(This story has been updated with new information.)

STILLWATER — Early in the third quarter, Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman stood on the sideline with his helmet still on, his view nearly obscured by the large cardboard signs that marked offensive plays.

Bowman had no injuries.

Just bad play and maybe even some hasty decisions from the coach.

Bowman watched as redshirt sophomore Garret Rangel entered the game to cheers from Pokes fans.

“We needed a relief pitcher,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy.

But this step didn’t work either.

On a day when the Cowboys’ (15th-ranked) offense was languishing until it was too late in a 22-19 loss to (10th-ranked) Utah at Boone Pickens Stadium, a quarterback controversy arose, but it was nipped in the bud within a half.

More: Oklahoma State Football Catches Up, But Loses to Utah for First Time | 5 Takeaways

Bowman, the seventh-year veteran, was benched after a dismal first half dropped OSU to a seven-point deficit. Rangel didn’t fare much better.

Instead, Bowman was brought back into the game and nearly led a miraculous comeback with 19 points, bringing the Cowboys to within a field goal in the final two minutes after two touchdown passes and two-point conversions.

So what does this mean for the future? Is Bowman the right man?

“Yes,” Gundy said, almost dismissing the question.

There is no quarterback controversy here.

“The offense was stalling, so Gundy did this to see if something could change,” OSU receiver Brennan Presley said. “We know Bowman is the man for the future.”

“It wasn’t a big deal for us. It was just an attempt to get the energy going. You do whatever you need to do to win the game you’re in and worry about everything else later.”

More: Oklahoma State football grades vs. Utah: Cowboys defense has a mixed day against the Utes

But there are concerns.

Gundy said Bowman struggled to avoid running around the pocket too much. Bowman was sacked just once, the first time this season.

“I’m just moving, for no real reason,” Gundy said.

Bowman completed just 8 of 22 passes in the first half. He seemed out of sync with the receivers, whether it was him making bad throws, them running the wrong route or even making drops.

“Receivers, I’m going to put the game on us,” Presley said. “We just have to win. If we can create more spacing, get free quicker, read the ball properly and so on … we all did our part to go out there today and make plays that could have changed the game a lot earlier.”

“The responsibility for this game lies with the recipients.”

Bowman ultimately completed 16 of 33 passes for 206 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Rangel, on the other hand, only completed three of eleven passes over a distance of 31 yards in over a quarter of the game. He never seemed confident.

That’s why OSU returned to Bowman.

And that’s ultimately why he’s still the one moving forward.

“We don’t do this often around here, but sometimes you have to get a guy out and calm him down a little bit,” Gundy said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Alan Bowman remains Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback after being benched against Utah