Mike Gundy evaluates Alan Bowman's performance against Kansas

Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman looked the best he has all season in leading the Cowboys to a 39-32 win against Kansas on Saturday. Bowman completed 28-of-41 passes (68.3%) for season-best 336 yards passing, two touchdowns and did not throw an interception.

It was a welcome sight for an OSU team that struggled to settle on a QB through the first three games of the year before ultimately landing on Bowman. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy addressed the QB’s play in his Monday press conference, saying he was “pretty good” but would like for him to set his feet and stay in the pocket more.

“He played pretty good,” Gundy said. “I’d like for him to set his feet more, which I’ve talked to y’all about that a few weeks. The (pass) protection in the past few weeks has been considerably better than it was in the first three games. That should allow him to sit in the pocket more and not float back. Because when he floats back at times, he’s getting himself into a little bit of a jam. But for the most part, he played pretty good.”

Bowman started the game hot, leading the Cowboys to touchdowns on their first two drives of the game as he completed eight of his first 10 passes. He had a nice connection with receiver Brennan Presley on a flea-flicker for his second TD throw of the game as Presley made some moves in space to find the end zone.

Gundy noted that some of Bowman’s earlier issues with staying in the pocket may have had something to do with poor pass protection. The Cowboys gave up four sacks in a 33-7 loss to South Alabama earlier in the year, as the quarterback had little time to make decisions.

However, the coach explained that the protection has looked much better since Oklahoma State started Big 12 play. The Cowboys gave up just one sack this past week against Kansas, and Gundy believes Bowman simply has to get used to waiting things out in the pocket and trusting his offensive line.

“Quarterbacks have a tendency to do that when their biological clock tells them there’s gonna be issues all the time, but we need him to sit in there,” the coach said. “Protection’s been really good the last three games. We need him to sit and keep his weight distributed properly. That’ll help him become a more effective quarterback for our team.”

After starting out the year 2-2, Oklahoma State has reeled off back-to-back wins and will hope Alan Bowman can continue to improve as the year goes on. The Cowboys next kick off against West Virginia at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday in Morgantown.