Texas vs. Oklahoma State 2012: Longhorns show backbone in comeback win over Cowboys

The Texas Longhorns survived an upset bid in Stillwater on Saturday night, escaping with a 41-36 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Texas vs. Oklahoma State final: Longhorns escape with 41-36 win

The Cowboys would take a 33-28 lead in the fourth quarter, using an effective option offense to run the ball down the field and capped by a Joseph Randle 2-yard touchdown run. The Longhorns answered by sticking to the basics, running on eight-of-nine plays on the next drive, going 75 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

Quinn Sharp's 24-yard field goal would give Oklahoma State a 36-34 lead with just over two minutes remaining, yet David Ash would lead the Longhorns down the field for the go-ahead touchdown on Joe Bergeron's 2-yard rush.

Box Score Hero: It may have been in a loss, but Joseph Randle's 25-carry, 199-yard, two touchdown game cannot be overlooked.

Rankings Ramifications: Texas may see their No. 12 ranking at risk with such a close win, especially given the struggles of the defense.

But Did They Cover? Texas was favored by just two points in the contest, yet covered with the late touchdown.

Next Week's Schedule:

Oklahoma State: 10/13 @ Kansas

Texas: 10/6 vs. No. 9 West Virginia

This story was originally published on SB Nation.com.

Oklahoma State vs. Texas score update: Longhorns lead 21-17 at the half

The vaunted No. 12 Texas defense struggled in the first half against Oklahoma State, as the Longhorns lead the Cowboys 21-17 at the half in Stillwater.

The Cowboys opened the scoring in the first minute of the game, with Joseph Randle breaking several tackles on his way to a 69-yard touchdown run on a play that would set the tempo for the rest of the half. The Longhorns would instantly respond, with David Ash throwing two touchdowns to Jaxon Shipley less than two minutes apart and giving the Longhorns their first lead of the game.

A J.W. Walsh touchdown pass to Josh Stewart, which featured more missed tackles by the Texas longhorns, briefly tied the game at 14. The Longhorns would take the lead once more on the very next play, as Quinn Sharp returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

Oklahoma State would miss a field goal in the final seconds of the half, and Texas would walk away with a thin 21-17 lead at the half.

The Longhorns, statistically one of the best defenses in the country, allowed 283 total yards on offense in the first half, including 168 yards rushing. On the good side, David Ash was 12-of-16 for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the half.

Oklahoma State vs. Texas 1st quarter score: Longhorns lead Cowboys in Stillwater, 21-14

The Texas Longhorns took a 21-14 first quarter lead over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater. At first, it seemed that the Longhorns' defense was going to be in for a long night after allowing Joseph Randle to break loose for a 69-yard touchdown run.

Randle broke tackles of two Texas defensive backs to get free down the left side. But the quarterback David Ash, Jaxon Shipley and the Longhorns had some offense in store. First Ash found Shipley for a 44-yard touchdown pass, right on the money, in the back right corner of the end zone.

Then Shipley found himself wide open on a blown coverage assignment by the Cowboys, which led to another touchdown pass from Ash, this time from 20 yards out.

The Cowboys tied the game after another missed tackle in the Longhorns' secondary

D.J. Monroe regained the lead for Texas with a 100-yard kickoff return, this time with the Cowboys missing a couple of tackles.

Texas vs. Oklahoma State 2012: Game time, TV schedule, odds and more

Preview, TV schedule, odds and more for Saturday's Big 12 clash between Texas and Oklahoma State.