Via @JaxCrall
Week 1 is in the books for the Arkansas Razorbacks, as the season opener went extremely well for the Hogs and the SEC overall. A total of 11 SEC teams won by at least 30 points in Week 1, including Arkansas’ 70-point shutout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The Razorbacks have now shifted toward their first ranked opponent of the season, the No. 16 Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Pokes and Hogs have not faced off on the gridiron since 1980, when Arkansas won, 33-20.
ALSO READ: Arkansas at Oklahoma State: Star comparison, PFF grades, season stats
"I like the way that the first two practices have gone this week," Pittman said Wednesday. "Very, very focused. We have a huge challenge going into Stillwater and playing a really, really good Oklahoma State team. They’re good at all three levels on defense. They have a superstar — or more — at all three levels on defense."
To start the 2024 season, Oklahoma State took down FCS powerhouse South Dakota State, 44-20, in Stillwater last Saturday.
RELATED: Behind Enemy Lines: Gaining Oklahoma State insight with Jeff Johnson
"Certainly skill-wise as good a running back as there is in the country, and slot and wide receivers and offensive line has I think over 200 starts," Pittman said. "They ought to have really good special teams as well, so it’ll be a huge challenge for us, but I’m excited about taking our team over to Stillwater."
The Hogs currently have a 100% scoring rate: 10 drives, 10 touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and company don’t plan on letting up against the Cowboys, but things are bound to look much different for both teams this weekend.
Below is a preview of what to expect from the Cowboys in Saturday's game, which will kickoff at 11 a.m. CT and be broadcasted on ABC.
Offensive Coordinator: Kasey Dunn (14th season)
Defensive Coordinator: Bryan Nardo (2nd season)
2023 record: 10-4 (7-2 Big 12)
Conference: Big 12
The biggest thing going for the Cowboys is who most view as the No. 1 overall running back in the nation — Ollie Gordon II.
Gordon led the country in rushing yards last year and is the reigning Doak Walker Award winner. Gordon picked up right where he left off in Oklahoma State’s opening game against the Jackrabbits, as the junior had 28 rushing attempts for 126 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Gordon also caught three passes for 20 yards.
Quarterback Alan Bowman returns for his second season as a Cowboy, and he is now in his seventh season in college football. Before making his mark at Oklahoma State, Bowman played at Michigan as a backup for two seasons and Texas Tech as a starter for three years.
“The offense fits him [Bowman] perfectly,” Arkansas’ Sam Pittman said Monday. “So, he’s a really good player and what they do with him is right down his wheelhouse. Really playing well, taking care of the football.”
Defensively, Oklahoma State's linebacker core of Collin Oliver, Nick Martin and Kendal Daniels is one of the best Arkansas will face all season. Those three — along with former Arkansas defensive lineman Collin Clay — help form a formidable front that will test a new-look Hog offensive line.
Experience
The Cowboys have 21 total returners on their squad for the 2024 season: 10 on offense, 10 on defense and one on special teams. It is also year 20 for head coach Mike Gundy, so it’s safe to say this is one of the most experienced and complete teams in college football.
Oklahoma State has 77% of its overall 2023 production returning for another year. Six players were also named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team. The Cowboys' 34 seniors ranks fourth nationally across college football.
Offensively, Gordon, wide receiver Brennan Presley, offensive lineman Dalton Cooper and offensive lineman Joe Michalski were named All-Big 12. On the defensive side, linebackers Nick Martin and Collin Oliver were also selected for the All-Big 12 preseason team.
Ollie Gordon II
I know it may seem repetitive at this point, but Gordon truly is a key factor in the success of Oklahoma State. During his Monday press conference, Pittman talked about the preparation for the Texas native.
“If they get him [Gordon] two or three yards, he’s going to get six or seven or more,” Pittman said Monday. “We’re going to have to tackle him one-on-one, but we’re going to have to get a lot of guys around the ball.”
Pittman made it clear that tackling was going to be a big emphasis this week because of the Cowboys dynamic players like Gordon. Arkansas also had a Pro Football Focus team tackle grade of 44.3 against UAPB, so it’ll need to be much better Saturday.
Boone Pickens Stadium
This isn’t necessarily a clear strength, as one team is going to have home field advantage, but Boone Pickens Stadium is interesting because of the seats’ proximity to the field.
The overall design puts fans right next to the sidelines which can be a big disadvantage for the Hogs come Saturday.
“They [the fans] can stand up and look right on top of you,” Pittman said. “We can't let their fans be a distraction to us when we’re trying to learn on the sideline or trying to talk about the next series.”
Arkansas is no stranger to playing in hostile environments, however, which was echoed by defensive tackle Eric Gregory on Tuesday.
"You just got to go in and play football," Gregory said. "It's football at the end of the day. The only difference really is it's the crowd when you look at it. Once you eliminate that, it's just football, so this is a mindset we come in with. We're going to go in there and eliminate the crowd noise and we're going to play football."
