Week 6: vs. OSU 2011: 12-1 (8-1)

Source: Vegas Harps

The 2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys were just a cold, November night in Ames away from Bedlam. The 2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys were just a cold, November night in Ames away from 11-0. The 2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys were just a cold, November night in Ames, and a Bedlam win away from a National Championship. Bedlam will be spoken about in high regard. As for that fateful, cold, November night in Ames...

Cyclone tailback Jeff Woody plunged into the end-zone, and seemingly every able-bodied mammal within a 100 mile radius of Ames, IA stormed the field,  as Iowa State knocked off OSU 37-31 in double overtime. Men, women, children. Cows, sheep, pigs. It was the biggest upset in Iowa State history, arguably the biggest upset of the 2011 season, and quite possibly one of the biggest of the past decade. It was a great season for Cowboy fans, nonetheless. OSU loses a lot of talent from that 2011 squad, but is primed for another run at the Big 12 Championship.

Source: Kelly Lambert

"Pistol Pete" the Cowpoke is a pretty cool looking mascot. He is unique, colorful, and kinda sinister. All in all, a pretty cool cat. And c'mon, who doesn't love that hat?

And even though he is a pretty cool cat, he isn't quite the coolest "Pistol Pete" this world has seen.

Source: News OK

The quarterback position will be an interesting one to follow this year. OSU goes from 28 year old Heisman candidate, Brandon Weeden, born in October 1983, to true freshman Wes Lunt, born in October 1993. Lunt held offers from Boston College, Cinncinati, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others. But the Illinois native chose to head south to Stillwater, Oklahoma.

In the past few seasons, Mike Gundy has had  a pocket passer, in Weeden, and a jack of all traits, in Zac Robinson. Both saw success, but Gundy has made it clear that he would rather have a drop back passer, like Dana Holgorsen recruited, than the duel-threat that Larry Fedora recruited. J.W. Walsh was highly recruited coming out of high school, but fits more of the Fedora mold. Lunt, a 6'5" mammoth, is slow afoot, but has a rifle for an arm.

Joseph Randle, brother of former KU running back John Randle, ran for 1,216 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. Jeremy Smith added 262 yards, carrying the bulk of his touched in the red-zone, and Herschel Sims was a highly recruited running back coming out of high school a few years back. Running backs are rampant in Stillwater, and Kansas will need good play out of its linemen and backers if it wants any chance at slowing OSU.

Wide receiver does take a significant hit, though, losing Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Justin Blackmon, Hubert AAnyiam, and Josh Cooper. Tracy Moore and Isiah Anderson return, but the bulk of the receivers that torched Kansas are no longer on the team.

The Cowboys lose Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, Grant Garner, 1st Team Big 12 and All-American, Levy Adcock, Nick Martinez, and Casey LaBrue. They return only Lane Taylor and Jonathan Rush, but the group will combine for 63 career starts.

The defense was not good at much of anything, but they could force turnovers like nobody's business. It allowed 26.8 points per game, and 457 yards per game. The Pokes were +21 in turnover margin, though, losing the turnover battle in just 3 games, the final being the Iowa State defeat.

The d-line loses 1st Team Big 12 defensive end Jaamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones, but returns Nigel Nicholas and Anthony Rogers.

The linebackers lose James Thomas, but return 5 of their top 6 at the position, and should be one of the best units in the league.

Source: Bleacher Report

Same goes with the secondary. They forced turnovers, and most of them are coming back. The defensive backfield that forced 24 interceptions (second most in the nation) loses just Markelle Martin (1st Tm Big 12), returning 7 of 8, including Broderick Brown, Justin Gilbert, and Daytawion Lowe. Dayne Crist will really need to protect the football in this game. Kansas can not, can not, can not, can not lose the turnover battle!

Mike Gundy has really adjusted to the Big 12 since taking the job 8 years ago. He is 59-30 and 4-2 in bowl games, and an even more impressive 45-11 since he was 40.

This game does not have the making of one that Kansas can win. They are outmatched at nearly every position. But Kansas could have a lot of intangibles going into the game. Kansas will be playing its first home game in over a month, and should be at full strength.

Remember now, KU led OSU 7-0 early in the game last year. The would surrender 56 unanswered points before halftime, and lose 70-28, but gosh dangit they scored first!

Prediction: Oklahoma State 28, Kansas 13