Countdown to Kickoff Day 7: #44 Oklahoma State Cowboys

It is hard to doubt this team with Mike Gundy leading the way for the Cowboys as he has not had a losing season with the Cowboys in 18 years. Last year, Oklahoma State got off to a hot start, going 5-0 and making their way all the way up to #8 in the Top 25 rankings. The second half of the season did not go their way, finishing 7-6 and topping the season off with a loss to Wisconsin in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. An injury to star QB, Spencer Sanders, in their week 8 loss to Kansas State certainly didn’t help, but much like the rest of the 2022 season, they will be without him this year as he transferred to Ole Miss.

There are certainly a lot of questions around this squad, but I trust Mike Gundy to continue his streak with the team he has.

Who to Watch: Alan Bowman begins his SIXTH year as a college quarterback this fall, and OSU fans are hoping his best year has yet to happen. He played three years at Texas Tech throwing for 33 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, he then began his stint at Michigan as a backup in 2021 and didn’t see the field much over his two years. Uncertainty at QB leaves a lot of doubt for this offense, but if the 23 year old can perform like he did at TTU, or even better, OSU will be in decent shape.

The offensive line will also have a huge advantage for the Pokes, as they will try to get Ollie Gordon II heavily involved in the run game and rely on him for success. They also added Arland Bruce IV from Iowa, and De’Zhaun Stribling from Washington State to their receiving corps alongside Brennan Presley, so there is plenty to be optimistic about with this offense.

How many games will Oklahoma State win in 2023?

• 7 or more
• 6 or less

The Defense: I believe a 3-3-5 is the best formation to run in the Big 12, given the air raid offense that most teams run, and that is exactly what Oklahoma State will be lined up in in the fall. Kendal Daniels, Collin Oliver, Justin Wright, and Anthony Goodlow will all take full advantage of this style, and be able to put opposing offenses on their toes with their skill.

Prediction: A favorable schedule will help the Cowboys out this year and enable them to surprise some people. I expect them to take full advantage of that and get to the 7 win mark in the regular season. 7-5.