Oklahoma State, Kansas State survive upset bids as top Big 12 contenders shake off struggles in Week 2

No. 16 Oklahoma State and No. 17 Kansas State both survived shaky starts to preserve the Big 12's positioning. Kansas State needed a red zone stop with seconds remaining to survive a 34-27 road test against Tulane . Meanwhile, Oklahoma State went to overtime against Arkansas , but a missed Razorbacks field goal set up a 34-31 victory against the SEC foe.

Oklahoma State was completely outplayed by Arkansas in a bizarre nonconference performance, trailing 21-7 at halftime and only scoring on a defensive touchdown. The Cowboys were outgained 648 to 385 yards and mustered just 1.9 yards per carry. Star running back Ollie Gordon II had only 37 yards rushing as first-year quarterback Taylen Green finished with nearly 500 yards of total offense for Arkansas.

However, a few truly bizarre swings helped Oklahoma State come away with an unlikely victory. The pick-six helped give the Cowboys some life in the first half despite finishing with fewer than 100 offensive yards. A fumbled punt turned into an Oklahoma State touchdown to tie the game. A missed field goal meant Arkansas was too afraid to take points late in the game, setting up a go-ahead touchdown for Oklahoma State.

Kansas State needed every bit of magic to survive an upset attempt from Tulane. The Wildcats took a 20-10 deficit into halftime and star quarterback Avery Johnson was thoroughly outplayed by Tulane freshman Darian Mensah . The deciding play came midway through the fourth quarter as Mensah made a critical mistake, running backwards after getting pressured and ultimately fumbling. Kansas State's Austin Romaine picked it up and took the ball 60 yards for a scoop-and-score.

Mensah was sensational in his second career start, clearing 342 yards and two touchdowns. He had what appeared to be a game-tying touchdown pass with seconds remaining, but Tulane was called for a controversial offensive pass interference. Plays later, he threw an interception while trying to make a play, icing the game for Kansas State.

Oklahoma State and Kansas State were picked No. 2 and 3 in the preseason Big 12 media poll, respectively, and are universally considered among the top contenders in the conference. In the expanded College Football Playoff, building a resume and credibility takes on even bigger a priority for conferences.

Two of the top three teams in the Big 12 preseason rankings losing would be a massive stake in the heart of the conference as it tries to jockey for postseason positioning. Even though the games were ugly, going 1-0 in these matchups means that the early struggles should mostly be forgotten when selection Sunday comes. Living to fight another day matters more than ever.