Oklahoma State holds on in overtime to avoid Arkansas loss

It’s better to win ugly than lose nicely, and that was certainly the case for Oklahoma State on Saturday.

While the 16th-ranked Cowboys beat the Arkansas Razorbacks, 39-31, it took a second-half comeback and two overtimes to avoid the upset.

The Razorbacks got off to a flying start, leading 14-0 in the first quarter. The Cowboys’ first points of the day came on a 73-yard interception by Kale Smith.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Oklahoma State’s first offensive points didn’t come until less than nine minutes remained in the third quarter, when kicker Logan Ward kicked a 45-yard field goal to make it 21-10.

The Cowboys had a chance to get the ball back with about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Trailing 21-13 and the offense still struggling, Razorback punt returner Isaiah Sategna fumbled the punt and the Cowboys recovered it at the Arkansas 25-yard line.

Two plays later, quarterback Alan Bowman found receiver Brennan Presley for a seven-yard touchdown. Bowman then hit De’Zhaun Stribling for the two-point conversion to tie the score at 21-all.

After stopping the defense, the Cowboys used a trick play to get the offense going again. On a darting pass, Bowman found a wide-open Jake Schultz for 63 yards into the red zone.

A few plays later, the Cowboys got creative by using Presley in the backfield for a jet sweep for a three-yard touchdown, giving the Cowboys a 28-21 lead.

DEREK JETER GAVE MICHIGAN FOOTBALL TEAM AN INEXPERIENCED LOCKER ROOM SPEECH BEFORE BLOWOUT LOSS TO TEXAS

The Razorbacks responded quickly with a three-play, 75-yard drive capped by Luke Hasz’s 43-yard touchdown reception from Taylen Green to tie the game 28-28 with just over four minutes remaining.

Bowman led the Cowboys 55 yards in three minutes to the Arkansas 20-yard line, setting up Ward for a 38-yard field goal to put the Cowboys back in front 31-28.

With no timeouts and 55 seconds left on the clock, Green went to work.

The Razorbacks quarterback, after going underneath for marginal gains, pulled and connected with Andrew Armstrong for 33 yards, bringing the offense to the Oklahoma State 27-yard line.

Arkansas kicker Kyle Ramsey kicked a 45-yard field goal just inside the right upright, tying the score at 31-31 as regulation expired and sending the game into overtime.

The Razorbacks started with the ball first, but fell behind in overtime after a crucial 12-yard loss on a third-down sack of Green by Obi Ezeigbo, dropping Arkansas to the Oklahoma 28-yard line.

DUKE SURVIVES NORTHWESTERN IN DOUBLE-OVERTIME THRILLER, IMPROVES SEASON TO 2-0

Ramsey was good from 45 yards out to send the game into overtime, but was not good from 46 yards out, pulling his kick wide left and giving Oklahoma State’s offense a chance to win.

However, Oklahoma State’s offense wasn’t much better than Arkansas’ in overtime.

They gained a total of one yard, having to settle for a 41-yard field goal chance from Ward to win the game.

He missed his shot to the right.

Both teams missed their shots and the score remained at 31-31 heading into overtime.

The Razorbacks kept Heisman candidate Ollie Gordon II quiet for most of the game. But the star running back found the end zone in overtime on a 10-yard run and then caught the two-point conversion to give the Cowboys a 39-31 lead.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Razorbacks’ offense advanced the ball to the Cowboys’ six-yard line, but was caught on a 4th-and-1, leaving their chance to pull off the upset short.

The Cowboys survived to improve to 2-0 and will face No. 11 Utah on Sept. 21.

Arkansas looks to bounce back against Auburn on Sept. 21.

Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.