STILLWATER, Okla. — Quarterback Case Keenum was listening in on a conversation in the Houston locker room before the game when someone suggested that the Cougars had worked hard enough that they didn’t need any luck to upset No. 5 Oklahoma State.
Keenum had to interject. He turned to running back Bryce Beall to say, “I wouldn’t mind some luck.”
Hours later, the two teamed up on a connection Cougars fans will remember for a long time. On fourth down, Beall went after a 6-yard pass from Keenum that got batted up into the air and came down with it for the go-ahead score in Houston’s 45-35 upset of Oklahoma State on Saturday.
“It’s football. If you keep playing, plays like that are going to happen,” Beall said. “Everything’s not going to come out perfect.”
The Cougars (2-0) took advantage of a series of favorable bounces to give second-year coach Kevin Sumlin his first marquee win and the school’s first victory over a top-five team since upsetting third-ranked Texas in 1984.
Jamal Robinson sealed the win with a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown with 3:14 remaining, also off a pass that tipped off an Oklahoma State player first.
Oklahoma State (1-1) was coming off perhaps the biggest opening win in the program’s history last week against Georgia, earning a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated and a top-five ranking for the first time since 1985.
“We didn’t overlook them at all. We practiced like we practiced for Georgia and any other team,” said Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, who had five catches for 85 yards. “We just made too many mistakes.”
Kendall Hunter, last year’s Big 12 rushing leader, didn’t play in the second half because of an apparent leg injury.
Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson finished with 240 yards on 18-for-31 passing with one touchdown. Keenum threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns.
