TCU jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but missed two field goals and failed to score in the last three quarters of the game.

The Frogs’ defense held held Oklahoma State to five field goals in the game, something head coach Gary Patterson has emphasized all season long.

Cowboys quarterback Wes Lunt, who hadn’t played in three games after suffering an injury in the third game of the season, had 46 passing yards and an interception in the first quarter.  

He then found his game and led the Cowboys to a 36-14 win at Boone Pickens Stadium.

For the second week in the row, the Horned Frogs were unable to keep up with the intensity of their opponent in the fourth quarter, Patterson said.

“When they turned up the gas, we didn’t finish,” he said.

TCU’s defense stepped up early, forcing an interception return for an 11-yard touchdown by Elisha Olabode. Wide receiver LaDarius Brown added another touchdown on an 18-yard pass from quarterback Trevone Boykin with 3:22 left in the first quarter.

That would be the last of the Frogs' scoring.

“We have to do better for the remainder of the season,” center James Fry said about finishing games. “I don’t want to admit it, but we quit. Coach Patterson mentioned we quit and it kind of felt like we did.”

Lunt threw for 87 yards in the second quarter including two passes over 30 yards which set up field goals. He ended the game with 324 yards on 18-of-33 passing.

“We allowed him to have some confidence,” Patterson said.

OSU opened the third quarter with a three and out and forced TCU to punt the ball right back. The Cowboys faced a fourth-and-goal from the Frogs’ one-yard line after being stuffed on the three previous downs.

Running back Randle Joseph punched it in to give the Cowboys’ their first lead of the game at 16-14. OSU converted all eight red zone trips into points.

“I think their offense as a whole executed well in the second half when they needed to,” defensive end Jon Koontz said. “They wore us down.”

Lunt hit Charlie Moore for a 20-yard touchdown with 1:30 left in the third quarter. The Cowboys tacked on two more field goals to take a 29-14 lead with 2:32 left in the game.

Patterson said the Frogs’ defense made good plays in the red zone forcing OSU to settle for field goals, but they still need to be “smart” with the ball.

Boykin and the Frogs started at the seven-yard line, looking to cut the lead with 2:32 left. Boykin, who finished 21-of-40 for 185 yards, faced first-and-10 from the 18-yard line and missed his intended target, wide receiver Skye Dawson. OSU safety Daytawion Lowe intercepted the pass and returned it to the one-yard line. The Cowboys punched it in one play later to seal the win.

“We’re young, but what our players have to understand is that losing is a disease,” Patterson said. “You do something about it or it spreads. We’ve got good enough players, but we have to grow up and get ready to play.”

TCU had a chance to take the lead with 2:39 left in the third quarter. The Frogs faced a fourth-and-5 from the OSU 14-yard line and called on placekicker Jaden Oberkrom to finish the drive. Oberkrom’s 31-yard attempt sailed wide right.

The loss marked the Frogs’ first back-to-back losses this season and in Big 12 conference play.

“Even when we were in the Mountain West last year, we came back every Sunday and prepared just as hard as if it were the Rose Bowl over and over again and we’re gonna keep doing that,” Fry said. “Just gotta fix little things, little mistakes.”