STILLWATER – The first two college football preview magazines are out on newsstands. There is always a battle for who is out first. I got a pre-ordered Lindy’s College Football National 2021 Preview in the mail on Monday and then I spotted Athlon Sports College Football 2021 magazine at Barnes and Noble.I recommend both, but then I’m that guy that picks up every magazine I find during the spring a summer. With these two, I know the deadlines ran from even before spring football started to definitely before the spring game at Oklahoma State. I am surprised that Lindy’s got the hiring of Lance Leipold at Kansas in their edition. Nice late grab there.
I do know where the primary source of the Oklahoma State coverage is in both issues. John Helsley is the writer on the Oklahoma State material in Athlon’s and he did a great job of picking out the two-deep. His first team is nearly spotless. That is hard to do when you can’t get all the way through spring before you have to turn in your copy.
John Hoover is the primary reporter for most of the Big 12 in Lindy’s. Hoover actually has more control over the conference copy and the magazine’s opinion of Oklahoma State. While, you may look at Hoover as more of an OU homer, he isn’t. He is really more or a Tulsa homer. He was favorable on the Cowboys. More favorable than the staff at Athlon’s which makes the conference picks and national and position rankings.
Both magazines left Oklahoma State out of their All-Americans. Lindy’s recognized Spencer Sanders (22) on their quarterback list, Malcolm Rodriguez (8) on their linebacker list, and Kolby Harvell-Peel (4) on the safeties list.
We’re not going to recap all of the coverage. That’s not fair as Athlons and Lindys would like to sell you a magazine.
Here are some of the thought, opinions, and rankings by the two magazines.
| Magazine | National Finish | Big 12 Finish | All-Big 12 Players | Comments |
| Athlon | 28 | 5 |
Josh Sills - 1st T Malcolm Rodriguez - 2nd T Kolby Harvell-Peel - 2nd T LD Brown - 3rd T Hunter Woodard - 3rd T Trace Ford - 3rd T Jarrick Bernard Converse - 3rd T Tre Sterling - 3rd T Alex Hale - 3rd T |
Love the comment from an opposing coach that Oklahoma State has learned they can’t play good defense on personnel alone, they have to surprise opponents with schemes. That will make a bulleton board. |
| Lindy’s | 15 | 3 |
Kolby Harvell-Peel - 1st T Malcolm Rodriguez - 2nd T Tre Sterling - 2nd T |
Oklahoma State loaded on defense and looking for more offensive playmakers |
Lindy’s really missed the boat. Mike Gundy and offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn have reloaded on offense. Don’t get too serious about all the projections. They will play the season and Oklahoma State seems poised to have a competitive team that can accomplish virtually anything.
