How does it feel to score a stunning game-winning touchdown in the final seconds in front of nearly 63,000 fans?

“My emotions are all over the place right now,” BYU senior wide receiver Darius Lassiter said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to cry or be happy, you know? But I’m just glad we were able to get the job done.”

How does it feel to throw that game-winning touchdown pass to keep your team undefeated this season?

“It’s magical, spiritual,” Cougar junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff said. “With something like that, how can you not be romantic about this game? Weylin Lapuaho stood on the sidelines in tears. Connor Pay walked around in tears. It’s a special experience, dude. And if you do it at home, it becomes even more fun. It was just incredible. Man, that’s going to be talked about for a long time, especially in my household.”

Trailing by four points, No. 13-ranked BYU faced a second-and-10 from the Oklahoma State 35-yard line with just 19 seconds to play in Friday night’s heartbreaking Big 12 game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

Retzlaff dropped back, scanned the field, had plenty of time thanks to good blocking by the Cougar offensive line, and then shot the ball to where Lassiter got open at about the 15-yard line.

“I just saw him open up and throw the ball,” Retzlaff said. “There’s a certain point, especially in a two-minute drill, where you just have to see the field. The defense plays zone coverage-like, although it is a bit shaky in the back. Darius made an incredible play. And that’s Darius. That’s number 5 for you.”

Lassiter explained that he was not the first option in the pattern, but found an opening.

“Originally it was a play to get (freshman receiver JoJo Phillips) open,” Lassiter said. “We just wanted to get closer to field position.

“But once I hit my stride, I looked back and there was no one in my spot. I just saw Jake looking this way. I was like, I don’t know who he’s throwing this to, but I’m going to make a play.”

Lassiter neatly snatched the ball out of the air with room to maneuver – and he has proven before that he can be dangerous in the open field.

“I made the first guy miss, and then I made another miss and got into the end zone,” Lassiter said. “It was just a great feeling, especially doing it for the ROC (BYU’s student chapter). After celebrating, I blacked out.

Lassiter’s TD gave the Cougars the lead with just 11 seconds to play and BYU was finally able to put aside a determined Oklahoma State squad that played a great game and nearly pulled off the upset.

But it was the Cougars who escaped with the 38-35 win to remain undefeated in 2024.

“Obviously, I’m very happy with the win and very proud of the way the guys played,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “Man, this wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of the fight and belief the guys have in each other and the leadership on our team. It was an exciting victory.

“The coach in me obviously wants us to get better, but it felt like we had some good moments. I want us to be more consistent, but you have to give Oklahoma State a lot of credit. They came in ready to play. They had a plan. We will have to fight against that every week.”

Sitake said he actually didn’t see the end of Lassiter’s climactic game because he was trying to make sure he gave his team every chance to win.

“I saw the catch, but I was more concerned about the time, so I looked at the clock to see if we should clock the clock (poke the ball to stop the clock) or use a timeout” , Sitake said. “I knew we probably had time to clock it, but then I got a bit shocked because he broke some tackles and got the score. That made it easy.”

But his attention immediately turned from scoring to regain the lead to making it as difficult as possible for the Cowboys to pull off a miracle.

“My concern was to get everyone off the field so we wouldn’t get punished for that,” Sitake said. “Then it was about getting the defense ready for the last ten seconds of the game.”

It was understandable that another miracle was possible, considering it was that type of game.

Neither team led by more than seven points, as both BYU and OSU battled back and forth, with both offenses having plenty of success.

With the score tied 28-28 in the fourth quarter, the Cougars drove into Cowboy territory, but a third down pass was just out of Lassiter’s reach in the end zone and BYU had to settle for a successful 41-yard field goal by junior kicker Will Ferrin.

But then it was Oklahoma State’s turn and the visitors made the most of it.

The Cowboys methodically marched down the field in 17 plays, converting two short fourth-down plays and using a screen pass to gain 21 yards on a third-and-13.

OSU moved in front on third-and-2 from the 6-yard line when Cowboy senior quarterback Alan Bowman got the ball to senior receiver Brennan Presley on a swing pass. Presley took a miss from the BYU defender and ran into the end zone to make the score 35-31 and quiet the Cougar crowd.

“Kudos to them, obviously, because they have a great game plan,” BYU junior safety Tanner Wall said. “They came out and were executed. It’s a tough team. Their offensive line has all five returning starters from last year, so they are an experienced team. I thought they handled themselves well in that crazy atmosphere here at LaVell Edwards Stadium on a night game.

But the Cougars still had 1:13 on the clock and two timeouts to work with, so there was time to flip the script again.

“Everyone believed (we were going to score),” Retzlaff said. “I like the two-minute exercise. That’s my thing. Every time we did it at camp, every time we did it at spring ball, I was always excited, ready to go and get the guys going. And we are very good at that.”

BYU sophomore linebacker Isaiah Glasker said he focused on encouraging the offensive line before the biggest drive of the game.

“Usually I like to talk to the O-line because it starts up front,” Glasker said. “I always tell them that in the locker room and that if they do well, it gives them opportunities to make catches and make big runs. I always tap them on the helmet and say: go get it.”

After gaining just three yards on the first three plays, the Cougars faced a fourth-and-7 with their chances to win on the line.

Retzlaff, however, stayed calm and fired a pass on goal to junior wide receiver Chase Roberts for an 8-yard gain to keep the drive alive.

Two plays later, Retzlaff got a flush from the pocket, but saw an opening.

“I remember seeing a lot of space in front of me, and then I saw the linebackers trying to cut me off before I got to the sideline,” Retzlaff said. “But there was no one behind him. Safety was way back there. I thought, okay, he’s going to give me the inside. I just take the yards knowing we had a timeout. I also knew I would get first, so I knew the clock would stop.

BYU rushed to the line and spiked the ball, providing the drama and euphoria of Lassiter’s big play.

The Cougars ended up gaining a few more yards than Oklahoma State (473-421), although the Cowboys racked up 269 yards on the ground (BYU had 255).

Retzlaff finished with 218 yards passing and 81 rushing with three total touchdowns and two interceptions, while Lassiter finished with 129 yards on six receptions and the winning score.

The Cougars improved to 7-0 overall (4-0 in the Big 12), which is their best start to a season since 2020. Only the 2020, 2001, 1984 and 1979 BYU teams have ever started a season with seven consecutive wins.

The Cougars will look to make it eight when they head to Orlando to take on UCF on Oct. 27.