If they played in any other conference, the No. 13 Oklahoma State Cowboys would be contenders. In the Big 12 Conference, which has shaped up to be the nation’s best, the Cowboys are an also-ran, and a very dangerous one, at that.
Oklahoma State rattled off seven straight wins to open the 2008 season, including one against common foe Washington State in Pullman, Wash., 39-13. The Cowboys passed their first major test of the season – upsetting then-No. 3 Missouri 28-23 on the road – but fell two weeks later to then-No. 1 Texas. At 9-3 overall (5-3 Big 12), Oklahoma State has only suffered losses to Texas, then-No. 2 Texas Tech and then-No. 3 Oklahoma in the Bedlam rivalry game.
Head coach Mike Gundy, a former Cowboys quarterback, was promoted from his position as offensive coordinator in 2005. Gundy is 27-22 as a head coach with two consecutive bowl victories (2006 Independence Bowl, 2007 Insight Bowl) and a dynamic offense that is nationally better (seventh in yards per game) than Oregon’s.
The man that makes the offense go is Zac Robinson, a junior dual-threat quarterback. Robinson has completed 177 of 264 passes for 2,735 yards (67 percent completion rate) and 24 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. On the ground, Robinson has the Cowboys’ third-most rushing yards, with 508 on four yards-per-carry.
Robinson’s top target will be newly crowned All-American wide receiver Dez Bryant, a big-play threat who has 18 touchdown catches and an average of 17.7 yards per reception. Bryant is as good of an all-around receiver, perhaps better, than the Ducks saw in Sammie Stroughter. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is second on the team with 36 receptions for 421 yards, though he has yet to find the end zone. Pettigrew, a senior, is considered a day-one NFL Draft selection come April.
Sophomore running back Kendall Hunter is the Big 12’s rushing leader, quietly propelling the Cowboys to seventh in the nation in rushing yards (256 per game). Hunter has rushed for 1,518 yards on the year, averaging 6.7 per carry. Junior backup Keith Toston has gotten less than half of Hunter’s touches (228 for Hunter, 94 for Toston), but boasts a 7.0 yards-per-carry average of his own.
Defensively, Oklahoma State allows nine more yards per game than Oregon (392.2 to 383) but allows one fewer point per game. Junior linebacker Andre Sexton is the Cowboys’ most productive defensive player and the team leader in tackles with 92 (four tackles for loss). Junior college transfer Jeremiah Price has been a pleasant surprise along the defensive line, recording three sacks (leading the team) and 6.5 tackles for loss. Cornerback Jacob Lacey is the top-producing member of the Cowboys’ secondary, with two interceptions and 13 pass breakups this season, leading the team in both categories.
Should the game come down to special teams, Oklahoma State has a reliable weapon in kicker Dan Bailey. The sophomore is perfect on extra points this year (61 of 61) and, though he’s only 14 of 17 on field goals, two misses have come on kicks longer than 50 yards.
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