Led by second-year head coach Jim Stanley, Oklahoma State entered the game with an overall record of 6–5, going 4–3 in Big 8 play to finish fourth in the conference. The Cowboys went 1–3 against AP-ranked opponents, defeating no. 10 Arkansas, with losses to no. 10 Texas Tech, no. 9 Nebraska, and no. 1 Oklahoma
Led by third-year head coach LaVell Edwards, BYU entered the game with an overall record of 7–3–1, going 6–0–1 in WAC play to finish first in the conference. The Cougars started the season with a record of 0–3–1 before winning seven games in a row. BYU went 2–0 against AP-ranked opponents, defeating Arizona and Arizona State, who were both ranked 16 in their respective games against BYU. The Cougars were ranked no. 17 entering the Fiesta Bowl.
Game summary
The kickoff was shortly after 2 p.m. MST, following the Sun Bowl, both televised by CBS.[5] The weather in Tempe was cloudy with light rain.
A shoulder injury to BYU quarterback Gary Sheide late in the first quarter led to a defensive battle. After completing four of five passes for 43 yards and leading the Cougars to two field goals, he was knocked out of the game, hit from behind by Cowboy defensive lineman Phil Dokes.
Oklahoma State quickly took advantage, as Tony Buck returned an interception of BYU backup Mark Giles to the Cougar 26-yard line. Three plays later, Kenny Walker took a pitch and raced around the left end for a twelve-yard touchdown run to lead by a point at halftime.
Oklahoma State scored again in the third quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Abby Daigle to take a 10–6 lead. With under ten minutes left in the game, BYU began a long drive from their own two. Giles marched his club all the way to the OSU 28 on short passes and runs, but turned the ball over on downs when a fourth down pass fell incomplete. The Cowboys then took control of the ball and clock and scored with 1:14 remaining on a forty-yard halfback pass play from Leonard Thompson to Gerald Bain.[2][3][4]
Walker finished with 34 yards rushing and was named the offensive player of the game; Dokes took the defensive honor.
