Cincinnati Vs. Oklahoma State

Bearcats Surge in Fourth Quarter, to Top Cowboys 49-17 

By Dee Wright

October 18, 2025 – Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK

The Oklahoma State Cowboys found their running game and set new marks on the ground. Still, the Cincinnati Bearcats’ explosive offense and opportunistic defense turned a competitive contest into a 49-17 rout on Saturday night. The Cowboys dropped their sixth consecutive game, while Cincinnati capitalized on late turnovers and big plays to pull away in the fourth quarter.

 Cowboys Find Their Ground Game

Coming into the game, Oklahoma State averaged just 124.5 rushing yards through its first six contests. Against a Cincinnati defense that ranked fifth in the Big 12 against the run (allowing 129.2 yards per game), the Cowboys exploded for 228 yards on 48 carries — a season-best and the most allowed by the Bearcats all year.

Freshman running back Rodney Fields Jr. was the star of the night for the Cowboys. He shredded the Bearcats for 163 yards on just 21 carries, averaging a whopping 7.8 yards per touch, and added another 23 yards on three receptions. Fields, who had previously set his career best with 113 yards against Tulsa in September, surpassed 100 scrimmage yards for the fourth time in five games. His 163-yard performance stands as the fifth-highest single-game rushing total by a freshman in Oklahoma State history, joining a list that includes the likes of Jamal Fobbs and Thurman Thomas. Fields had already amassed 110 yards by halftime, becoming the first Cowboy since Jaylen Warren in 2021 to eclipse the 100-yard mark in the first half.

With help from Sesi Vailahi and receiver Gavin Freeman, the Cowboys kept the chains moving on the ground. Both touchdowns for Oklahoma State came on runs, with Fields and quarterback Sam Jackson each finding the end zone.

Bearcats Respond, Key Stops and Momentum Shifts

Despite Oklahoma State’s ground dominance, Cincinnati found ways to swing momentum. Trailing 21-10 late in the second quarter, the Cowboys faced a crucial 4th-and-1 from the Bearcats’ 6-yard line. Sesi Vailahi took the direct snap but was swarmed by the Bearcats’ defense, turning the ball over on downs. Cincinnati responded with a season-long 94-yard touchdown drive to push the lead to 28-10 at halftime instead of a potential 21-17 margin.

Coming out of the break, Oklahoma State’s defense forced its first three-and-out, and the offense answered with a Fields 20-yard touchdown run, narrowing the gap to 28-17. However, the Cowboys’ next promising drive was stymied by a mishandled shotgun snap, leading to a punt. The Bearcats seized their chance, converting a 3rd-and-16 with a 38-yard pass and eventually driving 95 yards for another touchdown, extending their lead again.

Turnovers and a Defensive Highlight Reel for Cincinnati

Coming out of halftime, the Cowboys adjusted. Redshirt junior DeSean Brown returned from an early-season injury to record a crucial sack — only the second allowed by Cincinnati all year — just as OSU was building momentum. The Bearcats, who had gone scoreless in the third quarter for the first time this season, erupted for 21 unanswered points in the final frame. The Bearcats’ defense made its mark in the fourth quarter.

The backbreaker came with just over six minutes left: cornerback Matthew McDoom intercepted Sam Jackson and sprinted a school-record 100 yards (officially 101, though NCAA rules disregard end zone yards) for a touchdown, shattering Cincinnati’s previous interception return record of 96 yards. Ironically, that earlier record also came against Oklahoma State in 1958, the last time the Bearcats beat the Cowboys in Stillwater.

Cowboys’ Effort Not Enough to Halt Skid

Despite the lopsided final score, Oklahoma State’s offense showed flashes. They controlled the clock with a 14-play, 7:40 drive for a field goal and orchestrated a 12-play, 6:16 march before being stymied on fourth down late in the first half. The energetic Boone Pickens Stadium crowd rallied behind Fields and an inspired Cowboy effort, but the team couldn’t overcome costly mistakes and turnovers.

The Cowboys trailed just 28-17 heading into the final quarter but were ultimately outscored 21-0 in the fourth. Two late turnovers — including McDoom’s pick-six — sealed their fate as Cincinnati pulled away. Oklahoma State finished with 228 rushing yards compared to Cincinnati’s 98 at halftime, but it wasn’t enough to halt a losing streak that has now reached six games, all by double digits, since the midseason coaching change.

Looking Ahead

For the Bearcats, the win reinforces their status as a contender in the Big 12, especially after withstanding Oklahoma State’s best rushing performance of the season. The Cowboys, meanwhile, will look to build on Fields Jr.’s breakout and a resilient ground game as they seek to regroup and snap their losing streak in the weeks ahead.

By Dee Wright

The post Cincinnati Vs. Oklahoma State first appeared on OKC Sports Radio.