Gundy on OSU QBs: `We might play both'

STILLWATER — Spencer Sanders and Shane Illingworth have been splitting time with the first team at practice for several days now, but Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy isn't committing to a starter for Saturday' s game against No .17 Iowa State.

“If I knew, I wouldn't tell you,” Gundy said with a wry smile on Monday morning. “We might play both.

“I' m not sure right now. We continue to get `em quality work. Spencer's healthy and then, obviously, Shane's played pretty good. I'm just glad to have a couple guys that can play. I've had some years around here where I was down to my third-team guy in the middle of the season. So we're just thankful that we've got a couple guys that we trust that can get out there and play.”

The sixth-ranked Cowboys host Iowa State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens

Stadium.

Sanders has been recovering from an injured ankle and hasn't played since the second series of the season opener against Tulsa.

Illingworth has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the Big 12. The true freshman has thrown for 483 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, completing 73.5% of his passes.

K e e p i n g t h e d e c i s i o n mysterious i s j ust a bit of Gundy's gamesmanship for Iowa State and coach Matt Campbell, who must decide how much time to devote to preparing for each player's skillset.

“F o r t h e m , i t s o u n d s

l i ke t hey're as healthy as t hey've been t o s t a r t t he season,” Campbell said. “I think both quarterbacks have shown to be really efficient in their offense. Obviously, Spencer Sanders is an elite t alent and somebody t hat has been in their system for a year-and-a-half.

“I really think (Illingworth) has done a great job. Big arm, has the ability to make all the throws and distribute it to all their playmakers. I don't know if it really changes who they are offensively, and I think both quarterbacks have already proven to be really efficient and really effective in their offense.”

Health, intensity good as practice resumes

Gundy joked — or at least a c t e d l i k e h e was j o k i n g — he's holding his breath t hat hi s Cowboys r e main in good health after coming back from a couple days off during their second straight open week.

The Cowboys practiced on Sunday, which is the typical s t ar t of t hei r game- week routine, before Gundy gives the team Monday off.

“We've had r eall y good p r a c t i c e s , h a d a g o o d practice (Sunday),” Gundy s a i d . “T h e y s e e m r e a l l y focused and excited about getting back to work.”

The game a gai nst I owa State on Saturday will start a stretch of f our games i n five weeks against the best t e a ms i n t he Bi g 1 2 , with Texas, Kansas State and OU on deck.

“We' r e g o n n a k n o w a l ot more about our team a month from now, just based on the wear-and-tear of the s e a s on a nd pl a yi ng s ome teams that are talented with g o o d q u a r t e r b a c k p l a y , ” Gundy said. “That will really be t he i ndicator of where we're at as a football team.”

Cowboys' game vs. Texas set for 3 p.m.

No. 6 Oklahoma State's Halloween game vs. Texas is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff, it was announced Monday.

I t will be t he Cowboys' second straight afternoon game televised by Fox.

OSU's game against Iowa State on Saturday will also be on Fox.