STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Backup quarterback Chris Johnson threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and No. 10 Baylor beat previously unbeaten Oklahoma State 45-35 on Saturday night to climb back into the College Football Playoff picture.
Baylor (9-1, 6-1 Big 12, No. 10 CFP) remained in the mix for the conference title, while Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1, No. 6 CFP) likely is out of playoff conversation.
Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham took several hard hits in the first half and did not play after the break. Original starter Seth Russell is out for the season after he fractured a bone in his neck.
The Bears still gained 700 yards. KD Cannon caught five passes for 210 yards to help the Bears bounce back from a 44-34 loss to Oklahoma last week.
Mason Rudolph passed for 430 yards and three touchdowns, and James Washington and Jalen McCleskey each caught two touchdown passes for the Cowboys.
Baylor, which entered the game leading the nation in yards per game and points per game, set the tone immediately. Corey Coleman caught a 48-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage, then Shock Linwood’s 5-yard touchdown run put the Bears ahead 56 seconds into the game.
Less than a minute later, Oklahoma State got a scare when Brandon Sheperd was ruled to have fumbled and Baylor took it in for a touchdown. The call was reversed.
Baylor eventually scored anyway after Oklahoma State punted. Stidham threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Cannon to make it 14-0 with 11:56 left in the first quarter.
A 39-yard touchdown pass from Rudolph to Washington tied it 14.
Baylor went ahead on a 1-yard run by Devin Chafin, and a short field goal put the Bears up 24-14 at halftime. Baylor gained 439 yards and ran 61 plays in the first half, but had two critical fumbles that kept Oklahoma State in the game. It was the fifth time the Cowboys trailed at the half in their past eight games.
Stidham completed 12 of 22 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Johnson threw touchdown passes on his first two possessions of the second half to put the Bears in control.
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