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Oklahoma State Football

5 Thoughts on Oklahoma State's Home-and-Home With Alabama

June 10, 2021
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STILLWATER – It was announced earlier this week Oklahoma State and Alabama had scheduled a home-and-home series slated to start in 2028 in Stillwater, with the return trip to Tuscaloosa in 2029. While playing the best program in college football history might be daunting, this is a huge step forward for Cowboy football.

Here are my 5 Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s home-and-home series with Alabama.

This is a huge step forward for Cowboy football

While it might seem like a rather daunting task, this is a massive step forward for Cowboy football. One of the chief complaints from fans was the non-conference scheduling, the Missouri States and South Alabamas of the world. However, if you look at some of the in the near future matchups, Gundy and the administration have done a great job getting premier games against premier conferences. Arizona State in 2022 and 2023, Arkansas in 2024, 2027, 2032 and 2033, Oregon in 2025 and 2026, Nebraska in 2034 and 2035 and now Alabama is the proverbial icing on the non-con cake.

Don’t expect this to be the last big-time non-conference series

What Mike Gundy and the administration, such as incoming athletic director Chad Weiberg, have been able to do with scheduling is nothing short of amazing. The product on the field speaks for itself and if you want the program to continue to build, you need to try and win games against very quality opponents. I know it was a random draw but think beating a ranked Miami team in the Cheez-It Bowl. Very quality win for the Pokes. Even with the great upcoming non-conference games I’ve listed above, I wouldn’t expect the athletic department to sit back and just be complacent. Not saying to expect another huge announcement in the near future, just don’t be surprised if another major matchup is announced in the next three years.

Alabama has scheduled some tough non-con games

When Alabama plays a non-conference opponent, or especially a Power Five non-conference opponent, they either play them in Tuscaloosa or at a neutral site on a national stage, like Jerry’s World in Dallas, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans or Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. However, we’re seeing Saban schedule some premier home-and-homes with big-time Power Five conference opponents. They’re playing Wisconsin in 2024 and 2025, Florida State in 2025 and 2026, West Virginia in 2026 and 2027, Ohio State in 2027 and 2028 and Notre Dame was pushed back to 2029 and 2030 to fit the Pokes in during the 2028 and 2029 series.

Mike Gundy has the Pokes trending in the right direction

With Alabama scheduling some big-time opponents, they wouldn’t schedule OSU if they didn’t feel it would be mutually beneficial. The program has steadily gotten better each season under Mike Gundy, Jim Knowles has developed one of the top defenses in the country, the offense is very prolific, and the level of recruits being brought in gets better each season. This Alabama series is indicative of the job the Pokes’ coaching staff is doing.

The Cowboys are currently undefeated against the Crimson Tide

That’s right, Oklahoma State is one of just 10 Division I schools that have a winning record against Alabama, and one of just six that are undefeated. The Cowboys are 1-0 against the Tide after the 34-31 Independence Bowl win back in 2006, the first bowl win in the Mike Gundy era. Nick Saban had yet to be hired by the Tide and they entered the game riding a three-game losing streak and a 6-6 record, the same record as OSU.

Bobby Reid went 15-for-29 for 212 passing yards with one touchdown and interception. Dantrell Savage had 19 carries for 112 yards, 41 receiving yards, and one rushing touchdown. Adarius Bowman had three coaches for 50 yards and a touchdown and Brandon Pettigrew had four catches for 65 yards. Now, Saban was hired six day later and the rest is history, but don’t think the OSU athletic department isn’t going to play up the whole undefeated angle leading up the first game between the two teams in 22 years.

 
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