By Michael Doutey

It is finally gameday in Stillwater. The long offseason is finally over as Oklahoma State plays host to Missouri State tonight inside Boone Pickens Stadium. The opponent isn’t a world beater. Missouri State is an FCS school in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bears were picked to finish ninth in the 10 team league after going 3-8 in 2017. So, the Pokes are not going to be challenged much on Thursday night.

But there is still plenty to be excited about. Tonight is the debut of new starting quarterback, Taylor Cornelius. We probably won’t learn much from him in this game in regards to how good he could potentially be. But we will get an idea how of how he operates and what style of player he is going to be. It will be the first time we see him really play a meaningful down, which is intriguing no matter who they are playing. 

Then there is the debut of new defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles. Knowles brings in his 4-2-5 defensive scheme, which also promises to be more aggressive. Tonight, we will get to see what that looks like. Again, nothing from tonight’s game will show us how good the defense may be, but we will get a feel of what the defense will look like compared to what we’ve seen in the past from Glenn Spencer.

Then there are all the amenities that have been added to Boone Pickens Stadium. There are new foods to eat inside BPS. Beer will be sold as well for the first time inside the stadium. Then there is the new video board. I’ve seen it fired up once, and I have to tell you, it is going to be a huge game changer for the fans. 

The offseason is over. We can stop wondering about what everything new will look like. Tonight, we get to stop talking and discussing what this team might be and begin to take in a digest meaningful football. And it all gets underway tonight inside BPS. As my man Spinozi says, the Holy Season is upon us.

Before each and every game there will be a game primer to get to know OSU’s opponent, a look at some key areas of the game and I’ll make a few predictions. If you have followed any of the work I’ve done over the last year with Thunder basketball, then you’ll be familiar with my 5 Observations. That will continue with OSU football. I’ll also have notes following Mike Gundy’s press conference on Monday’s. So, here we go. Let’s football. 

Get to Know the Opponent: Missouri State

Missouri State went 3-8 last season. They did play one Power Five school in 2017 against Missouri. The Tigers won that game 72-43. The Bears scored more than 43 only once the rest of the season, which was 59 in a win over Indiana State.

The Bears offense is going to rely a ton on quarterback, Payton Huslig. Huslig lead the team in passing and rushing in 2017. He threw for 1,981 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He only threw for over 300 yards once in 2017, which was against Mizzou. He broke the 200 yard mark only twice. He also lead the team in rushing with 621 yards and four touchdowns.

The Bears are breaking in new receivers this season. Their top four pass catchers in 2017 are gone. Injuries have attacked an experienced offensive line. The Bears returned four starters from last season, but injuries have shook up that unit in the preseason.

Good news for the Bears is that they return nine starters on defense. Bad news is that they gave up an average of 38.2 points per game. So, even with a new starting quarterback, OSU should be able to move the ball and score some points.

Predictions

This section will typically be held to the specific game, but seeing how this is the first game and that the game shouldn’t be much of a game, I’ll make some season predictions.

Leading receiver – Dillon Stoner in catches with 65 and yards with 850.

Justice Hill – rushes for 1,300 yards and 325 receiving yards paired with 18 touchdowns.

Taylor Cornelius – Throws for 3,700 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions & rushes for 400 yards and six touchdowns.

Sack Leader – Jordan Brailford with eight.

Tackles Leader: Justin Phillips.

Breakout player on Offense: Tylan Wallace.

Breakout player on Defense: Malcolm Rodriguez.

Game: Oklahoma State 45 Missouri State 17

Season Record: 9-3

I haven’t done a prediction on the season yet. Well, until now. But I am optimistic heading into the 2018 season. A lot rides on Taylor Cornelius. If he can be solid, then this season could be a really good one. Gundy is very confident in him. He thinks he can do it all, but he just hasn’t done it in a game. So, anyone’s guess about what type of quarterback Cornelius could be, good or bad, is just a guess. But we might get a little glimpse tonight. 

A lot of my confidence comes from the offensive line. Gundy thinks it can be better this season. He’s said it in the spring and continued that belief into fall camp. So, if OSU can be better up front combined with the talent at running back, then the offense could be more efficient.

So, while looking on the optimistic side, I can also see where things don’t pan out as well. Cornelius might not work out and the quarterback position could become unstable. The offensive line might not live up to expectations. The wide receivers might not be ready to take on a full time role. There is a chance of all of that.

But another reason I am optimistic about OSU this season is the culture of winning Gundy has created. Some of the best seasons under Gundy have come in years when people have had questions or doubts about them. Think back to 2010. Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon took over as little known commodities. But OSU went 11-2 that season. In 2015, OSU had a new look with Mason Rudolph as the full time starter and James Washington and Marcell Ateman took flight. But the offensive line and running back situation was abysmal. OSU still ended up going 10-3 that season and went to the Sugar Bowl.

Then there have been seasons like 2012. Remember the one with a constant rotation of Wes Lunt, JW Walsh and Clint Chelf at quarterback? That season ended up going 8-5. But they were competitive. They had close losses to Texas, OU in OT and Baylor.

Those three seasons are representative of this one. There are solid questions about key positions this season, much like back then. But things came together in 2010 and 2015. The team found ways to get better from week to week and win games. In 2012, injuries were an issue and things didn’t quite come together. But they were in games and were really competitive.

So, I can see how this team could end up at 8-4 or possibly 7-5. But I can also see how things could come together and the team could go 10-2. There is talent and the schedule lines up well, unlike in 2012.

But 9-3 seems like a solid bet for this season. Teams like Texas and West Virginia are expected to make jumps this season. However, neither of those programs currently have the winning culture that OSU has created. A lot of people are counting OSU to take a step back this year after losing big names like Rudolph and Washington.

But it is a disservice to overlook the Cowboy culture, which has been one of the winningest programs in the country since 2010. OSU has had six 10 win seasons over the last eight, easily the best stretch of success in school history. There are clear questions heading into this season, but that has been the case before in Stillwater and OSU has found success in that time and I’m banking on it once again in 2018.