Oklahoma State Football: Who Needs to Play Better to Beat Oklahoma?

Coming off their first loss of the season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys have a bye week to regroup before facing archrival Oklahoma.

The Cowboys have much to be thankful for this season, but this Thanksgiving break should also be spent improving in the areas where the team needs the most improvement.

Here are the players who need to play better if the Cowboys want to win the Big 12.

Joseph Randle

A touchdown machine for most of the season, Joseph Randle played the worst game of his young career last week.

The sophomore scored zero touchdowns and gained just 52 yards from scrimmage. He topped off his lack of production with two lost fumbles in Iowa State territory.

Randle must not let this one bad game affect his ability to go out and play his game. He’s still a touchdown machine, and the Cowboys will need his best game to top the Sooners.

Jeremy Smith

To be fair, Jeremy Smith had been sidelined with a hand injury for the past few weeks. However, the Cowboys need him to come back.

Smith had been playing very well this season. He has over 500 rushing yards as the second-string back, and played big in big games against Baylor, Missouri and Texas.

Last week, Smith ran eight times for 11 yards and dropped a pass in the fourth quarter. If Smith can get completely healthy and get back to his previous form, the Cowboys will be that much better against the Sooners.

Brandon Weeden

Before this last game, Brandon Weeden had thrown 23 touchdowns to just three interceptions in Big 12 play. He had been taking care of the ball exceptionally well.

Against Iowa State, Weeden threw three interceptions, one of which was in the second overtime, and sealed the Cowboys fate.

Weeden cannot make bad decisions against Oklahoma and win. He must make good decisions and find open passing lanes against a very good Sooners pass rush.

The Offensive Line

This isn’t an individual player, per se, but they are a unit that has worked as one all season—so I’m counting them as one here.

The offensive line did a poor job of blocking against Iowa State. They had difficulty getting a good push for the running game, and could not consistently keep Brandon Weeden safe in the pocket.

They especially need to pass-block better, as part of Weeden’s problems stemmed from pressure that forced him to move away from passing lanes to throw the ball.

The Sooners' front seven is very good; the Cowboys' offensive line must be their best.

Markelle Martin

I don’t have any stats to show why this guy needs to play better. He just does.

Considered one of the best safety prospects for next year’s NFL draft, Martin is a freakish athlete, and is one of the leaders of the OSU defense.

He cannot let this defense allow the kinds of plays and scores that it did against Iowa State. He needs to step up and lead the rest of the defense to step up with him.

It could be a making tackles at key times, or getting a big interception. Either way, they need him.