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They’re here. The doldrums.
As we put a bow on June and head into the dog days of summer, let’s scratch that college football itch by looking forward to the fall. We’ll start with the nonconference portion of Oklahoma State’s schedule and then move on to individual episodes for each Big 12 opponent.
The Cowboys’ 2024 nonconference slate is sneaky tough and includes a first-time meeting, a familiar in-state foe and a regional rivalry that’s laid dormant for over 40 years.
If It Ain’t Broke
Mike Gundy & Co. pretty much have their nonconference formula down. Schedule an FCS team, a Group of Five team and an opponent from a Power Five conference. OSU checked each of those boxes nicely for 2024.
Scheduling an FCS team was a major knock against a playoff hopeful 10 years ago, but with the realignment tectonic shift of the major conferences, the nonconference doesn’t carry as much weight. If it were a deciding factor, the Cowboys’ 2024 choice might be an outlier. More on that below. For what it’s worth, OSU is currently ranked 17th in nonconference strength of schedule by TeamRankings.com and 28th in overall SOS per College Football News.
The Cowboys do a good job of scheduling fellow P5 opponents. It’s a way to soften any resume blow and a nice reward to fans who show up to the yearly drumming of an FCS team.
Aside from Boise State in 2018 and 2021 (one of the premier Group of Five programs), and the COVID year when Oregon State canceled, OSU has played a Power Five team in the noncon every year except one since 2007.
OSU has a Power Five team on its noncon schedule in eight of the next 10 years with home-and-homes with Oregon and Alabama coming up and then another series scheduled with Arkansas in 2032 and 2033.
Let’s take a deeper look at the Cowboys’ first three games.
Week 1: South Dakota State | Aug. 31 | Stillwater, Okla.
Series history: 0-0
Last meeting: N/A
South Dakota State in 2023: South Dakota State went a perfect 15-0 last season, winning its second consecutive FCS title. The Jackrabbits will ride into Stillwater on a 29-game streak.
South Dakota State in 2024: The Jackrabbits’ offense is led by the FCS Walter Payton Award winner (best offensive player) Mark Gronowski. There was speculation as to whether the touted quarterback would hit the portal in search of an FBS landing spot, but he eschewed the higher status and potential NIL to return to Brookings. With Gronowski, the Jackrabbits are favorites to threepeat as national champs.
Of note: The Jackrabbits set program records last year in total points (560) and total yards (6,748). Yes, it’s there’s a huge difference in competition, but for reference those numbers would have ranked fourth and sixth, respectively, ahead of any team OSU faced last year or will face this fall.
Week 2: Arkansas | Sept. 7 | Stillwater, Okla.
Series history: 14-29-1
Last meeting: Although the Hogs hold a decided advantage in the series, its entirety is ancient history. The two teams’ last meeting was all the way back in September of 1980 when OSU fell 33-20 on the road to the 17th-ranked Razorbacks. It was part of an 0-5 start to Jimmy Johnson’s third season at OSU. Arkansas was coached by another Hall of Famer in Lou Holtz.
Arkansas in 2023: The Hogs finished just 4-8 and tied for last place in the SEC West. There was a lot not to like during Arkansas’ six-game skid which started with a home loss to BYU and set up a 1-7 conference finish, but if there’s a silver lining, five of those six losses were by a touchdown or less.
The biggest issue for Arkansas’ offense was its inability to move people up front. The Hogs allowed the most sacks and tackles for loss in the SEC and saw a big drop off in their run game from prior years. Improve there and they have a chance to win some of those close games.
Arkansas in 2024: There’s hope for the Hogs in the trenches. Arkansas started and finished spring camp with the same five starters along its offensive line, three of which came in by way of transfer portal this offseason. How quickly that group up front can gel and protect Boise State transfer and dual-threat QB Taylen Green will determine how tough a time the Cowboys will have slowing them down.
Of note: To help jump start that offense, Sam Pittman brought back one of his predecessors, former Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino to run the offense.
Week 3: Tulsa | Sept. 14 | Tulsa, Okla.
Series history: 43-27-5
Last meeting: The Cowboys edged a close one out against Tulsa — 28-23 — back in 2021. You might remember that as the year when OSU edged out Missouri State by just a touchdown and beat Tulsa and Boise State by a combined six points. You might also remember that as the year the Pokes started 6-0, finished with 12 wins and were too dang close to a Big 12 championship.
Tulsa in 2023: The Golden Hurricane finished 4-8 in its first season under head coach Kevin Wilson, struggling with inconsistency at QB, with Kirk Francis and Cardell Williams taking turns under center and interceptions issues abounding throughout.
Tulsa in 2024: There is some optimism in T-Town with incoming QB Cooper Legas, who had a productive career at Utah State. But whoever takes snaps will be doing so behind a Tulsa offensive line that’s also in the process of a rebuild.
Of note: This meeting starts a stretch of eight-straight years in which the Cowboys and Golden Hurricane are scheduled to face off in the noncon.
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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.