Slaughter’s House: Parting OSU-Utah thoughts, grading Week 4 of college football

It’s a new week, both in the real world and the college football world, and I’m sure that leaves Oklahoma State feeling thankful but anxious.

Thankful because it can leave behind this past Saturday’s 22-19 loss to Utah, in which the score doesn’t quite reflect the lopsidedness of the game.

Anxious because the Cowboys are now No. 20 and are facing a road game against No. 23 Kansas State. The Wildcats, like the Cowboys, sure need a win.

The OSU defense impressed, but the Cowboy offense looks lost — whether its seventh-year quarterback still being proclaimed the guy after getting benched, the run game still struggling or Brennan Presley voicing that the wide receiver unit deserved the blame — and it needs to find its groove.

So for those — like me — who had questions heading into the matchup against the Utes, those questions have gone unanswered, and the font size has been bolded and underlined.

Star Wildcat quarterback Avery Johnson didn’t look great against BYU, but he’s the kind of quarterback — one who can play playmake and get first downs with his legs — that OSU tends to struggle with compared to a pocket passer. 

But the defense isn’t the concern right now; the offense is. 

Will Bowman still play jittery? Can Ollie Gordon II find any (!) running room and get past the second level?

For now, I have to be pessimistic, no matter how dreadful the Wildcats looked in Provo, Utah.

Grading Week 4 of college football

Friday games: A+

Friday games have been awesome this season. Week 4 was no different.

Illinois-Nebraska went to overtime in a top-25 matchup, which the Fighting Illini won 31-24.

Stanford-Syracuse ended with a game-winning field goal courtesy of Cardinal kicker Emmet Kenney, 26-24.

And San Jose State-Washington State ended with the Cougars getting a 2-point conversion stop in double overtime, which completed a 14-point entering-the-fourth-quarer comeback, 54-52.

I mean, come on. Two two-point wins and an overtime game? What we did deserve that, I don’t know. But I won’t complain.

Kansas’ season hopes: D-

According to ESPN Analytics’ win probability, Kansas had a 91% chance to defeat West Virginia with 5:39 left in the game and leading 28-17.

But alas, two Mountaineer touchdowns courtesy of quarterback Garret Greene and a defensive stop propelled WVU to a come-from-behind win in a game that two at-the-time 1-2 squads desperately needed.

The Mountaineers now start Big 12 Conference play 1-0, while Kansas drops to 1-3 and 0-1 in conference and is left searching for answers.

Colorado’s Hail Mary offense: A

A buddy of mine suggested something to me the other day after Colorado’s 38-31 overtime victory over Baylor: the Buffaloes should ditch their offense and run strictly Hail Marys.

I must say, I don’t disagree.

Colorado *almost* perfectly executed two Hail Marys. The first, which brings the grade down to an A, was dropped by Will Sheppard. Quarterback Sheduer Sanders threw a dot, and Sheppard dropped it.

But Baylor then allowed LaJohntay Wester to catch a 43-yard pass in the rain from Sanders to tie it up with the PAT.

Colorado went on to win in overtime 38-31, and Baylor head coach Dave Aranda’s seat got a lot hotter.

Bet of the day

As mentioned, Syracuse got upset by Stanford at home. On Friday, I picked the ‘Cuse to cover the 8.5-point spread, which it obviously didn’t.

So I’m looking at Monday Night Football tonight and going with over 46.5 (-115) in the Washington Commanders-Cincinnati Bengals. Both defenses have been… bad. So this total feels low. See y’all tomorrow.

Bet of the day record: 8-12.

Tomorrow’s Slaughter’s House: OSU-Kansas State and more.

sports.ed@ocolly.com