Athlon's Did Do A College Football Preview Magazine But ...

STILLWATER – Athlon Sports did come out with a 2024 College Football Edition and it is a good publication. They got caught with the second transfer portal window as it appears their deadline predated that. It is tough to with Oklahoma State and some other teams that don’t put out any depth charts in the spring. The amount of returning starters helped some, but even those have changed some if you have read out position-by-position post spring reports. This two-deep in Athlon’s is not real accurate. 

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Oklahoma State picked No. 19 in the nation.

I still love college football magazines and love to see what the picks are. Lindy’s was very high on the Cowboys picking them to win the Big 12, finish No. 12 in their preseason Top 25, and draw a bye in the first round of the College Football Playoff. 

Athlon’s picks the Cowboys behind Utah (first) and Kansas State (second) with the Utes and Wildcats in the Big 12 Championship Game. Third is not bad and they have Oklahoma State in their Preseason Top 25 at No. 19. They compliment Ollie Gordon II and quarterback Alan Bowman. They cite the experience on the Oklahoma State team and write “Mike Gundy hopes (experience) translates into improvement for a defense that allowed 28.6 points per game last year.

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Athlon’s Big 12 predictions.

Ollie Gordon II is listed as a first-team All-American and a second tier Heisman Trophy candidate. Linebacker Nickolas Martin is listed second-team All-American and Collin Oliver as a third-team All-American. They list Oklahoma State with the best running back group, best offensive line group, and best linebacker group in the Big 12. Nationally, they had the running backs sixth, offensive line ninth, and linebackers tenth. 

They project the Cowboys to be in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando playing Clemson. 

Now, my favorite part of the magazine is the “Scouting Report” with an opposing Big 12 assistant coach. 

Here’s what it said:

“Some guys were writing (Mke) Gundy off for dead last season, but he’s a hell of a coach. They gutted their way through that one (season). (Offensive coordinator Kasey) Dunn and (defensive coordinator Bryan) Nardo both being back help with the consistency they built towards the end of last season. The running back (Ollie Gordon II) is an absolute stud, maybe a Heisman guy, and (quarterback Alan) Bowman is a vet. The offense is fine; it really comes down to how much better can get to put them in the conference title race or not. They were easy to get off their reads and fits last season, they really struggled with tempo. If they can improve, and the consistency in the coaching helps that, then OSU could be a conference title contender.”