Oklahoma State Cowboys
Big 12
If only Oklahoma State hadn’t gone to Morgantown and lost to West Virginia. Many Cowboys fans might be thinking that right about now, but the truth is the Oklahoma loss didn’t help matters either. Still, the Cowboys are in a better place than most years, unlike many a time when Oklahoma football was ruled with an iron fist from the Norman campus. Oklahoma State is headed to Texas for a date with the Missouri Tigers in the annual Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma State would like to stop Missouri and prove it can play against an SEC opponent. Either way, it has been another solid season for head coach Mike Gundy and his players.
2013 Record: 10-2, 7-2
Coach: Mike Gundy
Coach Bowl Record: 5-2
Big Wins: 11/16 at Texas (38-13), 11/23 Baylor (49-17)
Bad Losses: 9/28 at West Virginia (21-30), 12/7 Oklahoma (24-33)
Strengths:
Oklahoma State averages 39.8 points per game, which is good enough for No. 14 in the nation among Division I FBS programs. The Cowboys’ offense has been high-octane, high-scoring, whatever you want to call it… it has been explosive. Oklahoma State went over 50 points four times this season and scored 49 against Baylor in a one-sided romp. This happened despite a quarterback controversy that had Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh battling for playing time. Still, the two combined for over 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns, so the controversy hasn’t harmed the Cowboys’ chances to win badly. Oklahoma State’s 268.5 passing yards per game was enough to rank just outside the top 30. A solid receiving corps of Josh Stewart, Tracy Moore, Jhajuan Seales and Charlie Moore has helped bolster the offense. Because the Cowboys don’t have one dominant receiver that has helped the team stay afloat.
Weaknesses:
Where Oklahoma State’s passing offense has been stronger, its running game has been a bit weak. Oklahoma State averages 172 yards per game, enough to rank in the bottom half of FBS programs (still 65th, however). Desmond Roland and Jeremy Smith have combined for 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns. When some running backs have exploded for 200-300 yards in one game, that tells you the Cowboys haven’t had too much luck getting that ground offense going well. Where the Cowboys have 20 interceptions, which is among the leaders in the nation, they have only 23 quarterback sacks. That ranks near 60 among the FBS programs, and that is a weak spot Oklahoma State will have to watch against a Missouri squad that has been explosive enough to nearly win the SEC Championship Game.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Desmond Roland, RB, 745 yards
Passing: Clint Chelf, QB, 1,792 yards
Receiving: Tracy Moore, WR, 638 yards
Tackles: Caleb Lavey, LB, 87
Sacks: Jimmy Bean, DE, 4.0; Calvin Barnett, DT, 4.0
Interceptions: Justin Gilbert, CB, 6
2013 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 169.5 (69th in nation, 5th in conference)
Passing Offense: 274.7 (29, 3)
Total Offense: 444.2 (41, 3)
Scoring Offense: 41.2 (10, 2)
Rushing Defense: 130.0 (21, 1)
Pass Defense: 250.4 (93, 9)
Total Defense: 380.4 (46, 5)
Scoring Defense: 18.8 (12, 1)
Turnover Margin: 1.5 (2, 1)
Sacks: 2.09 (56, 6)
Sacks Allowed: 0.91 (10, 1)
Recent Bowl Appearances:
2012 Heart of Dallas Bowl Purdue (58-14)
2011 Fiesta Bowl Stanford (41-38)
2010 Alamo Bowl Arizona (36-10)
2009 Cotton Bowl Mississippi (7-21)
2008 Holiday Bowl Oregon (31-42)
2007 Insight Bowl Indiana (499-33)
*all team stats through 11/30