Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma: Complete Game Preview

Bedlam is finally here and the entire state of Oklahoma is ready for battle. The Oklahoma State Cowboys will travel to Norman for the first time in three years to face the Oklahoma Sooners.

Both teams have had ups and downs this season, but each has proven that it is among the best teams in the Big 12 conference. Mike Gundy’s squad has endured constant quarterback turnover, while Bob Stoops’ team has dealt with defensive issues.

Bedlam is among college football’s best rivalries, and when both teams are good, it just gets even better. Anything can happen in this annual matchup, and here I’ll break down everything you need to know about this game.

Game-Day Information

Who: Oklahoma State at Oklahoma

When: Saturday, 2:30 pm CT

Where: Norman, Oklahoma

Stadium: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

Series History: 81-18-7 Oklahoma

TV: ESPN

Radio: Cowboy Radio Network, OKState.TV, Sirius 117, XM 190

Oklahoma State Lineup

Position                Number     Name                           Height  Weight Class

Quarterback              10          Clint Chelf                     6’1”       201       Jr.

Running Back            1           Joseph Randle               6’1”       194       Jr.

Fullback                     9           Kye Staley                    5’10”      236       Sr.

Wide Receiver          82          Isaiah Anderson           5’10”      175       Sr.

Wide Receiver          84          Austin Hays                   6’2”       170       Fr.

Wide Receiver           5           Josh Stewart                 5’10”      170       So.

Wide Receiver          18          Blake Jackson                6’3”       238       Jr.

Offensive Tackle       71          Parker Graham               6’7”       292       Jr.

Offensive Tackle       58          Daniel Koenig               6’6”       295       So.

Offensive Guard       70          Jonathan Rush               6’4”       284       Sr.

Offensive Guard       68          Lane Taylor                   6’3”       328       Sr.

Center                       60          Evan Epstein                 6’3”       291       Sr.

Defense

Position                Number     Name                           Height  Weight Class

Defensive End          80          Cooper Bassett              6’5”       270       Sr.

Defensive End          96          Ryan Robinson              6’4”       246       Sr.

Defensive Tackle      91          James Castleman           6’2”       296       So.

Defensive Tackle      99          Calvin Barnett               6’2”       299       Jr.

Linebacker                11          Shaun Lewis                 5’11”      222       Jr.

Linebacker                37          Alex Elkins                    6’3”       222       Sr.

Linebacker                45          Caleb Lavey                  6’3”       240       Jr.

Cornerback                19          Brodrick Brown            5’8”       185       Sr.

Cornerback                 4           Justin Gilbert                 6’0”       194       Jr.

Safety                         7           Shamiel Gary                 6’0”       205       Jr.

Safety                         8           Daytawion Lowe          5’11”      198       Jr.

Special Teams

Position                Number     Name                           Height  Weight Class

Punter/Kicker            13          Quinn Sharp                  6’1”       205       Sr.

Punt Returner             6           David Glidden              5’7”       171       Fr.

Kick Returner            4           Justin Gilbert                 6’0”       194       Jr.

Longsnapper             53          Andrew Suter                6’2”       268       Jr.

Holder                       39          Wes Harlan                    5’7”       178       Sr.

Oklahoma Lineup

Position                Number     Name                           Height  Weight Class

Quarterback              12          Landry Jones                 6’4”       218       Sr.

Running Back           26          Damien Williams           6’0”       208       Jr.

Fullback                    33          Trey Millard                   6’2”       256       Jr.

Wide Receiver           4           Kenny Stills                   6’1”       190       Jr.

Wide Receiver          19          Justin Brown                 6’3”       209       Sr.

Wide Receiver          18          Jalen Saunders               5’9”       160       Jr.

Tight End                  82          Brannon Green              6’2”       250       Jr.

Offensive Tackle       69          Lane Johnson                 6’7”       303       Sr.

Offensive Tackle       79          Daryl Williams               6’6”       299       So.

Offensive Guard       74          Adam Shead                  6’4”       284       So.

Offensive Guard       68          Bronson Irwin               6’5”       307       Jr.

Center                       64          Gabe Ikard                    6’3”       288       Jr.

Defense

Position                Number     Name                           Height  Weight Class

Defensive End          98          Chuka Ndulue               6’3”       256       So.

Defensive End          90          David King                    6’5”       286       Sr.

Defensive Tackle      53          Casey Walker                6’2”       309       Sr.

Defensive Tackle      97          J. McFarland                  6’2”       288       Sr.

Linebacker                 7           Corey Nelson                 6’1”       219       Jr.

Linebacker                21          Tom Wort                      6’0”       237       Jr.

Nickel Corner             9           Gabe Lynn                     6’0”       199       Jr.

Cornerback                14          Aaron Colvin                 6’0”       181       Jr.

Cornerback                 6           Demontre Hurst            5’10”      183       Sr.

Strong Safety            30          Javon Harris                  5’11”      206       Sr.

Safety                         1           Tony Jefferson              5’11”      212       Jr.

Special Teams

Position                Number     Name                           Height  Weight Class

Kicker                       18          Michael Hunnicutt         6’0”       173       So.

Punter/Holder           36          Tress Way                      6’1”       215       Sr.

Punt Returner            19          Justin Brown                 6’3”       209       Sr.

Kick Returner           22          Roy Finch                      5’7”       175       Jr.

