Oklahoma State puts away No. 3 Missouri as Daniel falters

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Chase Daniel’s Heisman Trophy stock just plummeted. Missouri’s national championship hopes took a tumble too.

And how about the Oklahoma State Cowboys?

No. 17 Oklahoma State stopped an offense that had been scoring at will, intercepting Daniel’s passes three times in the second half and upsetting the third-ranked Tigers, 28-23, on Saturday night in a Big 12 Conference game.

“Put it all on me,” Daniel said. “I should have made all three of those throws. It seemed like we were a little bit off all night. For the reason, I have no idea.”

Zac Robinson and Damian Davis hooked up on a pair of long scores in the second half, and Patrick Lavine’s interception at the Oklahoma State 31 with 1:41 to go was the clincher. Missouri (5-1, 1-1) had appeared poised to challenge for No. 1 with a strong effort after top-ranked Oklahoma lost to Texas and No. 2 Alabama had the weekend off.

As for the Cowboys (6-0, 2-0), they’re 6-0 for the first time since 1945 after going 18-19 in Coach Mike Gundy’s first three seasons.

“They’re going to be at least No. 2 if they win,” Gundy said of the Tigers. “I’m just really happy for our team. They put in a lot of hard work and effort, and they deserve it.”

And it was Robinson, not Daniel, who played like a Heisman Trophy contender. Robinson was 19 for 28 for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

Kendall Hunter had 154 yards in 24 carries and a 68-yard scoring run.

Daniel was fourth in the Heisman voting last season and considered a front-runner for the award through the first month of this season.

He put up some more big numbers Saturday, 39 for 52 for 390 yards and a touchdown, against the Cowboys but the interceptions were crucial.

Missouri had won 10 in a row and 18 of 19 at home but was held 19 points below its scoring average. Derrick Washington, averaging 100 yards rushing per game, was held to 11 yards in eight carries with a five-yard scoring run.

“Your guts feel like they just got torn out if you’re a competitor,” Coach Gary Pinkel said. “We just haven’t been in this situation for a while, and this is really difficult for our players.

“We’ll get going.”