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OKLAHOMA STATE FOOTBALL: Opponents 101

Keeping track of who OSU has played, and watching those coming up on the schedule, can be great indicators of where the Cowboys stand as the season progresses.

By Robert Whetsell
File Photo/The Standard

It's always good to be able to quickly review how opponents past and present are performing, which can obviously have quite an effect on OSU in the polls.

The title will be indicative of the week...this is week 1, so Opponents 101. Week 2 will be Opponents 201, and so on. Got it?

Unless otherwise noted, all games are on Saturday. Without further delay, here's the list for 2014:

Florida State Seminoles

Record: 1-0 (ACC Atlantic, 0-0)

Last Game: vs Oklahoma State (neutral site)

Result: W, 37-31

Next Opponent: vs The Citadel (0-1)

National Ranking: 1

Comments:

Florida State came in as 17 pt favorites, and left victorious, although battered, bruised, and extremely happy that they escaped with a win over a team that proved to me MUCH better than they could have ever imagined. Like OSU, the Seminoles will be treated to a nice, soft landing against The Citadel, and should maintain their status as #1 team in the land.

Missouri State Bears (FCS)

Record: 1-0 (MVC, 0-0)

Last Game: @ Northwestern State Demons

Result: W, 34-27

Next Opponent: @ Oklahoma State (0-1)

National Ranking: NR (received votes)

Comments:

The Bears enjoyed a come from behind win on the road vs the Demons. MSU trailed 24-7 at the half, and 27-14 to start the 4th quarter. They dodged a bullet on the ensuing kickoff when they recovered their own fumble, then drove for a TD that brought the score to 27-21. NW State missed a long FG attempt on the next drive, and the Bears drove for the go ahead TD. The two teams traded punts, which left only 23 seconds on the clock. A short pass on the last play of the game was fumbled and returned for a meaningless score for MSU. NW State was 6-6 in 2013. The Bears last winning season was 2009 (6-5). Coincidentally, NW State plays Baylor this Saturday.

UTSA (University of Texas at San Antonio) Roadrunners

Record: 1-0 (Conf USA - West, 0-0)

Last Game: @ Houston

Result: W, 27-7

Next Opponent: vs Arizona (Thursday)

National Ranking: NR

Comments:

Coached by former OSU staffer Larry Coker, as well as former OSU walk-on Eric Roark, the Roadrunners have quietly turned into a decent, veteran, mid-major team. They dismantled Houston this past weekend, and the Cougars have a good program. Their first season was 2011, and that was there ONLY losing record. Coker has ramped up the competition, hosting OSU last season and Arizona in 2014. The Cowboys are VERY fortunate they aren't playing this team this weekend.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Record: 1-0 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: vs Central Arkansas

Result: W, 42-35

Next Opponent: @ UTEP

National Ranking: NR

Comments:

This was NOT the start Kliff Kingsbury was looking for in 2014. Central Ark is an unranked FCS team (received more votes than Missouri State). Tech better get their act together or they won't match their usual smoke and mirrors 7-0 start.

Iowa State Cyclones

Record: 0-1 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: vs North Dakota State

Result: L, 34-14

Next Opponent: vs Kansas State

National Ranking: I typed that just for shits and giggles

Comments:

The Paul Rhoads era could be coming to an end in Ames if things don't get turned around quickly, and Bill Snyder coming to town is NOT the recipe for quick turnarounds. After two early TD's, Iowa State got manhandled by the Bison, so the start of the Mark Mangino offensive reformation fell flat.

Kansas Jayhawks

Record: 0-0 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: DNP

Result: Didn't lose

Next Opponent: SE Missouri State (FCS)

National Ran...ha ha...hahahaha....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Comments:

Charlie and the Birds managed to NOT lose this past weekend. They'll probably do the same this coming weekend, but there are never any guarantees on the turf in Lawrence.

TCU HORNED FROGS

Record: 1-0 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: vs Samford (FCS)

Result: W, 48-14

Next Opponent: vs Minnesota

National Ranking: NR

Comments:

TCU took care of business against Samford, but now must play ball with a big boy team. Minnesota isn't a Big 10 behemoth, but they should provide quite a bit more resistance than little old Samford.

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Record: 0-1 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: vs #2 Alabama (neutral site)

Result: L, 33-23

Next Opponent: #19 Towson (FCS)

National Ranking: NR

Comments:

Like OSU, I'm sure Dana would have preferred a win, but WV acquitted themselves quite nicely against the #2 team in the land. QB Clint Trickett played really well, as did WR Kevin White. The season is looking up for the 'Eers. Again, just like the Cowboys, WV gets a nice soft landing with Towson.

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Record: 1-0 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: vs Stephen F Austin

Result: W, 55-16

Next Opponent: @ Iowa State

National Ranking: 20

Comments:

I thought Bill Snyder might be slowly ramping up the competition in advance of their upcoming clash with Auburn, but after last weekend I'm not so sure Iowa State is much of an upgrade over Stephen F Austin. North Dakota State beat Kansas State in Manhattan to open 2013, so maybe the Cyclones will only get beat 31-14.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

Record: 1-0 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: vs North Texas

Result: W, 38-7

Next Opponent: vs BYU

National Ranking: NR

Comments:

With Charlie Strong and Joe Wickline in house, the outlook should have been positive. However, David Ash may be facing the end of his career as concussion like symptoms will hold him out of the game with BYU. While not happy about Ash's injury, many Longhorn faithful will be eager to see backup Tyrone Swoops get his shot, but the Cougars are a tough opponent for your first start, even if it's in Austin. To add to that difficulty, UT's offensive line suffered several injuries. Don't expect BYU to rush for 8,435,926 yards against Texas, like they did last season, but the offense will have to produce something. BYU dispatched UConn 35-10 last Saturday.

BAYLOR BEARS

Result: 1-0 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: vs SMU

Result: W, 45-0

Next Opponent: Northwestern State

National Ranking: 10

Comments:

Things were sailing along nicely for Art Briles against someone other than the usual FCS fodder, but then Bryce Petty took a shot early in the first quarter and was visibly suffering. Briles surprisingly left him in, and it was discovered after the game that Petty had "transverse processes fractures" of his back. Whatever the heck that is, it doesn't sound good. Baylor reports Petty is "day to day," but I would be shocked if he sees the field against the team that just lost at home to the Missouri State version of the Bears. I mean, why take the chance. Baylor could throw 10 passes all day and still run them off the field.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Record: 1-0 (Big 12, 0-0)

Last Game: vs La Tech

Result: W, 48-16

Next Opponent: @ Tulsa

National Ranking: 4

Comments:

The Sooners took care of business last Saturday, but they hid out on PPV so it's hard to give them much of a grade. Trevor Knight completed 56% of his passes, had one interception and one fumble. Tulsa outlasted Tulane in 2OT, so I don't know if they'll provide that much more resistance than La Tech. This is all a warm up for the home game with Tennessee on 9/13.

Keep and eye out at CRFF for game times and channels for all the Big 12 action.

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