Grades: Bye Week Report Card for Oklahoma State

Sometimes poor test scores do not reflect the teacher's fault. Sometimes it doesn't matter what lesson plan a master teacher creates, those students just won't understand it. But Mike Gundy and his staff are essentially working with a gifted and talented class — a Doak Walker-winning running back, the most experienced offensive line in college football history, a receiving corps that includes three players on the Biletnikoff Award watch list stand.

But after six games in the bye week, Oklahoma State is 3-3 on a three-game losing streak and still looking for its first Big 12 win. Success is no longer possible this season. Now the Cowboys are just trying to compete and score enough points (literally) to move on to next year.

With six tests and half of the season remaining, here is OSU's report card from the bye week.

Offense: D

Before you scream for an F, remember: This is a look at the first six games as a whole, not just the last three. The Cowboys averaged nearly 43 points per game through the first three weeks, despite including an FCS team and a really bad Tulsa. That number has dropped to 30.17 after averaging just under 18 points in their last three losses.

Regardless, the Cowboys couldn't run the ball in the first three games either. OSU has not had more than 150 rushing yards in a game this season, averaging 91.2, which ranks 121 out of 133 nationally. The Cowboys still rank 71st in the top 100 in total offense, but that's due to the non-conference slate. And even 71st doesn't meet OSU standards.

And somehow, just seeing those numbers on a report card would still be better than actually going and watching things unfold on the field. Starting quarterback Alan Bowman was benched in two of the last three games while throwing two interceptions in three straight games, sparking a QB controversy. Star running back Ollie Gordon appeared to be running on sand. He was also injured last game and did not return. The play call had fans at Boone Pickens Stadium booing before the first drive against West Virginia was even over, and the game began with six straight runs in the middle.

Defense: F

The Cowboys have not yet been able to stop an opposing offense. The best they accomplished was holding Utah to 22 points in a loss. But the Utes had a rookie making his second career starting QB and still managed 456 total yards. OSU held Tulsa to 10 points, but the Golden Hurricane is averaging just 24.33 points per game, and that number is inflated after scoring 62 points against FCS Northwestern State in the season opener, a mark of 0-6 .

Through six weeks, OSU is giving up 493.5 yards per game. This is the fourth worst in the country. It is the absolute worst among the Power Four schools, surpassing only New Mexico, Ball State and Kent State, which have a combined record of 2-13. Many of those yards can be attributed to OSU's poor rushing defense, which ranks 128th and gives up 235 rushing yards per game. Purdue is the only other Power Four program with a statistically worst rushing defense.

Special Teams: B-

OSU was solid on special teams. Neither more nor less. Logan Ward made 10 0f 13 field goal attempts (76.9%) with a long of 52. He is also perfect at PATs. OSU's two players average 42.79 yards per punt. The returns weren't spectacular, but they did breathe life into OSU at times, including when Cale Cabbiness returned a kickoff 51 yards against West Virginia last week.

But when special teams get the best grade for six weeks, it means the season is a failure overall so far.