Carlson: OSU football showing why it’s the Big 12’s top team with rout at Kansas

But the Cowboys have improved in so many other ways that have nothing to do with the young quarterback. The offensive line has gotten better. The run game. The pass rush. The tackling. On and on the list goes.

The fact that this defense continues to improve, though, is the thing that makes these Cowboys so impressive.

With so many returning starters and contributors, the hopes for this bunch were high. But the Cowboys continue to throw up superlatives each week.

Saturday, OSU held Kansas to only 193 yards of total offense. That was the fewest yards allowed against a Big 12 opponent during the Gundy era.

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No doubt there will be bigger tests this season — Kansas may not win a game this season — but the domination by the OSU defense was complete. When the first teamers were on the field, there were no busts, no blown coverages, no glaring mental mistakes.

I’m not saying the Cowboys were perfect, but it’s hard to find many faults.

Look at Kansas first-half possessions: punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, interception.

Cowboy defensive coordinator Jim Knowles told his players at halftime he wasn’t going to use the old now-it’s-nothing-to-nothing cliche.