BCS Rankings 2011: Is Oklahoma State a BCS Title Contender or Pretender?

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are an extremely good football team and their fourth place ranking in the initial BCS rankings of the 2011 college football season was well deserved.

The Cowboys have quality wins against Texas and Texas A&M and have a tough schedule coming up.

With games against Baylor, No. 11 Kansas State, Texas Tech and rival No. 3 Oklahoma, the Cowboys will surely tested before the bowl season.

One thing about the Cowboys is they are never out of a game with their high-powered offense. Oklahoma State is second in the nation with 49.2 points scored per game and are second in the nation with 395.7 passing yards per game.

No lead is safe on the Cowboys, who are capable of passing the ball up and down the field with ease on just about anyone.

Right now Oklahoma State is a BCS contender, not pretender.

They have more quality wins and have played a tougher schedule than top BCS teams such as Wisconsin, Stanford and Boise State.

Oklahoma State's season will likely come down to their in-state rivalry game with the Oklahoma Sooners on December 3.

The game is at home for the Cowboys, which will help them. They have scored 61 points, 37 points and 70 points in three home games this season.

If Oklahoma State can run the table and complete an unprecedented undefeated season and Big 12 championship, they deserve to be mentioned as a prime candidate for a BCS title berth.

Would an undefeated Big 12 champion be worthy of derailing a possible all-SEC BCS title game between LSU and Alabama?

Maybe. If there is a team that can do it, it's Oklahoma State.

They have been a real impressive offensive team this season, beating several quality teams. Their road to the BCS title game has been drawn and it's up to them to take it to the Louisiana Superdome in January.

Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter for the latest sports news and updates.  Follow @NicholasGoss35