However, an upset loss at Navy the following week knocked the Gamecocks from Orange Bowl consideration and whipped out the National Championship aspirations.
The Gamecocks would bounce back with a come from behind 22–21 victory at Clemson to finish the regular season 10–1 and earn the Gator Bowl bid.
As for the Cowboys (in their first season under coach Pat Jones, who took over after spring practice when Jimmy Johnson was hired away by the Miami Hurricanes to replace Howard Schnellenberger), they started the season with a victory over #12 Arizona State that made them rise to #13 by the following week.
Those Cowboy squads were led by future NFL stars Leslie O'Neal, Thurman Thomas and 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders.
However, Oklahoma State was decimated in early 1989 when the program was placed on probation for four years by the NCAA for numerous major rules violations; the Cowboys were banned from bowl games for three seasons and television appearances for two.
Jones' 62 wins is second in school history behind current coach Mike Gundy, the Cowboys' starting quarterback from 1986-89.