Baylor Stops Oklahoma State On 4th Down To Win Big 12 Championship

No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys were inches away from a comeback in the Big 12 Championship, but the No. 9 Baylor Bears' fourth-down stop with seconds left on the clock secured the 21-16 victory and the Bears' 11th win of the season.

Oklahoma State put together a 17-play, 89-yard drive to face first-and-goal at the 2-yard line with about 1:19 remaining, but the Bears defense wouldn't allow it and got four consecutive stops.

One of the four stops included the Bears' beating Oklahoma State running back Dezmon Jackson to the corner on fourth down to escape Arlington with a historic win.

Baylor dominated the first half as Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders threw a record four interceptions — the most by a player in Big 12 title game history.

Sanders finished the game completing 31-of-46 passes for 256 yards and no touchdowns through the air. With Bears' starter Gerry Bohanon out with an injury, backup quarterback Blake Shapen had a historic start, completing a Big 12 title game record 17 passes to start the game, CBS Sports reports.

The redshirt freshman completed 23-of-28 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The QB had to be taken out to evaluate his shoulder late in the third quarter. 

Baylor receiver Tyquan Thornton led the way with 71 yards and a touchdown while running back Abram Smith rushed for 63 yards.

Oklahoma State receiver Tay Martin was responsible for 88 yards in the game while Sanders was the team's leading rusher with 33 yards.

With the win, Baylor marks the third time in program history to be champions and be the first team other than Oklahoma to capture the Big 12 title since 2014. CBS Sports reports that no team outside of the Sooners had won a Big 12 title game since it was reintroduced in 2017. 

Ultimately, Baylor was just one play better. 

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Follow Meg Turner on Twitter @Megnturner_ and Instagram @Megnturner.