Oklahoma State neared a cinching score Saturday night against Texas Tech when disaster struck.

Quarterback Zac Robinson sprinted right toward the goal, unaware that Tech’s Jamar Wall was closing fast from his blind side. In one of the season’s most violent hits anywhere, the players collided at the 5.

The ball jarred loose, scooped up by the Red Raiders for one unexpected opportunity at pulling victory from defeat.

But the hush that rushed through Boone Pickens Stadium wasn’t out of concern for the lead, which the Cowboys would hold for a 24-17 win.

The concern was for Robinson, unquestionably OSU’s Most Valuable Player, who lay sprawled on the turf for several minutes.

“I cringe at the hits that take place in these games now,” said Cowboys coach Mike Gundy, himself a former quarterback. “There are three or four a game, compared to years ago when there would only be three or four in a season.

“Defenders are tackling higher now than they ever have. They are bigger and stronger, which creates more force.”

Eventually, Robinson rose and walked off, a bit wobbly, which describes the Cowboys’ BCS bowl hopes, especially if Robinson can’t play or is limited in the final two games.

At 8-2 overall and ranked No. 12 in the BCS Standings, OSU is very much in the discussion for a coveted BCS berth, which would be the school’s first. But the Pokes will need to finish 10-2; a scenario complicated with anything less than a full-speed Robinson behind center.

OSU faces a short week, with Colorado visiting for ESPN’s Thursday night showcase. The Pokes would be favored against the Buffaloes with or without Robinson, although the odds of an upset rise without him.

And Bedlam awaits next week, with the Pokes going to Norman, where they haven’t beaten the Sooners since 2001.

Robinson, who responded favorably to tests for concussion symptoms, is expected to play against Colorado. But along with the blow to the head, he also came away with a sore shoulder, apparently re-aggravating a problem from last season. He’s also struggled with a turf toe in recent weeks.

OSU’s at-large BCS hopes rely on several outside factors. Texas must keep winning and advance to the national title game. One of the big bowls would need to favor the Cowboys over say, Penn State or Boise State or Pittsburgh.

But the Pokes must, too, keep winning. And they need Robinson at his best to do that.

Scoreboard

Oklahoma State 24, Texas Tech 17
Oklahoma 65, Texas A&M 10
Nebraska 31, Kansas 17
Iowa State 17, Colorado 10
Missouri 38, Kansas State 12
Texas 47, Baylor 14

Player of the Week: Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State

Texas Tech kept firing passes in Cox’s direction — unwisely. The Cowboys senior intercepted two throws and broke up three more to key a big defensive effort in a 24-17 win. OSU held Tech more than 100 yards below their season average in total offense. Cox leads the nation in passes defended and is a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award.

Week 11: In The Spotlight

Game of the Week: Kansas State at Nebraska. Call it the Big 12 North title game. The Huskers are 4-2 in conference play, the Wildcats 4-3. The winner clinches the North and a likely, although unenviable, pairing with Texas for the Big 12 championship. K-State arrives after a bad performance in a blowout loss to Missouri. Nebraska is rolling, beating Oklahoma and Kansas in back-to-back weeks.

Player to Watch: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska. The Wildcats are a running team first, with Daniel Thomas leading the league at 106 yards per game. But Suh’s dominant play inside makes it next to impossible to run on the Huskers.

Coach to Watch: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma. Almost an autumn ritual, Stoops’ name came up this week in reference to another job — the Notre Dame job, where Charlie Weis is on the hot seat. Stoops quickly denied interest Monday and has a major issue on his mind already, as the Sooners aim to win in Lubbock, where they’ve lost in their last two visits.

Program to Watch: Iowa State. The Cyclones became bowl eligible for the first time since 2005 with last week’s 17-10 win over Colorado. They close the season Saturday at Missouri, where both teams will be bidding to strengthen their appeal for a better bowl.

Upset Alert: Colorado at Oklahoma State. The Buffs are bad and likely playing out the string at this point. But if Robinson can’t go, his replacement — either Alex Cate or Brandon Weeden — would not only be making his first career start, but also getting his first extensive action.

Stock Rising: Roy Helu Jr., RB, Nebraska. Helu, the lone bright offensive spot in the team’s tight win over Oklahoma the week before, ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns to ignite the Huskers’ rout of Kansas. Helu’s strong running has Nebraska back in the hunt for a Big 12 title.

Stock Falling: KU’s bowl hopes. At 5-5, the Jayhawks remain one win short of bowl eligibility. Their postseason possibilities hinge on winning at Texas or in Kansas City against Missouri. Kansas has lost five straight for the first time since 2002, falling to 1-5 in the Big 12.

By the Numbers

4 — Teams still in the hunt for division titles: Texas and Oklahoma State in the South, Kansas State and Nebraska in the North.

5 — Interceptions by Oklahoma State’s Patrick Lavine, the most by a linebacker in FBS.

42 — Career wins for Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, tying him with Georgia’s David Greene for the record by a FBS quarterback.