25) for a touchdown in overtime of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Mitch Alcala)
There will be moments in this game that people quibble with. You could argue that Sitake didn’t stay aggressive in the second half even as Oklahoma State started to climb back into it.
The Pokes put up 293 yards in the second half alone and had 20 first downs. Quarterback Alan Bowman was hurting BYU on quick slants and passes and the Cougars had little resistance.
When BYU had a chance with five minutes left in the game to go for it on 4th and 1, still up by three, Sitake elected to punt it away back to his struggling defense rather than let the offense win it.
Granted it was at BYU’s own 37. It would have been a risk. But on a day BYU was risking it all anyway, it could have been justified. Instead, Oklahoma State got the ball and went 80 yards for a touchdown to take the lead.
“I wanted to go for it. We were talking about it as a staff and decided to punt,” Sitake said.
You could also question the offensive strategy in the second half as BYU couldn’t move the ball and quarterback Jake Retzlaff struggled to hit open targets. Retzlaff completed just 47% of his throws and the offense went three-and-out four times.
It allowed Oklahoma State ample time to run all over the defense with Ollie Gordon II. He carried it 34 times for five touchdowns (all after halftime) and willed the Cowboys back into the game as they eventually took a 27-24 lead on a 15-yard touchdown.
BYU could have gone with veteran quarterback Kedon Slovis to be more accurate and stay on the field. But Sitake elected against it.
“Kedon hasn’t been 100% yet. You are putting someone at risk to get banged up,” Sitake said. “I think he has a career at the next level. He throws well and when he is healthy he is really good. It would be difficult for us to make that move. I don’t think that was the right move at the time. We considered it.”
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II (0) celebrates with fans after the team's NCAA college football game against BYU on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Mitch Alcala)
Still, though, none of those moves were absolutely the difference. Sitake said as much as he argued, “It wasn’t that decision that lost us the game.”
Instead, what lost BYU the game was the same thing that had lost it seven games in the Big 12 this year: It didn’t quite have the talent to match its Power Five brethren.
Oklahoma State had Gordon, arguably the best running back in college football. He ran for 166 yards. BYU didn’t have anyone who could stop him. Even down to the very end when he launched his body into Tyler Batty for his second touchdown in overtime, BYU couldn’t bring him down.
“It is going to be really difficult to keep him from getting his yards,” Sitake said. “... It is hard to tell the guys to get bigger, stronger, when they haven’t been in the fight. Now they have been in it, it is going to be a lot easier to tell our guys to get more meat on their bones to tackle these big backs. It seems like every back in this conference is one of the best in the country.”
Oklahoma State also had Bowman (who threw for 321 yards) and Leon Johnson III (who had 132 receiving yards). It even had Trey Rucker, who ripped the ball out of tight end Isaac Rex’s hands on the final play to seal the win on a fumble.
If all those players amounted to an ace, a king, and a queen in poker, BYU didn’t have the cards to match it — regardless of how brazen its strategy.
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II (0) dives over BYU defensive tackle Atunaisa Mahe (62) for a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Mitch Alcala)
As Sitake left the field, he thought about the ramifications of BYU not making a bowl game. You can argue whether it qualifies as a failure of a season in the first year in the Power Five.
But regardless of any of that, it is clear that BYU’s best right now isn’t good enough. The offseason will be about finding BYU’s better hand.
“Talked to the guys, now they know what to expect in the Big 12,” Sitake said. “... I imagine we will be stronger, bigger, faster by the time we play this conference schedule again next year.”