With the Big Twelve loaded with similar types of teams (all with high expectations based mostly on fact but not withstanding favoritism), the games will play out and the wins and losses will tell the tale by seasons end. Pre-season prognostication is a crap shoot and personal lens colored glasses are just blinders to what will happen soon enough. Sports fans of the conference, all hope springs eternal three weeks before that first kickoff.
Oklahoma State, Texas Christian, Kansas State, West Virginia and Texas all are in the hunt to be that second team to meet Oklahoma, the clear cut pre-season favorite. With that, today I will focus on the Cowboys. They have an opportunity to be that second best team. They also could fall somewhere between 2nd and 7th, and even farther down, as Iowa State, Texas Tech, and Baylor all have representative teams and can cause distress to any in the conference.
Speculation on this 2018 Oklahoma State football team can be tricky. The Cowboys are coming off another ten win season with some key players returning, but the loss of Mason Rudolph and James Washington lend some to believe that hopes for another great season might be a year off.
Let the games will play out beginning in Stillwater against a weak Missouri State. Pre-season prognostication is a crap shoot and personal lens colored glasses are of no help. Sports fans of the conference, all hope springs eternal three weeks before that first kickoff.
Examine the men of Stillwater the past years under Head Coach Mike Gundy. Ten win seasons (four of the past five) without a high standard being met is not possible. The Pokes has been built on average to above average recruiting talent that has included the signing of specific “great” college players that have and will make their mark in the National Football League. This selection of talent is not by happenstance. OSU recognizes the high school talent that can transition into Big Twelve players of quality. Along with the superior development of players, mostly on the offensive side of the ball, but not limited to it exclusively, Gundy and staff have won 47 games in the past five years mar. This is a mark of an excellent Power Five program. Also, the talent on campus currently should not be disregarded either. Those stepping up to fill the spots of the departed will not be void of talent.
Getting an easy non-conference start with Missouri State and South Alabama at home and winnable games just following, OSU can see a positive start to 2018. Six and zero through September is not something out of the question.
Early August season practice has senior quarterback Taylor Cornelius (6’6, 235) running the show. He has broken away from any challenges by the back-ups and his decision making being the key in early games. He can make all the throws. Gundy will be giving him the snaps and expects a better than good passing game with Cornelius his pocket passer. The Boise State game (Sept. 15 in Stillwater) is nut cutting time for him. Expect that game to be a shootout and key to a six game winning streak. Cornelius will have a big time running game to use with All Big Twelve Justice Hill as the feature back. Hill is backed by 2nd year runner JD King who would be a starter on many teams OSU has enough returning pass catchers not to fall off much from 2018 with Jalen McCleskey, Dillon Stoner, and Tyron Johnson all better than average. An experienced offensive line will be better than last season to protect the quarterbacks and open holes for the runners The Pokes will not have problems scoring.
New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles who was at Duke last year will work at improving the numbers on that side of the ball. He has Jordan Brailford (d-line), Justin Phillips (linebacker), Calvin Brundage (linebacker), and Jodarius Williams (d-back) to build on. Look for a more aggressive defense which could be what the doctor ordered. Yet, making turnovers will again be a key as stops will still be difficult in the Big Twelve.
The punter (Zach Sinor) and placement (Matt Ammandola) will be returning and that is good, but the overall punt and kickoff coverage need to get much better. The 88th ranking in 2017 was not good.
Head Coach: Mike Gundy (14th season) 114-53
Prediction: 8-4 and 5-4 in league play
Games the Cowboys will win: Missouri State, South Alabama, Kansas
Games the Cowboys can win or lose and it would not be a surprise: all but Oklahoma
Games the Cowboys will lose: Oklahoma
Feature Photo: Getty Images
