STILLWATER, OKLA. ? Kansas University’s football season has come down to one game.

Oklahoma State scored 21 points in the third quarter Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium and pulled away in a 44-21 rout of the Jayhawks. The lopsided loss put KU’s postseason plans on hold for the fourth straight week and left KU with just one more chance — Saturday’s home finale against Iowa State — to become bowl-eligible.

“I think our kids are still hungry and want to win, want to get that sixth win,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “I told our kids in the locker room, ‘Next Saturday will define the 2003 Jayhawk team. You play well and win that game, and all is forgotten about all the bumps in the road.'”

KU (5-6 overall, 2-5 Big 12 Conference) hit a major pothole at OSU (8-3, 4-3). The Jayhawks lost their fourth straight game and fifth in six outings. After a 5-2 start, KU desperately needs a victory against Iowa State (2-8, 0-6) on Senior Day.

Not that the Jayhawks will take ISU for granted.

“That’s real dangerous,” said junior defensive tackle Travis Watkins, who played for the first time this season after missing 10 games because of a broken foot. “People assume they’re going to beat us. Missouri assumed they were going to beat us. UNLV assumed they were going to beat us. I think we’ve been underdogs every game. They’re going to be ready to play us. They don’t want to see us go to a bowl game.”

Representatives from the Tangerine Bowl were on hand to see OSU — which was a three-touchdown favorite — pummel the Jayhawks.

The teams traded field goals before OSU tailback Verand Morency made it 10-3 with a five-yard touchdown run. The sophomore started because of injuries to Big 12 rushing leader Tatum Bell and backup Seymore Shaw and set career highs with 269 yards and three TDs. He gained 170 of his yards in the pivotal third quarter.

“I just wish he could have got the yards today to help him in the Heisman race,” Morency said of Bell, the nation’s sixth-leading rusher.

Oklahoma State's Vernard Morency (33) -- a third-string running back who started in place of Big 12 Conference rushing leader Tatum Bell and backup Seymore Shaw -- rushes for some of his 269 yards despite the defense of Kansas University's Jonathan Lamb (11) and Tony Stubbs. Morency helped the Cowboys run over Kansas, 44-21, Saturday in Stillwater, Okla.

Kansas had injury problems of its own. Freshman quarterback Adam Barmann — starting his third straight game in place of injured senior Bill Whittemore — suffered an ankle injury on KU’s second possession and sat out the rest of first half.

Third-string quarterback Brian Luke led Kansas on a 14-play scoring drive capped by his 13-yard TD pass to Moderick Johnson, who made a one-handed grab in the end zone.

“I just put it up there to give him a chance,” said Luke, who finished 22-of-38 for 193 yards with two TDs and an interception. “That was all him. He’s a great player. He’s got some big hands on him, that’s for sure.”

OSU’s Luke Phillips tacked on two more field goals — 20- and 24-yarders — to give the Pokes a 16-10 halftime lead.

Kansas had the ball and momentum when freshman defensive back Kenneth Thompson picked off a Josh Fields pass at OSU’s 15 on the third play of the third quarter. KU settled for a 21-yard field goal by Jerod Brooks, closing the gap to 16-13.

“We started off well,” sophomore linebacker Gabe Toomey said. “We got an interception and tried to feed off that. It got away from us.”

Morency blew the game open, sandwiching TD runs of 19 and six yards around a four-yard touchdown by fullback Shawn Willis. OSU finished with 295 yards rushing and 485 total yards.

Willis’ score was set up by a 37-yard punt return by Gabe Lindsay, his second long return of the day.

“It’s unacceptable,” Mangino said of the special-teams breakdowns. “There’s no excuse for it.”

Barmann, who split time with Luke in the second half, inadvertently set up another OSU score when cornerback Ricky Coxeff intercepted a pass and returned it to the KU 32. Fields hit Rashaun Woods with an eight-yard TD pass three plays later.

Barmann, who was 5-of-6 for 38 yards before his injury, finished 8-of-14 for 66 yards.

Charles Gordon led KU’s receivers with nine catches for 72 yards. The receiver/return man/cornerback also had three tackles and a sack.

“We didn’t make enough plays on offense,” Gordon said. “Defensively, we couldn’t stop them. We didn’t play our best game.”