STILLWATER – As I scrolled through social media on Monday morning, I received an email from Cowboy Football, as am I’m sure most of you did as well. The subject of the email was an NCAA way-too-early top-25 poll, which had Oklahoma State sitting at No. 8.
NCAA way-too-early top-25 poll
- Alabama (13-2)
- Ohio State (11-2)
- Georgia (14-1)
- Texas A&M (8-4)
- Notre Dame (11-2)
- Utah (10-4)
- Clemson (10-3)
- Oklahoma State (12-2)
- Michigan (12-2)
- Wake Forest (11-3)
- Oregon (10-4)
- Baylor (12-2)
- Pitt (11-3)
- Michigan State (11-2)
- NC State (9-3)
- Houston (12-2)
- Arkansas (9-4)
- Kentucky (10-3)
- Iowa (10-4)
- Oklahoma (11-2)
- USC (4-8)
- BYU (10-3)
- Wisconsin (9-4)
- Tennessee (7-6)
- Cincinnati (13-1)
Here’s what writer Wayne Staats had to say about the Pokes’ ranking: “The Cowboys were overlooked for much of the season before coming to the cusp of a CFP bid prior to falling to Baylor in the Big 12 championship. That underdog approach is when Mike Gundy's program is most dangerous. QB Spencer Sanders is back to lead the offense, which should be better. But the Cowboys lost DC Jim Knowles to Ohio State.”
There are some questions surrounding the Pokes entering the new season, questions like what will the defense look like with new pieces and new defensive coordinator, Derek Mason? The Cowboys will be replacing six starters on the defensive side of the ball, but there’s young talent taking those spots, guys who played a good chunk of time in 2021. Guys like Korie Black and Jabbar Muhammad at corner, Mason Cobb at linebacker and Thomas Harper at safety.
Then you have guys like JUCO All-American transfer Xavier Benson at linebacker and redshirt freshman Kendall Daniels at safety who are both set to play significant minutes this season.
On the offensive side of the ball, Spencer Sanders returns as the top quarterback in the Big 12. Can he continue his dominant play from the Fiesta Bowl and continue to get better throughout the season? What will the offensive line look like and who fills the hole left by Tay Martin?
Braydon Johnson returns from an ailment that kept him sidelined all last season, along with an improved Jaden Bray, Rashod Owens and Bryson Green, as well as a hopefully healthy Langston Anderson.
We’ll start to get those questions answered when the Pokes face Central Michigan on Sept. 1.
