STILLWATER- More often than not in recent years, the Bedlam matchup between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma has had a significant impact on the Big 12 title race. It has grown in stature nationally to the point that ESPN's popular College Game Day show has originated from Bedlam six times since 2003 and will do so again on Saturday.
STILLWATER- More often than not in recent years, the Bedlam matchup between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma has had a significant impact on the Big 12 title race. It has grown in stature nationally to the point that ESPN's popular College Game Day show has originated from Bedlam six times since 2003 and will do so again on Saturday.
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The Cowboys will be well represented in a premier postseason event this season. Tylan Wallace, Rodarius Williams and Teven Jenkins have all accepted invitations to participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Oklahoma State announced Wednesday morning. The event is scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in Mobile, Alabama, and can be seen on the NFL Network. If all three do end up going, it will be the first time OSU has had three players at the event since 2008 when Adarius Bowman, Dantrell Savage and Julius Crosslin all represented OSU. A.J. Green was the Cowboys’ only representative last season. Wallace is the latest to come from the NFL wide receiver factory Mike Gundy and Kasey Dunn have built. Despite playing in fewer games than anyone else in the top five, Wallace leads the Big 12 with 588 receiving yards. He was a Biletnikoff finalist in 2018 and was on track to contend for the award again in 2019 before an ACL tear ended his season. Teven Jenkins has been a mainstay on OSU’s offensive line since his redshirt freshman season in 2017, blocking for some of OSU’s most explosive offenses to date. He received All-Big 12 honors in 2018 and 2019. Williams has started 45 consecutive games entering this weekend. That trails only Russell Okung (47) for most consecutive starts from a Cowboy in program history. In his career, Williams has 161 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 26 passes defended and a bunch of times opposing quarterbacks refuse to look his way. The Senior Bowl and its practices provide a platform for seniors from around the country to be further scouted by NFL teams. There have been 49 former Cowboys attend the event. Here is a list of them.
The post Trio of Cowboys Headed to Reese’s Senior Bowl appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. Oklahoma State is going to beat Oklahoma on Saturday to grab a strangehold on the Big 12 title race with just under one month left to play before a conference champion is crowned. Here are five reasons why. 1. OSU’s elite D[Insert ESPN 30 for 30 deep-trombone voice] What if I told you … in the year of our Lord 2020 … that Oklahoma State would have a top-10 defense and a painfully mediocre offense? What if I told you … OSU’s best chance to win Bedlam … is with its defense? [cut 30 for 30 deep-trombone voice] All jokes aside — it might be true! OSU’s defense ranks eighth nationally — eighth!! — in ESPN’s latest SP+ metrics. Eighth! Its offense, on the other hand, ranks 45th nationally. That’s the best statistical defense in the Big 12 and a middle-of-the-pack offense. It will be strength on strength, with OU boasting the top offense and OSU boasting the top defense. The way OSU’s defense has played this season, I like OSU’s chances. 2. Getting healthy at the right timeSources have told PFB that starting offensive tackle Jake Springfield could return to the field Saturday after exiting the Texas game with an injury and missing all of the Kansas State game. And the expectation is that All-American receiver Tylan Wallace could be ready to go, too, after sustaining a mid-week injury in practice two weeks ago. Superstar safety Kolby Harvell-Peel could also return after not playing all month. That would make three starters — two of whom are All-American caliber — potentially returning for the biggest game of the season. 3. Inexperienced SpencersLast Bedlam wasn’t a totally fair fight. It was Jalen Hurts vs. Dru Brown. This season it’s a war between the Spencers — Rattler vs. Sanders. Both quarterbacks have been turnover-prone at times this season, both are inexperienced and both have at times been hindrances to the offensive production of their respective team. But the fact that OU — for the first time in years — doesn’t have a no-brainer advantage at the quarterback position bodes well for Oklahoma State. 