49 Days Until Kansas Football: Opponent Preview - Oklahoma State

With the news of New Hampshire cancelling fall sports coming out yesterday, OSU is now technically the 6th game on KU’s schedule. However, it appears as if the P5 is doing whatever it can to play a full schedule, so there’s still some hope - however small - that KU will find a replacement for NH and play a full slate.

Regadless, until notified otherwise, the countdown marches on.

10 years ago, at the beginning of the Turner Gill era, the KU-OSU all-time series was knotted at 29-29-2. It probably goes without saying that the Cowboys now own a 10-game advantage. Kansas dominated pre-1970, going 20-8, but obviously recent history hasn’t been so kind to the Jayhawks, as KU is just 9-21-2 against OSU since 1970.

The last five matchups haven’t even been close, with Kansas losing by an average of 30 points since David Beaty arrived in Lawrence. It makes sense, though, as the Cowboys have been to 14-straight bowl games under Mike Gundy, finishing in the top-20 in seven of those years. In fact, Gundy has averaged 8.6 wins per year in Stillwater, which is probably the only reason why he still has a job right now.

Game Info

Oklahoma State @ Kansas

Sat, Oct 17, 2020, Time TBD

Lawrence, KS: World War I Veterans Memorial Stadium (47,000)

About the OSU Offense

Oklahoma State returns 75% of its offensive production from last season, which puts them in the top 30% of college football for that metric. R-SO quarterback Spencer Sanders returns to lead the offense after completing 62.8% of his passes last year for over 2,000 yards. Sanders is also an accomplished runner, as he picked up over 600 rushing yards last year on 139 attempts as well.

But the key to the OSU offense is Chuba Hubbard. Just a junior this year, Hubbard is coming off of a 2,000-yard rushing season where he averaged 6.4 yards per carry on 328 attempts. Insane.

The Cowboys also return their top 3 receivers from last year, which obviously includes the nearly unstoppable Tylan Wallace, who has 2,400 yards (exactly) and 20 touchdowns over the past two seasons combined.

Oh and Oklahoma State only loses two senior starters off of the offensive line. So... I guess that’s their “weak” spot? (Probably not.)

About the OSU Defense

So things look pretty good for OSU offensively, but what about defensively?

**Checks notes**

Oh.

Oklahoma State returns 86% (!!!) of its defensive production from last year, a top-10 mark in college football. Just about everyone is back, OK? OSU returns its top six tacklers, and any player who had 2.0 sacks or more last year is back as well.

Preseason Rankings

Per preseason S&P+ projections released back in February, Oklahoma State is ranked #21 of 130 teams, good for 3rd in the Big 12, well ahead of #113 Kansas.

Fearless Prediction

Yikes.

I had no idea OSU was going to be this loaded coming into 2020.

Ok, so I did know, I guess it just didn’t really strike me until I took a long look at it. This really appears to be Mike Gundy’s year. They get Texas at home, but have to travel to OU. Win one of those games, and Oklahoma State will probably find itself in the Big 12 title game.

Considering that the Jayhawks just haven’t been able to find a way to be competitive with OSU lately combined with the way the Cowboys are loaded up for 2020, it’s difficult to predict anything other than a rough day for KU fans. I think my original prediction a few weeks ago is as good as any other. Obviously I hope to be wrong, but, Oklahoma State 55, Kansas 20.