SCOUTING REPORT

No. 18 Oklahoma State vs. No. 24 Baylor

❚ When: 6 p.m. Saturday

❚ Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK

❚ TV: ESPN2 (Cox 28/HD 721, Dish 143, DirecTV 209, U-verse 606/HD 1606)

❚ Radio: KXXY-FM 96.1

❚ Line: OSU by 4. Over/under: 49.5

Scouting Baylor

❚ Record: 4-0, 2-0 Big 12

❚ Best player: Starpower isn't Baylor's calling card this season. But running backs Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner lead the way for the Bears' red-hot start on the ground. Smith has the most interesting background. He was a linebacker for most of the past two seasons. He arrived in Waco as a running back, dealt with injuries and was buried on the depth chart. In 2019, he moved to linebacker and was forced into a starting role late last season. But he's back as Baylor's best rusher. He's averaging 7.2 yards per carry — Ebner also averages 7.0 yards and is the team's most explosive player — and has scored five rushing TDs. The Bears' ground game averages 273.2 yards per game.

❚ The case for Baylor: The Bears were very opportunistic in the upset of Iowa State on Saturday and that same kind of formula is dangerous for OSU. Ebner returned a kickoff for a touchdown and returned a punt 41 yards to set up a field goal. A punt was deflected to set up a touchdown drive, too. And the Bears intercepted Brocky Purdy twice, if the two-point conversion to tie the game late would have counted as an official interception. Should Baylor make crucial plays like that, it could get an early advantage on the Cowboys that would be hard to erase.

❚ The case for OSU: The Cowboys' offense has life. Duplicate the first half in which OSU scored all 31 points and looked well on its way to a blowout of Kansas State, and the Cowboys will be just fine. Quarterback Spencer Sanders was in complete control. Wide receiver Tay Martin was back and very effective. Running back Jaylen Warren remained a force. When the offense is healthy and clicking like that — plus the defense is stout as usual — the Cowboys look like a Big 12 title contender.