College Football News Preview 2020: Oklahoma State Cowboys Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Oklahoma State Cowboys Offense
Don’t turn the ball over so much. Duh, that matters for everyone, and Oklahoma State actually managed to survive a few multi-turnover games. However, the team was 5-0 before the bowl loss when it turned the ball over once or not at all. Over the last four years, the Cowboys are 12-2 when they don’t give the ball away.
Again, giveaways weren’t always a deathblow last season, but they were when there were more than two.
OSU gave it up five times in the loss to Texas Tech and three times to Baylor. For a team that has the pieces in place to come up with a fabulous season, turnover margin should be the difference – five of the last ten games were decided by a touchdown or less.
Biggest Key To The Oklahoma State Cowboys Defense
Just don’t get totally torched through the air. Everyone will get ripped up from time to time in the Big 12 by at least one of the great passers, but Oklahoma State really can’t seem to handle the big plays.
The pass rush needs to be stronger and more dominant, but it should be okay. The secondary is loaded with veterans and options, and there’s more than enough talent to be as good as most of the pass defenses in the league. However, there are two key aspects to the team’s secondary over the years.
Multiple interceptions, and yards per attempt.
Oklahoma State is 0-12 going back to 2012 when allowing teams to complete 9.9 yards or more per pass. The last time it won when giving up double-digit yards per attempt was against Andrew Luck and Stanford in the epic 2012 Fiesta Bowl.
Going back to 2010, the program is 16-1 when picking off three or more passes including a great 3-0 run last year when it intercepted nine passes in three games.
Key Oklahoma State Cowboys Player To A Successful Season
QB Spencer Sanders, Soph.
When the 6-2, 195-pounder was on last year, the team was all but unstoppable. There were a few misfires in big games – like the two picks given up in the loss to Texas, and the three to Texas Tech – but for the most part he was terrific before getting knocked out for the final two games of the regular season.
He’s a slippery runner, he can handle the workload from time to time, and he’s got the timing to grow into more of a big play passer.
This year, he should be the best quarterback in just about every game – Oklahoma, Iowa State and Texas the outliers – and if he’s not, that’s what star recruit Shane Illingworth is for.
Key Game To The Oklahoma State Cowboys Season
Oklahoma, Oct. 24
Enough. It’s time to win this Bedlam thing again.
Get by the Sooners, and with home games against Iowa State and Texas, it would be time to think really, really big. But there’s one problem …
Oklahoma State can’t beat Oklahoma lately.
The Sooners have won five straight – basically, they’ve won ever since they regained superpower status again – and 15 of the last 17 games.
– Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Oklahoma State Fun Stats
– Penalties: Opponents 96 for 884 yards – Oklahoma State 67 for 612 yards
– 1st Quarter Scoring: Oklahoma State 116 – Opponents 50
– 4th Down Conversions: Oklahoma State 11-of-21 (52%) – Opponents 8-of-21 (38%)