Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant Faces off Against Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin

Tonight, the scene is set. Two of the nation’s top quarterbacks square off in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair. Both gunslingers come into tonight’s game with plenty of ammunition at their disposal in the form of wide receivers.

Oklahoma State (5-0) is led by quarterback Zac Robinson and wide receiver Dez Bryant. Missouri (5-0) is captained by quarterback Chase Daniel and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. We could talk for days about Robinson and Daniel, but the story for tonight's ball game between Oklahoma State and Missouri begins and ends with Bryant and Maclin.                                                       

Both Bryant and Maclin are making a case for a Heisman Trophy nomination after putting up Tim Brown-esque numbers. In 1987, the wideout from Notre Dame won the Heisman Trophy after putting up godly receiving and return numbers for the Fighting Irish. So far, Bryant and Maclin are both tearing up the turf in both categories. Will they continue to follow in the footsteps of Brown?

In five games, Bryant has 27 receptions for 550 yards and nine touchdowns. He has also returned two punts for touchdowns while averaging nearly 24 yards per punt return. Entering today, Bryant is fifth nationally in receiving yards per game.

Maclin is a knockout king at wide receiver for the Tigers. Maclin, a Pro Draft Guide favorite to win the Heisman, already has 31 receptions for 480 yards and five touchdowns in five games. He is averaging almost 31 yards per kick return with one kick returned for a score. Maclin also has a rushing touchdown.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys have scored fewer than 55 points just once this season (39, versus Washington State). On the flipside, Missouri has allowed more than 21 points defensively just one time this season (42, versus Illinois). In order for Bryant to break through Saturday night on national television, something will have to give.

We already know that Maclin will get his yardage, since it appears that only injuries can slow him down.

This game may be decided by who has the ball last. Oklahoma State's defense has not yet been tested by an offense as powerful as the Missouri Tigers. At the same time, as we saw with the Illinois game, Missouri’s defense can give points up in a hurry. Nationally, Missouri and Oklahoma State rank second and third, respectively, in scoring offense. In total defense, the Cowboys are ranked 51st nationally while the Tigers are ranked 84th.

Missouri should be on upset alert. It's ranked third nationally and could fall like a ton of bricks if 17th-ranked Oklahoma State continues to put on a show offensively like it has all season long.