STILLWATER, Okla., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Joseph Randle rushed for 151 yards and fifth-ranked Oklahoma State kept its national title hopes alive with a 44-10 rout of No. 11 Oklahoma Saturday.
Randle scored twice on 19 carries, and Jeremy Smith added 92 yards and a pair of scores on 10 rushes for the Cowboys (11-1, 8-1 Big 12), who needed -- and got -- a dominating performance in the de facto Big 12 Conference championship game to have a shot at the national championship.
Oklahoma State had little trouble in capturing its first conference title since 1976 while convincingly snapping an eight-game losing streak to its in-state rival.
Ever since OSU fell to Iowa State in double overtime on Nov. 18, a rematch between Louisiana State and Alabama for the BCS title appeared most likely, but the Cowboys made a strong case for the No. 2 spot in the final BCS poll to be released Sunday.
Oklahoma (9-3, 6-3) was led by Landry Jones, who went 27-of-50 through the air for 250 yards with two interceptions.
