Week one of the season is in the books and after a big win in Corvallis, Oklahoma Stateearned a few more believers.
After picking up just one 23rd-place vote in the preseason, OSU is now in 33rd place with eight points, after two more voters included the Cowboys in their top 25.
Week | Rank | High | Low | High % |
Preseason | 42 | 23 | NR | NR - 61 |
Week 2 | 33 | 23 | NR | NR - 59 |
Matt Brown of The Athletic kept the Cowboys at No. 23 in his poll, while Mark Whicker of the Los Angeles Daily News voted OSU 23rd and Davis Potter of the Casper (Wyoming) Star-Tribune added OSU at No. 24.
Matt Brown of the Athletic, explained his reasoning for including Oklahoma State in the preseason rankings and how the Cowboys confirmed his belief in his weekly “Behind the Ballot” article. ($$$)
“I was the only voter to rank Oklahoma State in the preseason partially because of previous success: The Cowboys have won at least 10 games in six of the past nine seasons and haven’t had consecutive seasons outside the top 25 since 2007,” wrote Brown. “Even though the Cowboys allowed 36 points at Oregon State, I feel even more confident in including them in the top 25. Oklahoma State lost its starting quarterback, leading rusher and offensive coordinator, and yet the offense’s potential feels greater.”
I understand voters not putting OSU in just yet. Many probably didn’t watch the Cowboys play, though I’m not sure why. You’ll notice the two who added OSU are both in a time-zone where it’s more likely they did.
There’s not much of an opportunity for OSU to move up much this week. That’s the downside to playing an FCS team you’re favored by 37 points over. But this is a marathon not a sprint, and the Cowboys will have plenty of opportunities to impress coming up with road games at Tulsa and Texas in the coming weeks.