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That's put increased importance on the right leg of former walk-on Dan Bailey.
The junior was rewarded at the start of preseason camp with a scholarship for his contributions to the Cowboys' nine-win season a year ago - 15 field goals and perfection on extra-point tries.
Starting this season just 3 for 6 on field goal attempts wasn't the way he wanted to show his gratitude.
"I really appreciate what the coaching staff and coach (Mike) Gundy did for me," said Bailey, who hit all four of his attempts in OSU's 33-17 victory against Missouri on Saturday night.
"I'm just glad I could finally get back on track and start proving that I deserve that scholarship," he said. "I kind of got down on myself for a little bit."
Bailey had three straight games with missed field goals against Houston, Rice and Grambling State and two of his three makes heading into the Missouri game were from 28 yards.
"He went through some time early in the season where he didn't feel real healthy. Those guys are funny about that," Gundy said on Sunday. "It's kind of like a golf swing, so it distracted him a little bit. But he's come back and he's kicked well for us, and hopefully this is a good sign."
Bailey, known for the bright orange shoes he wears on game days, said he developed a problem with his hip flexor that gave him trouble kicking.
"I kind of tweaked it early in the season. I was kind of working through that. It was kind of painful, but it's something that I had to work through," Bailey said. "Just working hard and plugging away, and things are working out now, so it's good."
Bailey's four field goals marked a career best and also included a 51-yarder, the longest of his career. His longest field goal previously had been from 45 yards, in last year's Holiday Bowl, and he had been 0 for 3 on kicks longer than that. Before connecting from 51 yards, Bailey missed wide right on a 46-yard try as the play was whistled dead for a delay of game.
"I've been waiting for a long time to get that one," Bailey said. "It was good to get a long kick in there."
Bailey's kicks were particularly crucial as Oklahoma State's offense put up only 351 yards, matching its second lowest output of the season. The Cowboys (5-1, 2-0 Big 12) also got an interception return for a touchdown from safety Lucien Antoine to boost their scoring total.
Perrish Cox set up one of the field goals with a 53-yard kickoff return, and OSU's kickoff coverage unit forced a fumble by Missouri's Jasper Simmons to put Bailey in position for his last try.
"This season especially, it feels good because I started off kind of slow and in a game like (Saturday), special teams played a pretty big role in the game," Bailey said. "It was good to be able to come through for the team and knock a couple through."
In addition to his field goals, Bailey has been a perfect 113 for 113 on extra-point tries, breaking the school record of 87 straight conversions set by former NFL kicker Cary Blanchard.
"Dan is a great example of a young man that wants to play college football and was not able to get a scholarship. ... The scholarship guys are spoiled. They get everything done for them," Gundy said.
"Guys that really, really, really love it, they walk on here and they earn their way. They work in the spring just trying to make enough money to pay for school. They put all the time and effort in over here, and their reward is to be part of the team," Gundy added. "Dan Bailey did the right thing."