4. Top-end tailbacksWith OSU’s offensive line returning to some semblance of health, the hope here this weekend is that OSU’s tailbacks — Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown — will find ways to get up field and create chunk plays in ways they’ve accomplished in spurts this season. Hubbard is an NFL back with great vision and top-end speed. Brown is a scatback who needs just a sliver of space to break off 80-yard runs. If OSU’s offensive line is going to manage to find ways to create space, OSU’s running backs — particularly in a game plan where OSU likely won’t try to ask Spencer Sanders to do too much — could be the difference between a W and an L. 5. Gundy letting it fireMike Gundy has defeated OU just twice as a coach. But there have been plenty of instances — 2018, 2017, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2006 — where a loss could just as plausibly have resulted in an OSU win. Call it bad luck, maybe. But at some point Gundy’s going to call a heater and be rewarded. I was there in Norman in 2018 when the failed 2-point conversion attempt that would’ve won OSU the game missed Tylan Wallace. It would’ve topped off one of Gundy’s best-coached Bedlam games ever, but it was bad luck that the pass was off the mark — and to no fault of Gundy’s. The results don’t show it, but he’s really let it fire in Bedlams of the past more often than he’s given credit for. It wouldn’t surprise me if on Saturday we see him — with his team a heavy underdog — come out and just let it hang in a wide-open gameplan. The post Why OSU Will Beat OU on Saturday in Bedlam 2020 appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. As taxing as they can be on the ego and psyche, we get up for Bedlam games because of their potential payoff. One play can make the difference in an entire season. A effect of single punt return can last for years. To up the ante, more times than not over the past decade these games bring with them serious Big 12 title implications. This is one of those years. So in an attempt to satisfy your excitement and, hopefully, calm your pre-Bedlam jitters, here are five things to know about this year’s edition of the in-state rivalry. 1. Not a great GameDay record. ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Norman for another rendition of Bedlam, but Herbie hasn’t necessarily been a good luck charm for the Cowboys. OSU is 1-7 all-time in GameDay games. The outfit has been on-site for six past Bedlam games, and the Cowboys have yet to come out on top. Strangely enough, only the first one was in Norman when Les Miles’ 2003 team got its comeuppance to the tune of a 52-9 rout. Of course that means that Mike Gundy is undefeated against OU in Norman … in games that included ESPN’s GameDay crew. Let’s stay weird, 2020. 2. OSU better win the turnover battle. Obviously, this is the goal every week, but it merits mention because turnovers have been such a stumbling block for both teams this season. Giveaways have also played a big role in plenty of recent Bedlams. OSU has come up short in the TO battle in four of the last five matchups with OU. What Gundy wouldn’t give for one more possession in 2017 or 2018. Overall, OSU is 40-3 when not committing a turnover since 2005. Dating back to 2008, the Pokes are 63-7 when winning the turnover battle. 3. The Cowboys defense is doing its job. This may be the biggest test Jim Knowles’ group faces all year, but there’s reason for optimism. The Cowboys have held their last 10 Big 12 opponents below their season average. They’ll likely need to continue that streak this weekend. The Sooners are averaging 46.1 points per game so far in 2020. The only time the Cowboys offense has topped that number was against Kansas when it scored 47. 4. This is Mike Gundy’s 200th career game. As much eyerolling and handwringing as Gundy’s record against OU elicits (some of it is definitely warranted), we need to take a minute to appreciate how consistently good his teams have been going on 16 years. Even if it would be just his third against the Sooners, a win on Saturday makes No. 135 overall for Gundy. That’s an accomplishment for any head coach in a career, but it’s rare thing to do at one school. Only 30 FBS coaches have ever done it. 5. A win would give OSU a stranglehold on the Big 12. At 4-1, Oklahoma State is currently No. 2 in the league, tied in the loss column with No. 1 Iowa State — who the Cowboys own the tie-breaker over. No win is guaranteed, but OSU’s last three opponents are currently a combined 7-14. So a win against the Sooners sets the Cowboys up nicely for a trip to Arlington. With a loss, the Cowboys still have a path to Jerry World but getting there becomes a lot more complicated. The post OSU Football: Five Things to Know before Bedlam appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. Mike Gundy’s team is off to its best start in three years, and people are taking notice. After Oklahoma State’s 5-1 start, and on the precipice of his 200th career game this coming Saturday, Gundy was one of 24 head coaches named to the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award watch list. The honor is given each year to college football’s Coach of the Year by the American Heart Association. The award dates back to 1986 and is the only such award that is given out after all postseason bowls and championships are decided. Gundy previoulys won the Bear Bryant Award in 2011. The winner will be announced Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 in a virtual awards ceremony. Gundy’s Bedlam counterpart Lincoln Riley also made the list, along with fellow Big 12 coaches Tom Herman (Texas) and Matt Campbell (Iowa State). Gundy joins Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Auburn’s Gus Malzahn and Alabama’s Nick Saban as watch list members who have previously won the award. Here’s the complete watch list. Tom Allen, Indiana University The post Mike Gundy Named to Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Award Watch List appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. The Daily Bullets are brought to you by Hoboken Coffee: Get 20% off your first order. OSU Bullets• Liked this tidbit on where the Pokes can focus their efforts on Saturday (less the defeatist undertones) :