Secondary
Although having two All-Big 12 preseason linebackers is great for this Cowboys defense, the biggest elephant in the room is the young, unreliable secondary. The Cowboys lost key cornerback D.J. Mckinney to Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes over the offseason.
Oklahoma State’s secondary let up some big plays against the Jackrabbits this past Saturday, including two long touchdowns passes of 60 and 25 yards.
Arkansas could definitely give this defense some trouble if the receiver core can get in rhythm with quarterback Taylen Green. Something to watch is the health of wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, who Pittman said has "looked a lot better this week."
"Well, Andrew’s gotten better since last week to Monday to Tuesday," Pittman said Wednesday. "He’s improving each week. Whether he can go full speed or not on Saturday and this is not to hold anything back, we have other good receivers. I just don’t know at this point. But I will say that he’s looked a lot better this week, even from Monday to Tuesday and expecting him to look better today as well."
Kicking
The Cowboys lost their star kicker, Alex Hale, who was an All-Big 12 kicker and two-time Lou Groza Award semi-finalist. He originally began his career as a walk-on for the Cowboys and is now on the Green Bay Packers.
The current replacement is Logan Ward, who has been on the team for three seasons. Ward did go 3-for-3 in his 2024 debut against SDSU, but with little experience and added pressure, he could have some troubles against the Hogs.
Assessing these two teams based on their first game is not easy to do, because both teams played FCS programs. Still, there's a large gap between South Dakota State and UAPB — the latter being one of the worst in the country.
As the scores show, Arkansas won with ease, while Oklahoma State had to fight for their season opener. Regardless, both of these teams are almost in a must-win situation because of their gruesome schedules, especially the Razorbacks.
This will be a rowdy, physical game with the “Heartbeat of Boone Pickens” breathing down the Razorbacks’ neck all game — a tradition where fans whack their paddles against the stadium walls to create a constant distraction.
This nationally broadcasted game will come down to the wire, and for Arkansas to win, it will need to take advantage of the young secondary and stop the run game by improving on tackling.
The game could truly go either way, and by the looks of it right now, Oklahoma State might be the better team, and they’re playing at home. Coming off a 70-0 win will give the Razorbacks confidence, and Petrino’s play calling can’t go unnoticed.
Arkansas 31, Oklahoma State 28
Week 1 is in the books for the Arkansas Razorbacks, as the season opener went extremely well for the Hogs and the SEC overall. A total of 11 SEC teams won by at least 30 points in Week 1, including Arkansas’ 70-point shutout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The Razorbacks have now shifted toward their first ranked opponent of the season, the No. 16 Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Pokes and Hogs have not faced off on the gridiron since 1980, when Arkansas won, 33-20.
ALSO READ: Arkansas at Oklahoma State: Star comparison, PFF grades, season stats
"I like the way that the first two practices have gone this week," Pittman said Wednesday. "Very, very focused. We have a huge challenge going into Stillwater and playing a really, really good Oklahoma State team. They’re good at all three levels on defense. They have a superstar — or more — at all three levels on defense."
To start the 2024 season, Oklahoma State took down FCS powerhouse South Dakota State, 44-20, in Stillwater last Saturday.
RELATED: Behind Enemy Lines: Gaining Oklahoma State insight with Jeff Johnson
"Certainly skill-wise as good a running back as there is in the country, and slot and wide receivers and offensive line has I think over 200 starts," Pittman said. "They ought to have really good special teams as well, so it’ll be a huge challenge for us, but I’m excited about taking our team over to Stillwater."
The Hogs currently have a 100% scoring rate: 10 drives, 10 touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and company don’t plan on letting up against the Cowboys, but things are bound to look much different for both teams this weekend.
Below is a preview of what to expect from the Cowboys in Saturday's game, which will kickoff at 11 a.m. CT and be broadcasted on ABC.
Oklahoma State Resume
Head Coach: Mike Gundy (20th season)Offensive Coordinator: Kasey Dunn (14th season)
Defensive Coordinator: Bryan Nardo (2nd season)
2023 record: 10-4 (7-2 Big 12)
Conference: Big 12
Oklahoma State Depth Chart
Tale of the Tape
Oklahoma State is a highly-thought of program that went to the Big 12 championship game last year. Having a 10-4 season and taking down teams like Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Kansas is pretty impressive, to say the least.The biggest thing going for the Cowboys is who most view as the No. 1 overall running back in the nation — Ollie Gordon II.
Gordon led the country in rushing yards last year and is the reigning Doak Walker Award winner. Gordon picked up right where he left off in Oklahoma State’s opening game against the Jackrabbits, as the junior had 28 rushing attempts for 126 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Gordon also caught three passes for 20 yards.
Quarterback Alan Bowman returns for his second season as a Cowboy, and he is now in his seventh season in college football. Before making his mark at Oklahoma State, Bowman played at Michigan as a backup for two seasons and Texas Tech as a starter for three years.