Longsnapper             31          Daniel Franklin              6’2”       224       Sr.

What Happened to Oklahoma State Last Week

Last week, the Oklahoma State Cowboys dominated the Texas Tech Red Raiders to the tune of 59-21, stifling a prolific Tech offense while also getting into the end zone early and often.

Junior quarterback Clint Chelf played well yet again, completing 11-of-21 passes for 229 yards and three scores. The breakout player was senior wide receiver Isaiah Anderson, who caught four passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns.

The defensive effort was also outstanding, as the Cowboys sacked Tech quarterback Seth Doege three times and hurried him on many of his drop-backs. The defense also held the Red Raiders to under 400 yards of total offense, and the special teams showed up as well. Zack Craig blocked two punts and returned one for a touchdown.

Last week’s game against Texas Tech was probably among the most complete games the Cowboys have ever played. The performance certainly boded well for Oklahoma State heading into this week’s rivalry game.

What Happened to Oklahoma Last Week

Last week, the Oklahoma Sooners traveled to Morgantown, West Virginia and squeaked out a one-point win in one of the most explosive shootouts of the season.

Landry Jones proved yet again why he is Oklahoma’s all-time leading passer, throwing for 554 yards and six touchdowns, with four of those scores being caught by junior wide receiver Kenny Stills. Junior running back Damien Williams got the Sooners’ running game going as well, rushing for 92 yards and a touchdown.

The Sooner defense was not as successful, as it gave up 778 yards of total offense to West Virginia. Mountaineer head coach Dana Holgorsen moved wide receiver Tavon Austin to running back, and he responded by running for 344 yards against Oklahoma. Senior Geno Smith added 320 passing yards and four touchdowns of his own.

The defensive issues have to be troubling for the Sooners, especially given just how well Oklahoma State runs the ball. Sooner defensive coordinator Mike Stoops will certainly be working hard this week in preparation for Bedlam.

What It Means for Both Teams

As unlikely as it may be, it is still technically possible that one of these teams could win the Big 12. Even with a loss, the Sooners are still in decent shape to at least share part of the conference crown. The Cowboys, on the other hand, need to win this game to keep their chances alive.

Oklahoma State is attempting to prove that it has arrived as a Top 25 program, and beating the Sooners would go a long way in that effort. The Sooners are attempting to secure a BCS bowl berth, while also attempting to stay alive to win the conference outright.

Of course, this game also means a little extra for both teams. The state of Oklahoma has always been the “Sooner State.” The older brother-little brother relationship is still in effect, and it will continue to be. The Cowboys are still the little brother trying to one-up their older counterpart, and the Sooners are still the older brother trying to stay on top.

That alone is enough to make the game a must-see.

Key Player for Oklahoma State

Joseph Randle

The Oklahoma Sooners have struggled mightily to stop the run in multiple games this season, and they will have another tall order against the Cowboys thanks to junior running back Joseph Randle.

Randle has rushed for 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is a big, powerful back who is also a prime receiver out of the backfield. He torched Oklahoma in last year’s 44-10 Bedlam blowout, and the Sooners must ensure that he does not do the same this season.

The Cowboys must use the passing game and their fantastic offensive line to make sure Randle has room to run. Teams have keyed on him recently, which has brought his numbers down. The impressive thing about him is that he has remained productive.

Key Player for Oklahoma

Landry Jones

The idea that the Sooners’ chances rest on the senior signal-caller is not a novel idea. He has been at Oklahoma for years and has been the primary offensive threat for most of those years.

The Oklahoma State defensive front has terrorized West Virginia’s Geno Smith and Texas Tech’s Seth Doege in multiple weeks. It is getting massive quarterback pressure, and Jones has struggled under such pressure.

If he can make good throws under pressure and have enough time to do so, the Sooners will be much more likely to pull out a win at home. The Oklahoma receiving corps is deep and talented, and it should win the matchup with the Oklahoma State secondary. It all comes down to Jones and his offensive line vs. this Cowboy defensive front.

Oklahoma State Will Win If…

The Oklahoma State Cowboys will win this game if they can win the turnover battle.

Against Arizona, Texas and Kansas State (their three losses), the Cowboys had key turnovers that killed their chances at winning what should have been winnable games. That cannot happen this week if Oklahoma State wants to win Bedlam for a second year in a row.

After leading the nation in turnover margin in 2011, the Cowboys have been pretty poor in that category. Lately, the team has been better overall, but the Cowboys need to be better in that regard on the road this week.

Oklahoma Will Win If…

The Oklahoma Sooners will win this game if they can stop the Cowboy running game.

The Cowboys use their running game to move the ball, and much of their passing game plays off the assumption that they have a strong running game with Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith.

Oklahoma must not give up the huge amounts of yards on the ground that it has against other Big 12 teams. Oklahoma State is one of the best rushing teams the Sooners will face all season, and Oklahoma’s defensive front must play much better than it has to shut the Cowboys down.

Game Prediction

This game will be among the most epic in Bedlam history.

It will be a boxing match throughout the game, with both teams playing extremely physical football and trying to dominate the other. Both defenses will show up, but the offenses will ultimately both be able to score.

In the end, the home atmosphere will propel Oklahoma to a win. It will be a narrow one, and it will not be decided until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Landry Jones will make enough passes to win, and the Cowboys will lose, despite a noble effort.

Prediction: Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 34