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The Oklahoma State Cowboys surprised many in 2023 when they made it to the Big 12 Conference Championship game, coming up short against the Texas Longhorns. Quarterback Alan Bowman went through a QB competition during the first three games of the season before being made the permanent starter to start conference play. The Cowboys leaned on running back Ollie Gordon II for most of the season, which helped him win the Doak Walker Award. In 2024, Oklahoma State is returning Bowman, Gordon and leading wide receiver Brennan Presley on the offensive side of the ball. The offensive line is also returning six grad students and a redshirt senior.
The defense is returning key pieces as well, including linebacker Nick Martin, who had 140 tackles during the 2023 season. The secondary is also returning most of the pieces from last year including safety Cameron Epps.
FanDuel currently has Oklahoma State's over/under win total at 8.5 wins.
Week 1: South Dakota State Jackrabbits
The defending two-time FCS National Champions are a tough draw for the Cowboys in week one. South Dakota State is returning their starting QB, Mark Gronowski, who is the 2023 winner of the Walter Payton Award which is given out the most outstanding offensive player at the FCS level. The offensive line is returning only two starters, but they are expected to be one of the top units in the FCS. The Jackrabbits should still be an efficient running team to keep them in this game. Oklahoma State has a history of slow starts to start the season, but they cannot afford to start too slow against South Dakota State. The Cowboys should win this game on Aug. 31 by a score of 27-21.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: Arkansas Razorbacks
The second game of the year brings an Southeastern Conference opponent to Stillwater, Okla.. The Razorbacks lead the all-time series 30-15-1 but these two teams have not played since 1980. Arkansas brings in a transfer QB from Boise State, Taylen Green. At Boise State, Green threw for 3,794 yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, adding 1,026 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing. In 2023 the Razorbacks finished 4-8 on the season leading Sam Pittman to be on the hot seat coming into 2024. This will be a tough game for Arkansas to win on Sept. 7 and they will come up short against Oklahoma State by a score of 31-27.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: at Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Oklahoma State is playing their in-state rival Tulsa on Sept. 14 on the road. The Cowboys lead the series 44-28-5 winning the last 9 matchups. In 2023 the Golden Hurricane went 4-8 in a rough season. They are returning sophomore QB Cardell Williams who threw for 1,149 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions during his freshman season. RB Anthony Watkins is returning for Tulsa this season after rushing for 889 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2023. This game has all the makings for the trap game for Oklahoma State but with weapons like Gordon, the Cowboys should be able to outlast Tulsa by a score of 38-28.
Record: 3-0
Week 4: Utah Utes
Utah is one of the favorites to win the Big 12 this season. There has only been one matchup between these schools in their history, when Oklahoma State came out on top in 1945. Utah is getting QB Cam Rising back from injury this year. The Utes also have some playmakers on the outside for Rising with WRs Money Parks and Dorian Singer. Utah also had one of the top defenses in the Pac-12 Conference and with the returning pieces they should be in the top of the Big 12 this season. This will be Utah's first Big 12 game on the road on Sept. 21, but Rising is no stranger to tough road environments. Utah wins this game 31-28.
Record: 3-1
Week 5: at Kansas State Wildcats
The Cowboys' early season gauntlet continues with a trip to Manhattan, Kan. Oklahoma State leads the series 43-27. Kansas State returns DJ Giddens at RB and adds electric transfer Dylan Edwards in the backfield with him. Sophomore QB Avery Johnson will be taking over after QB Will Howard transferred to Ohio State. The Wildcat defense returns some playmakers in Austin Moore and Desmon Purnell at LB plus Jacob Parrish, Marquis Sigle and Keenan Garber in the secondary. K-State will be looking to play better than they did last season against Oklahoma State in this game on Sept. 28. Kansas State gets the win, 34-27.
Record: 3-2
Week 6: West Virginia Mountaineers
Oklahoma State has its third matchup with a team that will be in the conference title race to kick off their conference slate. The Cowboys are 10-5 in the series between these two teams. West Virginia returns starting QB Garrett Greene, RB Jahiem White, and get Oklahoma State transfer WR Jaden Bray. The Mountaineer defense was middle-of-the-pack last season and will need to improve on that to be a real contender in the conference title race. Oklahoma State will find a way to win this game on Oct. 5 by a score of 31-27.
Record: 4-2
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at BYU Cougars
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series against BYU, 3-0. The Cougars had a down season in their first year in the Big 12, finishing 5-7. BYU is returning QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, WR's Darius Lassiter, Chase Roberts and Kody Epps. The defense is returning Tyler Batty on the defensive line as well as LB Ben Bywater. The Cougars have some key pieces returning this season, which will help them improve in the 2024 season. Oklahoma State should have enough pieces though to win this game in Provo on Oct. 18 by a score of 38-24.
Record: 5-2
Week 9: Baylor Bears
Oklahoma State leads the series against Baylor 23-19. The Bears had a rough season in 2023 and are looking to be better this season. They brought in Dequan Finn, a transfer QB from Toledo. The Baylor defense is experienced and will be looking to slow down opposing teams to help an offense that might have some issues this season. This game against Oklahoma State will not help head coach Dave Aranda get off the hot seat. The Cowboys will win this game 42-24 on Oct 26.
Record: 6-2
Week 10: Arizona State Sun Devils
The Cowboys lead the Sun Devils 3-2 in this series. Arizona State finished 2023 with a record of 3-9 in the Pac-12. The Sun Devils have a fresh face at QB, bringing in Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt. RB Cam Skattebo is returning and will be looking to build on his 783 yards and 9 touchdown season. The Sun Devils will struggle to be much better in 2023 and that will show by Nov. 3 when these two teams play. Oklahoma State wins 45-20.
Record: 7-2
Week 11: at TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs took a step back from 2022 and their national title game appearance. Oklahoma State leads the series 17-14-2. Sophomore QB Josh Hoover will be back this season for TCU and is looking to lead the Horned Frogs back to the playoffs. That will have to wait for another season, at least. Oklahoma State will be looking to keep pace in the conference title and playoff hunt. The Cowboys win this game on Nov. 19 by a score of 34-31.
Record: 8-2
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: Texas Tech Red Raiders
These two teams are both looking for true rivals after Oklahoma and Texas bolted for the SEC Conference. Oklahoma State narrowly leads the series 24-23-4. This game will be a battle between Texas Tech's Tajh Brooks and OSU's Gordon for the title of best RB in the conference. Behren Morton is returning at QB for the Red Raiders. This game will come down to which quarterback will be playing the best football at this time of the season. The edge goes to Bowman and the Cowboys in this game. Oklahoma State wins on Nov. 23 by a score of 28-27.
Record: 9-2
Week 14: at Colorado Buffaloes
The last week of the season brings the Cowboys to Boulder, Colo. The Buffaloes lead the series 26-10-1. QB Shedeur Sanders and WR/CB Travis Hunter will be a handful for Big 12 teams to handle. Colorado is talented in some positions but with all the turnover in the transfer portal, it remains to be seen how well they come together. Oklahoma State's rushing attack will be hard for anyone to stop, and the defensive front is looking to be a position unit that will struggle in 2024. Oklahoma State will have enough talent to match Colorado on Nov. 29. The Cowboys will beat the Buffaloes by a score of 27-21.
Record: 10-2
Oklahoma State Cowboys' Season Outlook
The Oklahoma State Cowboys will be good again this season—especially on the defensive side of the ball and on the offensive line. This team will go as Gordon goes—if he is as good as he was last season, the Cowboys will be comfortably in the Big 12 title race.
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