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| James Washington is one of many offensive weapons for Oklahoma State (NewsOK) |
The No. 6 Cowboys have looked nearly invincible through three games, but only a road win at Pittsburgh can be called impressive. It's the only victory over a Power 5 team for Mike Gundy's squad, but things definitely begin to ramp up as TCU comes to Stillwater for a Big 12 showdown of unbeatens this Saturday.
TCU (3-0) has looked impressive, beating up on Arkansas in Fayetteville and blasting rival SMU by three touchdowns last weekend -- a win that Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson was not terribly impressed with.
He knows what's ahead for his squad, which has lost four of the last five games in this series, including the last three in Stillwater.
"You always want to play against really good people," Patterson said. "To find out what you're like and what your level is -- what you can play at. Oklahoma State definitely puts us into that category, and we're going to have to play at a very high level if we want an opportunity to win.
"You're going to have to score some points on Oklahoma State to be able to win the ballgame. We know that."
The Cowboys have been an offensive machine, averaging 54 points per game, fourth best in the nation, and 607 yards of total offense, third best nationally.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph has established himself as a legitimate Heisman candidate after completing over 72 percent of his passes and averaging 378 yards per game through the air. He has also been very disciplined with the football, tossing 11 touchdowns to just one interception.
"The kid is a workaholic," Gundy said of Rudolph.
Rudolph, who had the numbers to leave school a year early, decided to stick around Stillwater for another season because he knew what the Cowboys had coming back. Running back Justice Hill has speed and elusiveness, and averages 83.3 yards per contest with three touchdowns. Top wideout James Washington has been unstoppable, averaging 28 yards per grab on 13 catches, and finding the end zone three times. Marcell Ateman, Jalen McCleskey and Dillon Stoner all have at least 11 grabs, so TCU will definitely have to pick its poison if it is to come away with the upset.
"I'm excited about my team," Patterson said. "We got ourselves to 3-0, got ourselves in a position where we feel like we have a very mature football team. We're excited for the challenge."
TCU has some weapons of its own, namely quarterback Kenny Hill. After bursting onto the scene as a freshman at Texas A&M in 2014, Hill's star dimmed in College Station, so he transferred to Lubbock. He was up and down last season, completing just over 61 percent of his passes and throwing nearly as many interceptions (13) as touchdowns (17).
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| TCU QB Kenny Hill has matured into a leader (Chat Sports) |
Hill has learned to value the football much better in this, his senior season. The mobile signal-caller has completed 75 percent of his passes with eight scoring tosses and just two picks. Patterson said his decision making has improved by leaps and bounds, which is a big reason the 16th-ranked Horned Frogs have been able to average 43 points per game.
Darius Anderson has been a nice complement in the backfield, averaging 87.3 yards per game with three scores. Desmon White has two receiving touchdowns while KaVontae Turpin has added 12 catches for 118 yards and a score.
Patterson lauded the Cowboys defense -- which many believe is its weak link -- noting that it has six takeaways in three games. Linebacker Justin Phillips has two interceptions and leads the team in solo tackles with 10, and is also the heart and soul of a stop unit that is craving respect.
The Cowboys defense isn't flashy, but thus far it has been able to get the job done.
“They’ve been committed to each other since the bowl game in January,” Gundy said. “They understand the importance of preparation and focus.”
TCU leads the nation in third down conversions at over 65 percent, and hanging on to the football means that the Cowboys offense won't be able to score.
Patterson believes that his team won't be fazed by the hostile atmosphere of Boone Pickens Stadium, and in fact thinks that being battle-tested will help calm any nerves. The visitor has won just twice in the last 12 games in this series.
“If there’s any advantage to me going into the ballgame, we’ve played two teams that have had a high level of something,” Patterson said. “I think that’s the only advantage that we have going into Oklahoma State — going in that we’ve had to be in two battles."
Oklahoma State has won 10 games in three of the last four seasons but has yet to finish ahead of arch-nemesis Oklahoma. Gundy felt special about this team from the beginning of fall camp, and believes the maturity, leadership and talent is there to make a run at not only the Sooners, but loftier goals.
“I think I’d go back to what I said in August,” Gundy said. “We’ve got an experienced team, a quarterback who buys into the system. The defensive guys are working hard and buying into the system. I felt good about them coming into the year, but it doesn’t mean it’ll work out that way. But so far, I’ve been pleased."
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