STILLWATER, Okla. -- The Oklahoma State Cowboys seemed to finally have all the intangibles stacked in their favor against rival Oklahoma in their annual Bedlam Series this season.
The 10th-ranked Cowboys had better talent, more momentum and their first trip to the Big 12 Championship Game in view, but in the end Saturday night was the same old story as No. 14 OU dashed their dreams with a 47-41 upset at Boone Pickens Stadium to earn its eighth straight victory in the series.
The Sooners (10-2, 6-2) win forces a three-way tie for first place in the Big 12 South with OSU (10-2, 6-2), and Texas A&M (9-3, 6-2) and it all but assured Oklahoma will head to the Big 12 Championship Game to face Nebraska by virtue of an expected better BCS ranking Sunday, according to the league's tiebreaker rules.
But getting to this point Saturday was made interesting by a drama-filled fourth quarter in which both teams capitalized with big plays to make certain this would be a Bedlam Series game to be remembered. The Sooners appeared to seal the game when quarterback Landry Jones connected with receiver Cameron Kenney on an 86-yard pass play that put them ahead 40-31 with 3:03 remaining in the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, however, OSU returnman Justin Gilbert raced 89 yards for a touchdown to pull the Cowboys within 40-38 with 2:51 remaining.
Oklahoma then responded seconds later when Jones waited until tight end James Hanna had gotten past the OSU secondary before delivering a perfect placed pass to him in stride for a 76-yard touchdown reception that pushed the Sooners lead to 47-38 with 2:34 remaining in the game.
On the ensuing drive, the Cowboys failed to score a touchdown but Dan Bailey's 34-yard field with 36 seconds remaining did leave the outcome up in the air a few more seconds until OU covered the onside kick attempt to end the threat and the game.
The two teams combined to score 40 points in the fourth quarter, with OU holding a 23-17 edge after both teams entered the final quarter tied 24-24.
It was much different story than in the first half when Landry and the Sooners dominated despite their sloppy play.
Jones threw three first-half interceptions, yet the Sooners took a 24-17 lead into halftime due in large part to great defensive play on their part.
The Cowboys had just 164 yards of offense and six first downs as OU held their three stars in check much of the half. Quarterback Brandon Weeden especially struggled with 114 yards, two interceptions and no touchdown passes in the first two quarters.
In fact, the Cowboys offense didn't show much sign of life until late in the second quarter when Weeden connected with Justin Blackmon on a 45-yard bomb that helped set up a two-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Smith that moved OSU with 21-17 with 1:08 remaining.
Other than that, the OSU high-octane offense produced few highlights. The Cowboys only other touchdown of the half came when freshman linebacker Shaun Lewis returned a Jones interception 52 yards for a touchdown earlier in the second quarter.
Jones certainly had turnover problems in the first two quarters, but the Sooners' high-powered offense was able to overcome his mistakes. Oklahoma ran 60 plays in the first two quarters and dominated the time of possession, 19:18 to 10:42.
OU receivers Ryan Broyles and Kenney were well on their way to big days with five receptions each and one touchdown each in the first half. DeMarco Murray rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
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