Early challenge
Nonconference games are no walk in the park for OSU.
STILLWATER — It’s an odd workweek for Oklahoma State players, with Thursday’s season opener against Tulsa rapidly approaching.
Sunday’s practice was like a Tuesday in a typical week with a Saturday game.
Of course, not much of anything is typical in the next three weeks for the Cowboys.
Let’s dive into OSU’s three nonconference games, and the unique challenges they pose:
Thursday vs. Tulsa at Boone Pickens Stadium (6:30 p.m.)
A Thursday night. An amped up in-state rival with little to lose. And all the unknowns that come with the season opener.
In this case, there are the unknowns that Tulsa presents with a new quarterback — still to be determined — and an offense that might look a bit different than it did a year ago.
Oklahoma State will
put two first-time starters on the field at cornerback, sophomore A.J. Green and redshirt freshman Rodarius Williams, against an offense that typically likes to toss the ball around the yard consistently.
“I would prefer to not be thrown in the fire with them, but they’re not gonna have that option,” coach Mike Gundy said of his new cornerbacks. “Regardless of the offensive scheme, they’re gonna gain valuable experience being in the game.
Just being out there in front of a packed stadium with distractions, and you’ve got to find a way to get lined up and make a
play.”
Offensively, Oklahoma State will have the external pressure of the expectations that have been put on a stacked group of potential stars, from quarterback Mason Rudolph and running back Justice Hill to a ridiculous list of wide receivers, headed by James Washington.
Is the hype for real? Time to find out what these guys can do.
Sept. 8 at South Alabama (7 p.m.)
A Friday night game in Alabama is the instant recipe for an odd atmosphere (See OSU-Troy 2007).
South Alabama shouldn’t have the firepower to keep up with the Cowboys, yet it was an early September game one
year ago when South Alabama had one of 2016’s bigger upsets, defeating Mississippi State, 21-20.
Maturity is one of OSU’s strong suits this season, but it will be tested in Mobile.
Sept. 16 at Pittsburgh (11 a.m.)
Another road trip, and this time it’s against a Power 5 conference opponent in an NFL stadium.
Pitt shouldn’t be able to hang with the Cowboys, but the teams played a tight game in Stillwater a year ago, when OSU scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:28 to go for a 45-38 victory.
Pitt will be coming off a tough game at Penn State, and will have learned a lot — good or bad — about some of its new starters in key positions.
That begins with quarterback Max Browne, a graduate transfer from USC who will be looking to attack any defensive weaknesses that Tulsa and South Alabama didn’t expose.