Oklahoma State couldn’t have scripted a better opening drive in Orlando.
The Cowboys ran eight minutes off the clock, converted three separate times on third downs, and capped it off with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zane Flores to receiver Gavin Freeman in Oklahoma State’s 17-14 loss at UCF on Saturday.
That drive might be the outlier of all outliers this season, considering OSU:
Had yet to score a touchdown on a drive lasting longer than six minutes
Converted less than 37% of third downs (ranking 98th nationally)
Had three opening drive touchdowns this season (UT-Martin, Houston and Kansas)
Had four total passing touchdowns from the quarterback position
Offenses have a huge advantage on their first possession of the game because those drives can be heavily prepped and practiced ahead of time.