Oklahoma State has never had a losing record after five games under Mike Gundy, but that could change this season.
Last season, OSU narrowly avoided a 2-3 start with a win against Kansas State that would help turn the tide of the season. Despite winning 10 games and entering this season with Big 12 title aspirations, OSU could be in a similar position in 2024.
Last season, the Cowboys started 2-2 with consecutive losses against South Alabama and Iowa State before entering their bye week. The Cowboys’ first four games in 2023 were far from the toughest on the schedule, but this season looks different.
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Having risen to the top three in Big 12 title odds, OSU’s confidence has grown over the offseason. However, that means there are still two teams with better odds to win the conference: Utah and Kansas State. Fittingly, OSU’s September conference slate of games begins with back-to-back matchups against Utah and Kansas State.
The Cowboys will host Utah on September 21 before traveling to Kansas State on September 28. Getting wins in both games will be one of the most difficult tasks in recent seasons for the Cowboys. Of course, that also means they may suffer two defeats.
If the Cowboys fall to Utah and Stillwater and lose at Kansas State, where they lost 48-0 on their visit to Manhattan in 2022, non-conference success will be vital. Making the 12-team Big 12 playoffs without winning the conference title will be difficult, particularly if OSU falls to the two conference favorites. Still, a 10-2 season could be enough to sneak in. A 2-3 start would be well on the table in that scenario, though.
OSU will host South Dakota State and Arkansas to kick off the 2024 campaign. Winning 29 straight games coming into Stillwater, SDSU will be one of the toughest FCS opponents in the country this season. Meanwhile, playing an SEC school, even if it’s struggling, is never an easy win.
If OSU can reach its potential, it’s more than possible that it will start out with a 5-0 record. However, some early-season stumbles could leave the Cowboys in a worse position than they were at the start of last season.
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