Darius Lassiter scores in the final seconds to give No. 13 BYU football a thrilling victory over Oklahoma State | News, sports, jobs

How does it feel to score a stunning game-winning touchdown in the final seconds in front of nearly 63,000 fans?

“My emotions are all over the place right now,” BYU senior wide receiver Darius Lassiter said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to cry or be happy, you know? But I’m just glad we got the job done.”

How does it feel to throw the game-winning touchdown pass to keep your team undefeated this season?

“It’s magical and spiritual,” Cougar junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff said. “With something like that, how can you not be romantic about this game? Weylin Lapuaho cried on the sideline. Connor Pay walked around in tears. It's a special experience, man. And it's even more fun at home. It was just incredible. Man, this is something that’s going to be talked about for a long time, especially in my household.”

Trailing by four points, 13th-ranked BYU faced a second-and-10 from Oklahoma State's 35-yard line with just 19 seconds left in Friday night's heartbreaking Big 12 game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

Retzlaff dropped back, scanned the field, had plenty of time thanks to good blocking by the Cougar offensive line, and then shot the ball to where Lassiter was open at about the 15-yard line.

“I just saw him open up and throw the ball,” Retzlaff said. “There comes a certain point, especially in a two-minute drill, where you just have to see the field. The defense plays zone-covering, even if it is somehow manned at the back. Darius played an incredible game. And this is Darius. That’s No. 5 for you.”

Lassiter explained that he wasn't the first option in the pattern, but he found an opportunity.

“Originally it was about getting (freshman receiver JoJo Phillips) open,” Lassiter said. “We just wanted to get closer to the field.

“But when I had done my stitching, I looked back and there was no one in my place. I just saw Jake looking that way. I thought to myself, “I don’t know who he’s blaming for this, but I’ll try.”

Lassiter grabbed the ball cleanly out of the air and had room to maneuver – and he has proven before that he can be dangerous in the open field.

“I made the first guy miss, and then I made another guy miss and got into the end zone,” Lassiter said. “It was just a great feeling, especially in front of the ROC (BYU's student division). After I did my celebration, I kind of fainted.”

Lassiter's TD gave the Cougars the lead with just 11 seconds left in the game, and BYU finally took down a determined Oklahoma State team that played a great game and nearly pulled off the upset.

But it was the Cougars who escaped with a 38-35 victory and remained undefeated in 2024.

“Obviously I’m really happy with the win and really proud of the way the guys played,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said. “Man, it wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of the fight and the belief the guys have in each other and in the leadership of our team. It was an exciting victory.

“The coach in me obviously wants us to get better, but I felt like we had some good moments. I want us to be more consistent, but you have to give Oklahoma State a lot of credit. They came in ready to play. They had a plan. We have to fight with that every week.”

Sitake said he actually didn't see the end of Lassiter's crucial play because he wanted to make sure he gave his team every chance to win.

“I saw the catch but was more worried about the time, so I looked at the clock to see if we needed to stop it (hit the ball to stop the clock) or call a timeout,” Sitake said . “I knew we probably had time to get it, but then I was kind of shocked because he made a few tackles and got the score. That made it easy.”

But his attention immediately turned to scoring to regain the lead and making it as difficult as possible for the Cowboys to pull off a miracle.

“My concern was to get everyone off the field so we wouldn’t be punished for it,” Sitake said. “Then it was about preparing the defense for the last 10 seconds of the game.”

It was understandable that another miracle could be possible since it was a game of this nature.

Neither team led by more than seven points as both BYU and OSU battled back and forth and both offenses found great success.

With the game tied 28-28 in the fourth quarter, the Cougars moved into Cowboys territory, but a third down pass was just out of reach for Lassiter in the end zone and BYU had to settle for a successful 41-yard field goal Junior kicker Will Ferrin.

But then it was Oklahoma State's turn and the visitors made the most of it.

The Cowboys methodically marched down the field on 17 plays, converting two short fourth-down plays and using a screen pass to gain 21 yards on a third-and-13.

OSU took the lead on third-and-2 from the 6-yard line when Cowboys senior quarterback Alan Bowman brought the ball to senior receiver Brennan Presley on a swing pass. Presley missed a BYU defender and went into the end zone to increase the score to 35-31 and calm the Cougar crowd.

“I obviously thank them for having a great game plan,” BYU junior safety Tanner Wall said. “They came out and were executed. They are a tough team. Their offensive line features all five starters from last year, so it's an experienced team. I think they did well in this crazy atmosphere that we have here at a night game at LaVell Edwards Stadium.”

But the Cougars still had 1:13 on the clock and two timeouts left, so there was still time to flip the script again.

“Everyone believed (we would score),” Retzlaff said. “I love the two-minute exercise. That's my thing. Every time we did it in camp, every time we did it at spring ball, I was always excited and ready to get going and get the guys going. And we’re really good at it.”

BYU sophomore linebacker Isaiah Glasker said he was focused on strengthening the offensive line before the biggest drive of the game.

“I usually like to talk to the O-line because they start up front,” Glasker said. “That's what I always tell them in the locker room and that if they do a great job, they'll have chances to make catches and make big runs. “I always tap them on the helmet and say, 'Just get it.'

However, after the first three plays gained just three yards, the Cougars faced a fourth-and-seven play with their chances of winning hanging in the balance.

However, Retzlaff stayed calm and fired a pass on goal to junior wide receiver Chase Roberts, giving him an 8-yard gain and keeping the drive alive.

Two plays later, Retzlaff was flushed out of the pocket but found an opening.

“I remember seeing a lot of space in front of me and then I saw the linebackers trying to cut me off before I got to the sideline,” Retzlaff said. “But there was no one behind him. Security was way behind. I thought to myself: Okay, he'll give me the inside scoop. I just take the yards knowing we had a timeout. I also knew I was going first, so I knew the clock would stop.”

BYU rushed to the line and kicked the ball up, creating the drama and euphoria of Lassiter's big play.

In the end, the Cougars gained a few more yards than Oklahoma State (473-421), although the Cowboys gained 269 yards on the ground (BYU had 255).

Retzlaff finished the game with 218 passing yards and 81 rushing yards with a total of three touchdowns and two interceptions, while Lassiter finished with 129 yards on six receptions and the game-winning score.

The Cougars improved to 7-0 overall (4-0 in the Big 12), marking their best start to the season since 2020. Only the 2020, 2001, 1984 and 1979 BYU teams have ever started a season with seven straight wins.

The Cougars will look to earn the eighth seed when they travel to Orlando to face UCF on Oct. 27.