“The offense fits him [Bowman] perfectly,” Arkansas’ Sam Pittman said Monday. “So, he’s a really good player and what they do with him is right down his wheelhouse. Really playing well, taking care of the football.”
Defensively, Oklahoma State's linebacker core of Collin Oliver, Nick Martin and Kendal Daniels is one of the best Arkansas will face all season. Those three — along with former Arkansas defensive lineman Collin Clay — help form a formidable front that will test a new-look Hog offensive line.
Oklahoma State Strengths
Experience
The Cowboys have 21 total returners on their squad for the 2024 season: 10 on offense, 10 on defense and one on special teams. It is also year 20 for head coach Mike Gundy, so it’s safe to say this is one of the most experienced and complete teams in college football.
Oklahoma State has 77% of its overall 2023 production returning for another year. Six players were also named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team. The Cowboys' 34 seniors ranks fourth nationally across college football.
Offensively, Gordon, wide receiver Brennan Presley, offensive lineman Dalton Cooper and offensive lineman Joe Michalski were named All-Big 12. On the defensive side, linebackers Nick Martin and Collin Oliver were also selected for the All-Big 12 preseason team.
Ollie Gordon II
I know it may seem repetitive at this point, but Gordon truly is a key factor in the success of Oklahoma State. During his Monday press conference, Pittman talked about the preparation for the Texas native.
“If they get him [Gordon] two or three yards, he’s going to get six or seven or more,” Pittman said Monday. “We’re going to have to tackle him one-on-one, but we’re going to have to get a lot of guys around the ball.”
Pittman made it clear that tackling was going to be a big emphasis this week because of the Cowboys dynamic players like Gordon. Arkansas also had a Pro Football Focus team tackle grade of 44.3 against UAPB, so it’ll need to be much better Saturday.
Boone Pickens Stadium
This isn’t necessarily a clear strength, as one team is going to have home field advantage, but Boone Pickens Stadium is interesting because of the seats’ proximity to the field.
The overall design puts fans right next to the sidelines which can be a big disadvantage for the Hogs come Saturday.
“They [the fans] can stand up and look right on top of you,” Pittman said. “We can't let their fans be a distraction to us when we’re trying to learn on the sideline or trying to talk about the next series.”
Arkansas is no stranger to playing in hostile environments, however, which was echoed by defensive tackle Eric Gregory on Tuesday.
"You just got to go in and play football," Gregory said. "It's football at the end of the day. The only difference really is it's the crowd when you look at it. Once you eliminate that, it's just football, so this is a mindset we come in with. We're going to go in there and eliminate the crowd noise and we're going to play football."
Oklahoma State Weaknesses
Secondary
Although having two All-Big 12 preseason linebackers is great for this Cowboys defense, the biggest elephant in the room is the young, unreliable secondary. The Cowboys lost key cornerback D.J. Mckinney to Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes over the offseason.
Oklahoma State’s secondary let up some big plays against the Jackrabbits this past Saturday, including two long touchdowns passes of 60 and 25 yards.
Arkansas could definitely give this defense some trouble if the receiver core can get in rhythm with quarterback Taylen Green. Something to watch is the health of wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, who Pittman said has "looked a lot better this week."
"Well, Andrew’s gotten better since last week to Monday to Tuesday," Pittman said Wednesday. "He’s improving each week. Whether he can go full speed or not on Saturday and this is not to hold anything back, we have other good receivers. I just don’t know at this point. But I will say that he’s looked a lot better this week, even from Monday to Tuesday and expecting him to look better today as well."
Kicking
The Cowboys lost their star kicker, Alex Hale, who was an All-Big 12 kicker and two-time Lou Groza Award semi-finalist. He originally began his career as a walk-on for the Cowboys and is now on the Green Bay Packers.
The current replacement is Logan Ward, who has been on the team for three seasons. Ward did go 3-for-3 in his 2024 debut against SDSU, but with little experience and added pressure, he could have some troubles against the Hogs.
Prediction
Assessing these two teams based on their first game is not easy to do, because both teams played FCS programs. Still, there's a large gap between South Dakota State and UAPB — the latter being one of the worst in the country.
As the scores show, Arkansas won with ease, while Oklahoma State had to fight for their season opener. Regardless, both of these teams are almost in a must-win situation because of their gruesome schedules, especially the Razorbacks.
This will be a rowdy, physical game with the “Heartbeat of Boone Pickens” breathing down the Razorbacks’ neck all game — a tradition where fans whack their paddles against the stadium walls to create a constant distraction.
This nationally broadcasted game will come down to the wire, and for Arkansas to win, it will need to take advantage of the young secondary and stop the run game by improving on tackling.
The game could truly go either way, and by the looks of it right now, Oklahoma State might be the better team, and they’re playing at home. Coming off a 70-0 win will give the Razorbacks confidence, and Petrino’s play calling can’t go unnoticed.
Arkansas 31, Oklahoma State 28
