ARLINGTON, Texas — No. 9 Baylor shocked No. 5 Oklahoma State 21-16 on Saturday with a goal-line stop on fourth down to win its first-ever Big 12 Championship Game, and first conference championship overall since 2014.
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. However, the Bears defense hunkered down to get four consecutive stops — including beating Oklahoma State running back Dezmon Jackson to the corner on fourth down — to escape Arlington with a historic win.
The Bears dominated the first half as Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders threw a Big 12 title game-record four interceptions. Baylor took a 21-6 lead at the half, but a failed fourth-down conversion ultimately resulted in Dominic Jackson running for the Cowboys’ first touchdown to cut the lead to one score.
However, Baylor held Oklahoma State to field goals on three drives inside the red zone, which ended up being the difference in the five-point ball game. Baylor scored on three red zone trips to overcome two missed field goals in the win.
In relief of injured starter Gerry Bohanon, backup quarterback Blake Shapen set a Big 12 title game record by completing 17 consecutive passes to start the game. He finished 23-of-28 passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns to capture title game MVP. The Oklahoma State defense did take control in the second half, however, holding the Bears scoreless and to just 36 yards on 23 plays. Ultimately, Baylor was just one play better.
Baylor receiver Tyquan Thornton led the way with 71 yards and a touchdown for the Bears, while running back Abram Smith rushed for 63 yards. Oklahoma State receiver Tay Martin had 88 yards, but the Cowboys averaged fewer than 2 yards per carry.
Baylor becomes the first team other than Oklahoma to capture the Big 12 title since 2014. No team outside of the Sooners had won a Big 12 title game since it was reintroduced in 2017.
CBS Sports will update this story shortly with takeaways.