Gundy likes flying 'under radar'

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The Cowboys moved up a spot to No. 24 in the AP poll. Yet, they haven't cracked the coaches rankings, have only appeared on television once and haven't created a buzz nationally yet.

Thursday's national telecast in a major matchup with Texas A&M offers an opportunity for a breakthrough.

"Our coaching staff has enjoyed being under the radar," said OSU coach Mike Gundy. "But our players understand the importance of performing in big games.

"We want them to relax. We want them to go out and have fun and play hard and play with great effort. The most important aspect of performing well in big games is them understanding the preparation from this point up until we play is very, very important, then you've got to go play and have fun on game day."

CATCHING COMFORT

OSU's receivers appreciate quarterback Brandon Weeden's arm strength. But they are more impressed with how easy his throws are to catch.

"He throws the deep balls accurate. He throws the short balls accurate. He throws to the running backs accurate," said wideout Hubert Anyiam.

"Some guys on this team can't catch the ball real good, they catch his passes. There must be something he's doing that everybody's catching his balls."

MAINTAINING MOMENTUM

Gundy plays the straight line when asked about the "bigness" of the A&M game, a Big 12 opener against a South division foe.

"Every game is important," Gundy said. "Your nonconference games are important."

Still, Gundy doesn't dispute what's at stake for a young team trying to carry a 3-0 record forward.

"There's no question, you want to get going in conference play," Gundy said. "And you're playing a good football team. You want to keep momentum going.

"Our guys have performed pretty well to this point, so we want to continue on as we roll through conference."

 

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Texas A&M game could give clue about how good Oklahoma State is


Oklahoma State beat writer Brandon Chatmon gives five reasons why the Texas A&M game could help define OSU's season, and five reasons why it may not.


Just how good can Oklahoma State become?


The Cowboys host Texas A&M on Thursday night at Boone Pickens Stadium. And how the Pokes handle their first Big 12 Conference game could go a long way toward defining their season. Here are five reasons why this game could define OSU's season and five reasons why it might not:

Why: It's the Cowboys first game against an nationally respected opponent.

OSU has put up big numbers on its nonconference opponents and cruised to a 3-0 record. Questions about how successful the Pokes offense will be in the Big 12 still remain. Big 12 athletes are quicker, stronger and faster, which means the Cowboys' offense will have to raise their game to another level to have continued success.

Why not: Texas A&M is not the favorite to win the Big 12 South.

The Aggies are an explosive team with NFL-caliber players on both sides of the ball. Yet, they've never been considered the favorite to win the Big 12 South this season. So what does a win over them really mean? It proves the Pokes can defeat a quality opponent, but OSU will have to do more to be considered a Big 12 South title contender.

Why: A win is a huge step toward a fifth-straight bowl appearance.

A win puts OSU at 4-0, and it would be tough to imagine the Pokes going 1-7 the rest of the way to finish 5-7 and out of bowl contention.

Why not: Win or lose, nobody knows how the Cowboys will play on the road.

OSU is counting on several young players to be playmakers and the Pokes have no idea how those players will respond on the road. OSU has five road games including at Texas and at Texas Tech. Will Brandon Weeden be as productive on the road as he's proven to be in Boone Pickens Stadium?

Why: A loss could have adverse effects on the youthful Pokes.

Like it or not, the perception is that this game is OSU's first true test. If the Cowboys fail the test, how will they respond the next week against Louisiana-Lafayette, in their first road game? Will a setback hurt the Pokes' confidence? Or can they forget it and move forward?

Why not: A win does nothing for the Pokes if they become content with what they have accomplished.

A big reason for OSU's 3-0 record thus far is the passion the Pokes entered the season with thanks to the disrespect they felt they were getting nationally. If national perception changes from disrespect to accolades, will the hunger remain?

Why: A win would create great momentum and potential 5-0 record heading into Lubbock.

Mike Gundy likely could not invent a better scenario with OSU's youthful roster than the Pokes beginning the season with a 4-0 record, including a national television win over Big 12 South rival. With Louisiana-Lafayette looming Oct. 8, the Cowboys could travel to Lubbock on Oct. 16 with a 5-0 record and tons of confidence.

Why not: There still are plenty of games left regardless of the outcome.

Friday is the first day of October, so needless to say, there is plenty of football left to be played. No matter how good OSU looks in September, the injury bug could hit or the Cowboys' youth could emerge via game-altering mistakes in the latter half of the season. It's a marathon not a sprint.

Why: A win over Texas A&M would be OSU's third-straight over the Aggies, a fact that cannot be underrated in recruiting.

The Cowboys often go head-to-head against Texas A&M in recruiting battles for some of the best players Texas has to offer each year. Winning head-to-head battles on the field leads to head-to-head wins on the recruiting trails. The better OSU recruits, the sooner the Pokes can compete for championships.

Why not: A&M was picked to finish third in the Big 12 south, yet almost lost to Florida International.

The Cowboys could win and still have questions remain about their long-term potential, especially if they win an ugly, turnover-filled game on national television. An unimpressive win could lead to people saying Nebraska will be their first true test instead of the Aggies.

 

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OSU's next opponent: Breaking down Texas A&M


Record: 3-0

Last week: 27-20 win over Florida International on Sept. 18

Best player: Quarterback Jerrod Johnson. The Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Johnson is a run-pass threat who is tough to stop when he finds his groove. He has completed 64 of 109 passes for 865 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

Why they could win: The Aggies have an explosive offense led by Johnson and running back Christine Michael, who has emerged as a playmaker during his sophomore season with a per game average of 110.33 rushing yards on 19 carries. Texas A&M also features the most athletic defense the Pokes have faced thus far led by linebacker Von Miller.

Why they could lose: The Cowboys offense has been practically unstoppable thus far, averaging 57 points per game and ranking second nationally in passing offense (391 yards per game). The Aggie defense has been stout, allowing just 3.6 yards per play, but it hasn't seen anything near what the Pokes will bring to the table Thursday night.

Noteworthy: Receivers Jeff Fuller (18 catches for 280 yards) and Ryan Swope (21 catches for 202 yards) are the only Aggies with double-digit catches this season. ... The Aggies rank No. 4 nationally in rushing defense, No. 10 in total defense and No. 4 in tackles for loss. ... Texas A&M's wins came over Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech and Florida International. ... The Aggies have 23 kickoffs and zero touchbacks this season. ...The Aggies have a minus-2 turnover margin (7 turnovers gained, 9 turnovers lost).