In an unexpectedly wild game in Week 2, No. 16 Oklahoma State outlasted Arkansas to win 39-31 in double overtime. The Razorbacks started strong, but the Cowboys came back to take the lead in the fourth quarter and eventually won in multiple overtimes.

Arkansas, expected to be near the bottom of the SEC, didn’t look that way Saturday. The Razorbacks started fast, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter from running back Ja’quinden Jackson.

Oklahoma State followed it up with a pick-six from cornerback Kale Smith to put points on the board. But it didn’t take long for Arkansas to respond again, with Jackson scoring his third touchdown of the day.

In the third quarter, a touchdown and a field goal were called back for the Cowboys, followed by a key fumble by Arkansas that was picked off by Oklahoma State, leaving the door open. However, the Cowboys had to settle for another field goal, making the score 21-13.

Arkansas’ missed field goal and failed punt return gave Oklahoma State a stroke of luck, as the Cowboys were able to get their own punt back. With the ball suddenly back in their hands — and a great possession — OSU quarterback Alan Bowman was able to catch an easy pass for the touchdown. A successful extra point tied the score at 21-21.

The Cowboys then got a huge stop on defense, forcing Arkansas to turn on downs. From there, Bowman threw a huge 64-yard flea flicker to fullback Jake Schultz to push OSU down the field. Receiver Brennan Presley ran for another touchdown to take the 28-21 lead.

But the Razorbacks fought back, scoring a touchdown less than two minutes into the game on an open pass to tight end Luke Hasz to tie the score at 28-28.

With minutes running out, Oklahoma State was in a dangerous position after Bowman got a big 36-yard throw to Presley. But Bowman’s decision to challenge the Arkansas sideline after the throw proved costly, pushing the ball from the six to the 21.

The Cowboys were eventually forced into a fourth-and-4 situation with under two minutes left on the clock, but their attempts to stall were negated by the officials’ decision to add a few seconds and a false start penalty that stopped the clock for just under a minute — much to the visible frustration of OSU coach Mike Gundy.

A 38-yard field goal attempt by Oklahoma State kicker Logan Ward gave the Cowboys a 31-28 lead.

Arkansas marched down the field with seconds remaining and came within range of a field goal with just 11 seconds left. In the final seconds, the Razorbacks made the risky decision not to kick the ball, but kicker Kyle Ramsey was able to make the successful 45-yard field goal as time expired and the game went into overtime.

Arkansas started with the ball, but was stopped by the Cowboys defense. On third-and-13, quarterback Taylen Green was sacked, allowing the Razorbacks one last attempt at a field goal, but Ramsey missed the 46-yard field goal.

OSU’s overtime drive didn’t fare much better, as the Razorbacks stopped the Cowboys and forced them to go for a field goal on fourth-and-9. Ward, who had been so stubborn earlier in the game, missed the attempt from 41 yards, forcing the game to double overtime.

The Cowboys got the ball first in the second overtime, struggled to move the ball at first, but an unnecessary roughness penalty on Arkansas put Oklahoma State in the red zone. Bowman was able to get the ball to star running back Ollie Gordon II twice — once for a touchdown and once for the two-point conversion — to take the lead. Arkansas came close to returning the favor, but couldn’t get the final yard on fourth-and-1 to keep the game going.

Despite the loss, Arkansas’ first two games were strong performances, particularly for disgraced former head coach and current offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Under Petrino, the Razorbacks were relatively efficient in the red zone, buoyed by Jackson, who finished with 24 carries for 149 yards. There are certainly some wrinkles to iron out, however, with a handful of scrappy fumbles and mistakes threatening Arkansas’ success as the game wore on.

Oklahoma State, meanwhile, is barely surviving. While the Cowboys didn’t end up with the loss, the game was initially reminiscent of last year, when OSU suffered a humiliating 33-7 defeat to Southern Alabama in Week 2. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they remain 2-0 going into Week 3.