Cox would agree while Bobby Allen says stopping Rhamondre Stevenson is the ticket • Emmanuel Ogbah has been killing it with the Miami Dolphins • Matthew Wolff has 40-to-1 odds… for next year’s Masters • No COVID cases for OSU football for the fifth week running • Cade Cunningham’s home opener is set • Matthew Wolff inked an endorsement deal with Gatorade • Keeping an eye on this guy – would be great if the Pokes could land this juco linemen: Non-OSU Bullets• Chris Paul to Phoenix could be fun – Rubio is the ultimate “he’s good but not good enough” point guard perfect for finishing around the tenth pick Pumped about the draft tonight – The Ringer‘s preview is solid The post Daily Bullets (Nov. 18): What The Pokes Need to Stop, Ogbah on Fire on South Beach appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. Lincoln Riley hasn’t been the Sooners head coach long, but he has already seen how wacky Bedlam can get. Riley was on OU’s sideline in the shootouts of 2017 and 2018, but he has yet to lose to his in-state rival. Before the 2020 edition of Bedlam, Riley met with reporters over Zoom on Tuesday. Here are three things he said. 1. Rattler ‘100 percent’ Entering BedlamOU’s redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler was laboring a bit against Kansas two weeks ago. Rattler injured his left hip on a hit during a touchdown run in the first half. He was seen constantly holding it and grimacing throughout the game. “Yeah, I got hit pretty good on my hip, just on my hip pointer, just under my rib cage,” Rattler said after the game. “And it’s just kind of like a bad bruise. So, I mean, I couldn’t really finish my throws. You could tell I didn’t have any of my power the whole second half and after that on some of the completions as well. “I was probably playing at 50 percent. But sometimes you’ve got to tough it out and go out there and just help the team in whatever way you can. But luckily, nothing serious, just a bruise.” Like Mike Gundy, Riley isn’t one to mince words about injuries, and Tuesday was no different. “Yeah, he’s 100 percent,” Riley said. 2. Still High Praise for OSU’s OffenseThe Cowboys haven’t shown to be the offensive juggernaut they have been in the past this season, but Riley doesn’t sound like he is taking Kasey Dunn’s group lightly. Despite OSU’s offense ranking fifth in the Big 12 in yards per game, Riley showered praise on Spencer Sanders, Tylan Wallace and Chuba Hubbard. “They’re all dynamic,” Riley said. “I think where they present problems is those three guys can all win. The only way you can get a lot of people around all of them is to have 13 or 14 players out there, and I don’t think they’re gonna let us do that.” Chuba Hubbard isn’t having the same year as his Doak Walker-finalist campaign of 2019, but the Canadian speedster still ranks third in the conference with 581 rushing yards, more than any Sooner. “You can stop him five times in a row, and then with his combination of speed and power, he can pop one and make you forget about those five or six stops pretty quick,” Riley said. “He’s a tremendous player, he’s got a great feel for the run game, great patience and then just kinda knows when to go and has a real gift for separating from people and is incredibly consistent. “He’s a big-time challenge for us. We had played well there, but this guy is as good as anybody you’ll play in college football.” 3. OSU’s Experienced DefenseWith as much potential as OSU’s offense possesses to be good, the Cowboys’ defense has been that good. The Cowboys have allowed just 17.8 points a game in 2020. Riley credits much of the emergence of OSU’s defense to the experience the group has gotten in the three seasons under Jim Knowles. “You can tell it’s Year 3 with those guys,” Riley said. “It’s funny, even over the years, we’re playing the same players, just about. There are very few new faces even from the first year that we went against those guys. You’ve got a lot of guys who are good football players, and they’ve grown in this system. I think the biggest thing you see is they look like it’s Year 3. They’re not making mistakes, they’re on the same page, and they’ve got a very experienced and very talented group.” The post Three Things Lincoln Riley Said ahead of Bedlam appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. The last time Oklahoma State reported an active COVID-19 cases within its football team on its weekly reports was back in mid-October. On Monday, OSU reported its fifth straight week without an active COVID case on the football team. However, there are 25 active cases among the school’s other athletic teams, the highest total since OSU started doing these weekly reports. The Cowgirl basketball program announced it was pausing activities Monday after three student-athletes tested