Kansas at Oklahoma State Football Preview
For the second consecutive year the Kansas Jayhawks will face the Oklahoma State Cowboys with bowl eligibility on the line. Last year, Kansas was 5-3 and beat the 6-2 Cowboys 37-16 with Jason Bean at quarterback.
Now, the 5-1 Jayhawks travel to Stillwater hoping to clinch a bowl game a month earlier this year.
Opponent Overview
Team: Oklahoma State
Record: 3-2
Line: KU -3
Team Form
Oklahoma State is a strange 3-2 team. The Cowboys started 2-0, but that was against Central Arkansas and then Arizona State, which is now 1-5. And neither of those were blowouts. Then OSU dropped its next two to South Alabama (33-7) and Iowa State before getting its best win of the year against Kansas State at home last week.
But even then, it was a strange game. The Cowboys scored 29 points, but only one of those came from an offensive touchdown. The defense got a pick-six – one of three Will Howard interceptions – and the rest were field goals. Still, that game had to be a big confidence boost that OSU needed.
Players to Watch
Oklahoma State has used three quarterbacks at different points so far this season and none of them have been particularly impressive. Texas Tech and Michigan transfer Alan Bowman is the starter, having appeared in all five games. But he’s only completing 53% of his passes, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt, and has two passing touchdowns to three interceptions. Gunnar Gundy – Mike Gundy’s son – and Garret Rangel have attempted 34 and 29 passes, respectively, but they are both averaging just 5.9 yards per attempt.
The most productive offensive player has been running back Ollie Gordon, who is averaging 6.3 yards per rush while compiling 366 yards and three touchdowns on the ground so far this year. On the receiving end, redshirt sophomore Jaden Bray leads the way with a team-high 22 catches and 292 yards, but has yet to find the end zone. The top scoring threat has been Brennan Presley (two TDs on 19 catches for 138 yards) while De’Zhaun Stribling has also racked up 198 yards on 14 carries and a TD.
On defense, Nickolas Martin has been a disruptor from the linebacker position. Martin leads the team in tackles (45), tackles for loss (6.5), and sacks (three), while also grabbing an interception.
Matchups to Watch
Who can run the ball more effectively on Saturday?
KU’s biggest strength meets one of Oklahoma State’s weaknesses. The Cowboys are allowing opponents to rush for 154 yards per game, and both South Alabama (243) and K-State (220) eclipsed 200 yards on the ground. The only team not to rush for 100 yards against OSU was Iowa State, which has really struggled in the running game without Breece Hall on campus and managed 74 yards. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State’s offense has rushed for more than 100 yards in four of five games, and that low on the season was 94 yards against South Alabama. Can Kansas gouge the OSU defense while holding Ollie Gordon in check?
And overall, can Kansas’ defense continue to make OSU inconsistent in the passing game and keep the Cowboys out of the endzone? Oklahoma State has yet to score more than 30 points in a game this season and kicker Alex Hale’s 11 field goals made is second in the Big 12 and sixth most nationally. If the Jayhawks can trade touchdowns for field goals, they will be in good shape.
Prediction
It once again looks like Jason Bean will be starting at quarterback once again for Kansas, which makes sense considering KU has a bye next week and can give Jalon Daniels two more weeks of recovery before Oklahoma comes to Lawrence. And in this matchup, Bean actually is the most dangerous quarterback that could be on the field. Just look at the numbers so far this season:
Bowman/Gundy/Rangel: 198 passing attempts, 1,122 yards, 5 TDs, 4 INTs
Bean: 61 pass attempts, 503 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs
If Kansas can continue to take care of the football and not lose the turnover battle, it’s hard to see Oklahoma State holding the Jayhawks to under 30 points, especially when its run defense has been exposed. And historically speaking so far this year, that’s what has been needed for the Cowboys to win.
The game being in Stillwater makes it a bigger challenge for Kansas, and the Cowboys should be amped up after a big win over K-State. But I just don’t see many ways for OSU to win this one other than Kansas giving the ball away and Gordon running wild for the Cowboys.
Give me KU to clinch a bowl berth against OSU for the second straight year and cover the spread.
Kansas 35, Oklahoma State 24
Record ATS: 3-3
Record Straight Up: 6-0
(Last week: Kansas 51, UCF 22)
