Preview: What To Expect From Oklahoma State Cowboys Football In 2023

The upcoming shuffling of the Big 12 is going to open up a power vacuum in the conference.

With longtime powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas departing soon for the SEC and the addition of teams like Cincinnati, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, UCF and Utah, there will be a fight to see which programs will fill the void. Oklahoma State’s approach won’t seem to change with the new conference competitors, however, with head coach Mike Gundy saying at Big 12 media day, “Oklahoma State is not going to change what we do because Oklahoma went to the SEC.”

After an impressive start that went sideways as the season went on, Oklahoma State will have to show if all it takes for them to be an elite program is just a bigger stage.

A Look Back At 2022 For Oklahoma State Football

The Cowboys trotted out to a strong 6-1 record to begin last season, even rising to seventh in the AP national poll, but their season seemed to corrode rather quickly during its second half. The team went 1-5 in their final 6 games, leading to a 7-6 season record, good for fifth in the conference. But what’s done is done, and after a summer that saw heavy transfer portal activity for the Cowboys, there is a lot to be seen with this year’s roster. The offense, ranked eighth in the conference, needs to improve with new additions coming in. The fact that the offense couldn’t hold up for the entire season should be a summer focus for the Cowboys. 

Oklahoma State Cowboys Offensive Preview

The biggest change offensively for the Cowboys will be the departure of Spencer Sanders to Ole Miss, with his likely replacement Alan Bowman, a transfer from Michigan, coming in with big shoes to fill. It’ll be interesting to see how Bowman will fit into the starting spot while playing in only five games in his previous two seasons at Michigan. Bowman will not be rushing nearly as much as Sanders was as a Cowboy, which is a shift head coach Mike Gundy will have to orient his offense around. The Cowboys can bank on their passing offense, ranked second in the conference last season, as a bright spot that they can fall back on. The return of top receiving yard man Brennan Presley is an integral piece, and players like Cale Cabbiness and Rashod Owens, as well as Washington State transfer De’Zhaun Stribling, will try to keep this receiving end as one of the best in the Big 12.

Oklahoma State Cowboys Defensive Preview

The defense overall was average last season for the Cowboys, but the roster shift is going to mean that unproven players will have to step up. The biggest blow to the defense is linebacker Mason Cobb transferring to USC. Xavier Benson and Colin Oliver will be key returners, while senior Tulsa transfer Justin Wright will be able to aid on the line with 101 total tackles last year. Kendal Daniels will be given plenty of opportunities to improve after a breakout freshman campaign as he heads into his sophomore season. Defensive back Korie Black will be a needed veteran presence as younger players like Lyrik Rawls will get increased opportunities.

What To Do When In Stillwater, Okla.

A restaurant that is as Cowboy as Boone Pickens Stadium is Stillwater staple Eskimo Joe’s. Its ‘Fowl Things’ chicken sandwich has achieved legendary status in the town and its culture. With Joe’s being incredibly renowned there will likely be a crowd on game days, so if you’re looking for a place that is just as Cowboy but a little more formal, check out The Hideaway. This was the first Hideaway Pizza ever constructed, and even though it is now a multi-state franchise, their roots to Stillwater still run deep and they serve some of the best pizza in Oklahoma.

To get to the stadium and watch a game, Boone Pickens Stadium is just up the street from both Eskimo Joe’s and The Hideaway and is on the east side of Oklahoma State’s campus.

Food, fun, and more can be found at Coney Island, just a couple of blocks from the stadium on Washington Street. This venue has been a favorite with Stillwater residents since 1969.

If you're in the mood for tacos before or after the Cowboys game, you cannot go wrong with Fuzzy's Taco Shop, right there on Washington Street.

And if you're a graduate from Oklahoma State University, be sure to connect with your fellow alumni through the OSU Alumni Association.