Big 12 Preview | Oklahoma State No. 3
- Tuesday, September 1, 2009 10:14 AM
- Written By: Jonathan Crowl
2008 record: 9-4 overall, 5-3 Big 12 Conference
2009 projection: In any other conference, OSU might be outside national title contenders in 2009. In the Big 12, they're underdogs for a division title.
Reason to get excited: While the Cowboys' explosive offense returns big weapons, a Top 10 preseason ranking is all it takes to be optimistic.
Reason not to get worked up: Texas and Oklahoma still form a soul-crushing 1-2 punch.
The gist: Oklahoma State's offense may be the best in the nation. Quarterback Zac Robinson is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation (but then, so are half the Big 12's QBs) and has a buffet of talent around him. Wide receiver Dez Bryant, a potential All-America candidate, running back Kendall Hunter and tackle Russell Okung help provide balance and stability across the field. Hunter and Okung are near-locks to go in the first round of the NFL draft next year and could be all-conference athletes, if not All-Americans with Bryant. The Cowboys will need to make sure the rest of the line fills in with talent, but even an average one will be enough to keep the motor running. The defense needs to improve from last year, when they were prone to lapses that led to 176 points being scored against OSU in the last four games. Andre Sexton, Patrick Lavine and Orie Lemon form a linebacking core that is the strength of the unit, but passing defense is a concern, both in coverage and quarterback pressure.
Rallying point: Gundy. His "I'm a man! I'm 40!" rant is getting smaller in the rearview mirror, but it's only helped the influence, authority and dedication his players continually give him. It helps that he's been there, as a Cowboys QB in the 1980s.
Cover your eyes: When OSU faces a passing offense. Here are the points allowed last season to offenses led by prolific passers: 37 points to Houston; 23 to Missouri; 28 to Texas; 56 to Texas Tech; 61 to Oklahoma; 42 to Oregon.
For what it's worth: Though it really only had one impressive win last season, Oklahoma State is a threat to every team it faces. The Cowboys could make the Big 12 South interesting if they can knock off Texas or Oklahoma, but until that happens, many fans will remain hesitant. After all, the Cowboys did lose to the Longhorns, Sooners, and Texas Tech by a combined 60 points last season. The season-opener against Georgia could derail their ambitions, but I don't see Georgia pulling that game out on the road.