positive for the virus. The Cowgirls also canceled their season opener, which was set for Nov. 25 against Little Rock. None of the three who tested positive reported severe symptoms, according to the release. “We’ll get through this,” OSU women’s basketball coach Jim Littell said. “Our first priority is creating a safe environment for the people in our program. If that means we need to alter our schedule, then that’s what we’ll do. We won’t set an exact date for a return to team activities because of the uncertain nature of the virus. Our focus is to make sure that everyone is well taken care of and to do our part to minimize the spread. We’ll figure out the rest later.” With fall sports (aside from football) ending and winter sports getting ready to start, it will be interesting to see if the winter sports are able to handle to pandemic as well as the fall sports did/have been. The post OSU Reports No Active COVID Cases on Football Team for Fifth Straight Week appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. The Cowboys’ basketball schedule is complete — for now. Oklahoma State announced Tuesday the Cowboys will host Texas Southern for their home opener on Nov. 28. It’s the same day as the Texas Tech football game, and in the release, OSU stated tip time for the basketball game will be determined after kick time for the football game. Texas Southern is expected to be a contender in the SWAC. The Tigers have won four of the past six SWAC tournaments. Former Cowboy Michael Weathers is now on Texas Southern’s squad. Weathers was dismissed from OSU’s team during the 2018-19 season. OSU and Texas Southern have played only twice before, with OSU winning both contests. The Cowboys beat the Tigers 79-77 in 1989 and 86-65 in 2006. Both previous games were played in Stillwater. Here is the Cowboys’ completed 2020-21 schedule:
The post OSU Hoops: Cowboys Schedule Texas Southern for Home Opener appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. There are myriad talking points for both Bedlam coaching staffs heading into this weekend. But based on the strengths (and shortcomings) of both starting quarterbacks, getting after those passers — and protecting your own — has to be at the top of both whiteboards. Both offenses boast a dynamic, young QB named Spencer. Each has wowed with his ability to attack defenses through the air and on the turf. But both have also showed that the propensity to commit troubling turnovers, especially when under pressure. Spencer Sanders just turned in his first clean game since returning from injury in the Cowboys’ win over Kansas State. Before that Sanders had five total turnovers against Iowa State and Texas, with his three giveaways being a big part of OSU’s only blemish — that loss to the Longhorns. After a string of irksome interceptions early, Spencer Rattler has been more stingy with the ball over the last month. His interception two weeks ago against Kansas was his first in three games. A huge reason for that turnaround? His offensive line has been able to keep him clean. Over the first three games of conference play, Rattler threw five interceptions. Not coincidentally, the Sooners struggled to a 1-2 start and almost started 0-3 after coughing up another late lead to Texas. In those three games, Rattler was sacked seven times. Since then the Sooners’ O-line has done a better job of protecting its freshman starter (just two sacks in three games), but that was against the Big 12’s No. 6, 9 and 10 teams in terms of sacks per game. Now each offensive line will face the best pass rush either has on its 2020 schedule. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State come into this rendition of Bedlam as the Big 12’s first and second sack leaders, respectively. In seven games, the Sooners have recorded 26 sacks (3.71 average) while the Cowboys have gotten to opposing QBs 22 times in six (3.67 average). That’s also good for 7th and T-14th nationally. So it’s not a stretch to say that whichever team does a better job of getting after the other Spencer — and keeping theirs upright — will hold a huge advantage in this game. “It’s a challenge for us. This will be their biggest test,” said Mike Gundy on Monday. “The guys up front for them, now that they’ve got some of those guys back, they’re competitive. They can rush the quarterback, and they’ve been good against the run. “So, offensively we have to have a really good strategy. We have to be patient in the way that we want to attack and reduce turnovers and be as consistent as possible up front with our blocking schemes.” A beat-up OSU defense mustered just once sack against Kansas State, a low since the Cowboys’ season opener against Tulsa. The hope is that with the off week, Jim Knowles’ group will be closer to full strength. We’ve seen plenty of these games come down to a mistake here or a fluky play there. The best way to keep your quarterback from going down in Bedlam lore for the wrong reason, is to keep him clean. And that won’t be easy for either team. The post Quarterback Pressure Could Make the Difference in Bedlam appeared first on Pistols Firing. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. |
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